Topic: ‘78 CB750F fork rebuild question

[Dracon]

I’m rebuilding the front forks on my 1978 750F and had a couple questions…

(1) There’s a part listed on the parts list that I can’t find after disassembly. It is listed as PIECE, OIL LOCK 51432-371-003. I attached a pic I found online of it and it is part 7 on the attached parts diagram.

(2) This is probably the answer to the first question, but there is a part in the bottom side of the fork tube that I can feel, but cannot remove.  It feels like a spring clip that I can rotate with my finger. Most likely it’s holding in the part from my first question, but I don’t see the spring clip that is holding it in place on the parts diagram. I have ordered new fork tubes from cycle-x and I assuming I will need to swap it over to the new fork tubes. What is this and how do I remove it?

I’m installing Progressive springs and replacing everything else with oem parts - oil seals, dust covers, all nuts, bolts, and washers, rebound springs, o-rings, piston ring, seal stopper ring...

Also installed all balls tapered steering bearings while everything was apart.

Thanks for any help!

[Marks78]

IIRC (been a while since I rebuilt the forks on my 750K8) - The bolt you removed from the bottom of the slider goes through that piece and threads into the piston that goes in the bottom of the tube and is the only thing that holds the tube and slider together. It is a mandatory part of the fork assembly. It is probably stuck in the bottom of the tube by years worth of built up sludge that accumulates due mostly to lack of proper maintenance over the years.  Try flushing it out using solvent of some kind, I use kerosene in my parts washer. It may require you to use a skinny tool of some kind (possibly an old wire hanger bent just right) that will fit up through the hole in the bottom of the tube and try to push it out from the bottom. Best of luck!