Front Forks

[Steve Linderman]

Hello !
I got a question for Y'all...

After reading the Tech Article on Suspension upgrades for the XS 1100, I cannot figure out the part about putting a 3" to 3 1/2" inch piece of 3/4" schedule 40 PVC pipe in the fork tube.

I understand that this is to act as a "spacer".
Does it go in the Slider below the "oil lock piece"?

Do you simply "drop it" into the bottom of the Slider...or do you place it in the fork tube, under the Rebound spring?
I've tried (to no avail ) to ascertain the correct location for this spacer.
Not wanting to "mess it up" has prompted me to come here and ask Y'all
Thanks for the help...STEVE

[Mike Hart]

Not sure which article you read, one of them is kind of out of date.

The pvc spacer is for when you put in Progressive fork springs, as they are shorter than the stockers (in the XJ and Special application). The pvc spacer goes in last, on top, compressing the spring a bit.

[beechfront]

i was confused about the spacer too, until i got it all apart - then everything made sense.

[Geezer]

This isn't the same thing but a length of PVC makes a damn good fork seal driver.

Take the seal with you and look for a pvd pipe that is just under the outside diameter of the seal. The nice thing with a PVC seal driver is even if you screw up, you won't damage the fork leg.

Geezer

[Steve Linderman]

Front forks

Thanks Everybody!!

So am I to understand that the only "maintenance & upgrade" to the '79 XS 1100 Special (SF) front suspension relating to the forks is
1. Fliud replacement
2. Seal replacement
3. Dust shield replacement
Or did I miss something?
Thanks for all your help...Steve

[Pat Kelly]

I've got my own question concerning the forks. How do you get the allen bolt out of the bottom of the fork slider. When you turn it, the valve assy. turns inside too. On my Honda there was a hex on the top of the valve assy that held it while the hex bolt was removed.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Steve,

Aside from your list, the "upgrade" is to go to progressive springs, many folks swear by them. If your's isn't diving too much when you brake, and if it doesn't seem too low, then you don't have to go to the new springs. I'm still running my OEM's, with a 4" spacer, cause I have 4" over length uppers I put on mine to raise the front end pseudo chopper style since I'm 6'6" tall, I like a tall ride!!! Almost forgot, a nice fork brace can really help improve handling/stability characteristics.

Pat, IIRC, the tech tips mention a special tool/wrench that you will need to make to hold the inner tube still while you loosen the allen bolt. Some folks put an allen wrench head onto a pneumatic wrench and were able to loosen it that way due to the increased speed/torque you can get vs. hand wrenching. Might try putting an allen key/wrench on the end of a reversible drill if you don't have a nice set of air wrenches!? Don't forget to clean the bolt and inner piece real good and use locktite when you put it back together, no fun having the front end fly off at speed!!

T.C.

[ratbyk]

Pat, I had the same trouble when I did my front forks. To get that particular bolt out on mine I;
1. Heated it with an acytelene torch to soften up the locktite.
2. Took a long piece of wooden dowel, (7/16") I think. I gradually tapered one end of the dowel until it would just enter the internal sleeve. I the tapped it in securely and grabbed ahold of the dowel with a pair of vise grips.
3. Using an electric impact gun that I have and an allen key socket I let the hammering effect of the impact loosen up the offending bolt.
I had to do this on both legs. Don't believe that this set of front forks had ever been apart before.
Lots of luck.
Ken/Sooke
78E Ratbyk

[Meista007]

Where would I go to find new longer upppers?

[xssiveone]

Originally posted by Meista007
Where would I go to find new longer upppers?

Check here: Forking by Frank Never dealt with them mysef, but have heard good things about them.

[Mike Hart]

fork tool

Does anyone have a picture of their home-made fork tool? (threaded rod and jam nuts) A pic and description need to be in the tech tip forums.

[nashville_bill]

I bought a bolt with a 17mm head and two nuts to screw on the end. I used one of the nuts as a locknut to keep the nuts from turning on the bolt:



Then I used a ratchet with two long extensions and a 17mm socket to hold the bolt that I had inserted in the tube to hold the piece that was turning:



As I remember, I used some tape to keep the socket and the tool connected while down inside the tube.

[Mike Hart]

thanks, Bill~!

[Hobbit]

fork tool

I used a 17mm allen wrench, cut it at the bend, then used a socket to hold it. I had tried the nut and bolt technique, but couldn't get the jam nut tight enough to get the job done.
Hobbit

[Steve Linderman]

Front Forks

Hey Everybody,
I must have been one of the "Lucky" ones...
All I did to remove my allen bolt was lay the fork& tube on the floor then put a bar through the axle hole (to keep the tube from turning) and then with an allen wrench, loosened it.
There was "locktite" or some other substance on the threads, but that didn't seem to matter...
I will be "re-aasembling" her this Afternoon (forks) so I'll keep Y'all updated.

"I don't want a Pickle, I just wanna ride my motorsickle"
(Arlo Guthrie-1963)