Topic: How to remove forks and boots from a CB350F

[strangedaze39]

How do I get these things off? If I can't get these off I'm going to have to leave them that color or paint them black on the bike and it won't match my silver well  

See photo:



I already removed the headlight and turn signals just started to loosed the top and bottom triple trees, but hit a mental road block on where to go next with these. Hope I don't have to take my whole front end to pieces to get those off *fingers crossed*.

HOW TO:
Note: Before you start you must remove all the cables, brake lines, fenders, wheels that will obviously be in your way. No need to unplug any wires on the harness or upper brake lines.

How to remove the fork cover/boots, the easier way without potentially damaging the seal:
1) Loosen the 4 bolts on the triple tree clamps (2 on each side)

2) Jack the bike well off the ground make sure you have a strong friend or family member balancing the bike

3) Hammer and pull that fork out completely. Make sure it's jacked up high enough to slide it completely free.

4) Pull the fork covers out sideways.


This is how you do it if you want to rebuild your forks:
1) Loosen the 4 bolts on the triple tree clamps (2 on each side)

2) Remove the top cap completely

3) Jack the bike well off the ground make sure you have a strong friend or family member balancing the bike

4) Slide the lower part of the fork off with the spring still attached, don't force it if it wont pull through before it hits ground just jack it up more.

5) Take a ball hammer and place the ball on top of the inner fork at the top of the triple tree clamp. Hit the hammers flat side with another hammer (you can use other things for this, the ball hammer is the easiest way I found to do it)

6) If you want to remove the fork boots/covers you can slide them out the side now.

Hope that helps.

[bryanj]

You gotta take the fork tubes out

[fmctm1sw]

Let me kow what you use to strip the paint off of those before you paint them, when you get to it...

[kghost]

You gotta take the fork tubes out

Bet ya he smacked his forehead when he read that one...

[Johnie]

Yup, gotta take the front end off.  Just did that this spring and like Bryan said the forks have to come off.  Which means taking off the brakes and front tire.  Not that big of a deal, just take your time and take some pics if you think you may not remember how it all goes back together.  As long as you have the forks off change the seals if they leak.  Maybe even pack the top and bottom  bearings if you have that style triple tree.  All good maintenance items.  Best of luck on your work.

[dougiee]

Hi
is it possible to remove the whole fork unit (if I may call it that)
and just cover up the parts not being painted
So without needing to mess around with any seals?

[mattcb350f]

Hi
is it possible to remove the whole fork unit (if I may call it that)
and just cover up the parts not being painted
So without needing to mess around with any seals?

You don't need to take appart the forks, just loosen the clamps and slide the forks out of the holders (triple clamps). Then, the pieces kind of wriggle out of place...they're held in with rubber grommets.

You could cover up the other bits and paint them on the bike, but if you take the forks out they come right off.

 Matt.

[Johnie]

Hi
is it possible to remove the whole fork unit (if I may call it that)
and just cover up the parts not being painted
So without needing to mess around with any seals?

Sure, take the front wheel off and then you can slide each fork out as a unit seperately once you loosen the clamp bolts holding them in place.  You will end up with the picture below.  You do not have to take the forks themselves apart just to remove them from the bike.

[strangedaze39]

We'll I was a day late and a buck short on hearing that advice  Ended up taking the whole assembly apart and now have 2 pieces. I reassembled (probably incorrectly) and they are not working! Compress the forks and they stay that way. The seals look fine to me. Could someone please help me with this? I have no idea what I'm doing or how these forks work. How would you reassemble the forks and fill the with oil. BTW the manual has a severely weak spot on the forks

Does it matter if the forks are compressed or decompressed when filling them with fluid? How should I fill them? What would cause the forks to not have any "bounce" to them? Any quick way to test seals?

Thanks.

[Johnie]

If you have the top cap off the fork they will stay down.  If you put the springs back in and put the fork caps on you should have bounce even without fork oil.  It does not make a difference if you fill the forks with them compressed or not.  You fill the forks through the very top with the top fork bolt off.  Once you have them filled you put the fork caps back on and they should be all the way up with the inside spring holding them extended.  Keep in mind there is a specific amount of cc's that go into each fork.  Don't just fill them to the top.  Can you send some pics so we know what you have done there.  

[MickeyX]

How about a YEAR late... are they still not working?

[strangedaze39]

Never mind guys, I'm a complete idiot. I always get working on this bike till some late hour and lose my mind. Turns out last time I assembled them I was pouring the ATF literally down the tube and out the hole above the seal. Since I forgot you need that inner fork tube, in the lower tube and pour it directly down the inner tube to fill it properly. Hence it wasn't working because I had hardly any trans fluid in it...haha damn. Oh well at least I got it sorted.

Note to anyone else rebuilding forks, the inner tube must be penetrating the seal into the lower fork, then you must pour the ATF down the center of the inner tube that has the spring sticking out of it. 

Thanks for the advice.