Upright front forks have been used for all ages. Although many modern Supersports models use inverted front forks, upright front forks are still used in many models.
Here, we will discuss some special tools that are very useful to have when disassembling and maintaining upright forks.
- Be careful when removing oil seals.
- Presence of a holder tool to avoid spinning
Be careful when removing oil seals.
There are several methods for removing an oil seal press-fitted into the bottom case. For example, one method is to remove the oil seal retaining clip and press the inner tube into the oil seal using a simple press, thereby extracting the oil seal with the power of hydraulic pressure. Another method is to quickly disassemble and directly pull out the oil seal from the bottom case. During the latter procedure, proceed carefully to avoid damaging the bottom case. In particular, be careful when using a screwdriver or crowbar to forcibly remove the oil seal. Forcible removal may result in deformation of the bottom case or damage to the inner surface of the oil seal holder. When removing the oil seal directly, be sure to use a general-purpose oil seal puller.
Presence of a holder tool to avoid spinning
A component called a damper pipe (seat pipe) is built into the bottom case of the upright fork.
The size of the hole on the side of the damper pipe controls the oil passage and generates damping force when the fork is activated. The damper pipe is fastened to the bottom of the bottom case by tightening the bottom bolt, but in many cases, when the bolt is loosened, the damper pipe spins or spins idle, making it impossible to remove. Although different types are available from different manufacturers, we recommend that you purchase a holder tool (special tool) that prevents the damper pipe from spinning if necessary. A 3/8 Sq. long T-wrench with a long handle part will make the work even easier, but if you do not have a long T-wrench, you can use several extension bars for the wrench by connecting them together to lengthen the picture. If the damper pipe end is of the type that can be held with a hex wrench, a special tool can be made by hand using a long nut, etc., but a general-purpose type holder is easier to use.