Page 1 of 1

How to re-install top fork nut on 1975 860GT?

Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 9:11 am
by rjk40
I must be missing a technique.

When attempting to re-install the nut at the top of the forks, after rebuilding and installing Steve''s Worx fork kit, I am unable to get the nut started on the threads while pushing against the fork springs, using Steve's recommendation of turning the nut COUNTERCLOCKWISE until the magic "click" is heard (obviously to prevent cross-threading); by then, after several counterclockwise turns to finally find the click, my old 76 year old bones are too exhausted to put enough force against the springs, to start the threading process.

Any technique advice is welcome. Mayhaps I need to find a person with more strength; is that the key?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Richard

Re: How to re-install top fork nut on 1975 860GT?

Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2020 2:30 pm
by 81mhr900ss
Hi Richard: Been there and done this several times. What I would suggest to do first is take the springs out each side and ensure that the caps will go on easily enough without the back pressure, checking to ensure that the threads are not damaged. If the forks are on the bike, it may help to loosen the yolk clamps and raise the fork ends an inch just to give better access for fitting the caps. Once on, drop the forks back to normal position

I did what Steve had suggested; just lightly push counterclockwise a little then clockwise. It is a pretty fine thread so you do have to be careful. So much easier with the forks out of the bike as you can turn the fork leg counterclockwise with one hand while turning the cap clockwise with the other. I start by using the palm of my hand to engage the threads then use either the hex key (Marzocchi) or socket (Ceriani) to finish the job. If you have Ceriani shocks, this job is easier because you can start the job using the socket already on the cap.

Good luck

Re: How to re-install top fork nut on 1975 860GT?

Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 12:01 am
by ducadini
Taking the spring out of the tube, and with just the forknut finding the right spot for the "click".
Mark the position of the nut (with a marker ;) ), put spring back in, with the nut just a tad back, You don't have to search for the start of the thread.
Whipe everything clean :-D

Is there so much preload on that kit ?

ciao
ducadini

Re: How to re-install top fork nut on 1975 860GT?

Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2020 6:22 am
by rjk40
Thanks kindly for the tip; that will be very useful, and I appreciate that.

Yeah, if by preload, you mean working against the springs to set the nut, I am feeling a lot more resistance with the Worx kit parts in than with the original spring. Maybe I am just too weak.

Anyway, your tip about marking the click spot is very good.

Thanks again.
Regards,
Richard

Re: How to re-install top fork nut on 1975 860GT?

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 12:06 pm
by rjk40
Thanks to all for the helpful suggestions.

I did make sure that the threads in the fork tube were good.

I bought new fork top nuts from Steve, and mated them with the fork tubes without preload, to make sure that a good mating of both sets of threads occurred.

The suggestion to mark the "click" spot on the top nut and fork tube was very helpful.

Then, I used a long (deep well) 28mm socket to start the nut into the fork tube; the long socket gave me a good grip to push squarely on the nut.
All went smoothly from then.

As to the question: is there a lot of preload with the kit from Steve?
In my case, using the short spacer and the 1/2 inch rise of the white spacer above the top of the fork tube, there is more preload than the stock setup, but even my 77 year old bod was able to push down the top nut squarely. The long socket really helped with that.

Incidentally, I did the fork seal rebuild/replace with the forks off, but the final oiling and top nut install was done on the bike.
Now, on to the next challenge.

Regards,
Richard