Topic: Reinstalling fork caps and keeping the skin on your hand.......

[misterskin]

A tip to getting the fork caps back on while under presure (if you are adding the PVC spacer described a couple of threads down)......  Go buy a CHEAP rubber mallet.  Take the mallet head off and throw the handle away.  Take a razor/exacto blade and cut an outline of the "nut" on the fork cap into one end of the mallet head, basically making a big a$$ rubber socket.  You can use this to push & twist that cap back down and get the threads started easier, saving the palm of your hand!
I have done the spacer thing on dang near every bike I have had.  From one inch spacers in stock length forks, to making up the differences in 8/10 inch over forks on choppers.  Sometimes these can be a booger to get started and pressing on a big piece of rubber is much more comfortable, and easier than pressing on a socket/rachet combo and trying to turn it at the same time!

[jaknight]

 

     Good idea........... will give it a try next time I pop those caps to change/add oil.

     Love that 750 avatar you've got

     ~ ~ ~ jaknight ~ ~ ~

[kghost]

hmmmm......

I just use the wooden handle to press down on the cap while gripping the rubber head.

Then I spin the nut with the wrench from the tool kit......

[turboguzzi]

Destroying  a hammer and on top of that having to cut it?
I just use a socket (size of the hex on the cap) + an extension as a handle. gives you a good sense of the direction you are screwing so it's harder to cross thread.
You can take out a lot of your guess work by unscrewing slowly the cap (without the spring) and making a small mark of the postion where the last thread ends. Both on cap and triple clamp. When you screw in the cap, start your twisting just  a couple milimeters before your mark so that the thread catches immediately after 1/4 of a turn.

Works every time

[skidpan]

Thats a shockingly good idea, turboguzzi

[misterskin]

I got the hammer from "The Dollar Tree", one of those everything is a buck stores...it was 100 pennies.  Not like I wasted a 20 dollar hammer.   

[Rsnip988]

Destroying  a hammer and on top of that having to cut it?
I just use a socket (size of the hex on the cap) + an extension as a handle. gives you a good sense of the direction you are screwing so it's harder to cross thread.
You can take out a lot of your guess work by unscrewing slowly the cap (without the spring) and making a small mark of the postion where the last thread ends. Both on cap and triple clamp. When you screw in the cap, start your twisting just  a couple milimeters before your mark so that the thread catches immediately after 1/4 of a turn.

Works every time

worked for me

[Mekagojira]

Any other tips? I'm going to try the mallet thing tomorrow.  I am assuming  my springs are good since I can't get the caps in easily…?

Started my first fork oil change hours ago...

[Retro Rocket]

Any other tips? I'm going to try the mallet thing tomorrow.  I am assuming  my springs are good since I can't get the caps in easily…?

Started my first fork oil change hours ago...

You do have the weight off the front end .? Make sure there is no weight on the front wheel and it is off the ground and i use a large good quality socket..

Mick

[Mekagojira]

Thanks -

Yeah, bike on center stand, then I jacked it so the front wheel was an inch up…

These springs are like 4 inches out - it takes all I got to press them back in while holding the socket - I'm pressing so hard the wrench won't ratchet… 

[turboguzzi]

dont use the ratchet, just a socket extension as a handle

and read my prior advice on starting the cap on the threads, it's all there ....

[bjatwood]

I just pushed down the nut with all I had and had the wife give it a couple spins with a open end wrench. No cussin and no fussin

[Spiider]

I know this is late but a correct fitting socket and a speed handle work great too.

You can use both hands to press down with the speed handle and then turn it ccw to set up the threads a full turn then cw to start screwing it down.

It's never taken me much effort to get them to go back in properly first try.

[MoMo]

Another late reply, but every mechanic I worked with for the 14 or so years I wrenched used this- a sliding t-handle with a ratcheting adapter and the proper socket. The T gives you pressure on both sides and the ratcheting adapter lets you to get the feel of when the cap is properly threaded...Larry

[ChuckG750f1]

^nice!