TKAT fork brace

[oldbiker648]

Just received my TKAT fork brace for my '81H and have a question. I have to remove the black rubber sliders at the top of the fork lowers to install the brace. I hit them with PB Blaster last night so they will at least rotate on the forks now, but I have been unable to pop them up over the rim on the top of the fork by either prying with a tire tool or hitting them at an angle from below using a flat blade screwdriver and a hammer. Is there a recommended method to accomplish this without damaging the rubber or the fork lower?

[Iron Duke]

Sliders?

If you are talking about your dust caps, there not hard rubber and should just pop right off the fork rim with little trouble, use a case knife under edge then just pry out and up softly, then just work around.

[natemoen]

Yeah the just pop up, there is a lip that holds them onto the forks so you might try a screwdriver or a pick to get over that.

Another question about the tkat brace (sorry to hijack) is there supposed to be something that holds the brace to the fork lowers?

[Shacknasty]

Hit them with a hair dryer to warm and soften the rubber and spray with a silicone to reduce the friction.. They are made of a very stiff rubber compound, so don't let 'em beat ya.

[jetmechmarty]

I think Parts-N-More has new ones. If yours are that hard, it's time to replace them anyway. In the meantime, lube them up with Armorall, or something similar. They need to fit back down over the TKAT brace.

Marty (in Bangor, ME)

[TopCatGr58]

Another question about the tkat brace (sorry to hijack) is there supposed to be something that holds the brace to the fork lowers?

Nate, they CLAMP onto the lower tubes, so it's a friction fit when they are clamped tight.
T.C.

[oldbiker648]

TKAT fork brace

Iron Duke, the advice on the Case knife worked on the right side, where I could not get a screw driver in behind the rubber . I used the knife to pull the rubber out about 1/8" and then slipped a small flat blade inside it and worked my way around, thanks. One thing that really helped was that I hosed the top and bottom of the part with PB Blaster lubricant. I swear by the stuff when working with carb boots or any other rubber parts.
Nateoman, the TKAT brace clamps the top of the two fork lowers together where the rubber part used to lock into place. The top of the brace is machined to the same size as the top of the lowers, so all you do is slide the fork rubbers down on top of the TKAT brace once you install it and they lock in the same way they previously did on the fork lowers. The brace is $92 delivered, and most people who have purchased them agree that they improve handling by making both front forks work together to overcome the centrifugal force of the front wheel assembly when cornering at high speed.
Marty, what in the heck are you doing in Maine?

[oldbiker648]

TKAT fork brace

TC,
Looks like I was a little slow on the trigger, huh?

[jetmechmarty]

Marty, what in the heck are you doing in Maine?

My job is 100% travel. I have to be someplace. Today, it's Bangor, tomorrow, Tampa.

[natemoen]

My tkat does not clamp on like you all say. I can slide it up and down the forks.

[bikerphil]

My tkat does not clamp on like you all say. I can slide it up and down the forks.

Tryin' to get a visual, a picture would be nice!

[natemoen]

Tryin' to get a visual, a picture would be nice!

Sorry I am at work. It is a tkat, if that is what you are wondering. It just sits over the slides and doesn't tighten down on anything.

[3Phase]

Nate, uh ... yer doin' it wrong.

TKat's fork brace should fit over the slots in the fork lowers where the dust caps sit. You slide the caps up off the lowers and up the fork tube, install the fork brace onto the lowers, then slide the dust caps back down onto the new fork brace after you tighten (3/16 Allen if I remember correctly, TKat doesn't like metric) bolts.

Maybe you got the wrong fork brace for your bike. The Standard and Special braces are different and that would make it difficult to fit.

[natemoen]

Nope, I am doing it right! Dust caps are on top of the brace, brace is on top of the fork slides and under the dust caps. And yes it is a standard brace on standard forks.

[motoman]

If end pieces won't clamp it tight on the legs...........guarentee you have the wrong one. The machined section at the top of fork leg is a larger diamater on the Special forks!