old and busted

[jrains89]

I got all my parts in so i decided to go ahead and swap out everything today. Once i got the forks off I finally saw just how bent they were. Getting the new forks in were a pain because the lower triple tree was slightly bent so it took a lot of elbow grease to get them in but it's all done so I can check that off the list.

[AyeKay]

 

[ohgood]

dayum ! do you have history of how this happened ?

[jrains89]

yea a kid bought it brand new, drove it for 5 months, then drove it into a suburban at about 20, he hit the tank and got all hurt, the insurance totaled it and it sat in this covered lot ever since, and then I found it.

[fred]

Wow, those are some pretty amazing bends you've got there.

[The Buddha]

Bent lower triple ... yes throw that in the garbage ...
Mdow had one for sale cheapo ... Else ... yea fine I'll get the motor out of this bike I got, then split the forks and get the lower and stem out ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[rylon]

I know I have a lower triple I would be willing to pretty much give away.  If you're interested I would say like $5 plus shipping?  Just taking up space in the garage right now?  Let me know.

Rylon

[dgyver]

I got all my parts in so i decided to go ahead and swap out everything today. Once i got the forks off I finally saw just how bent they were. Getting the new forks in were a pain because the lower triple tree was slightly bent so it took a lot of elbow grease to get them in but it's all done so I can check that off the list.

A bent lower triple will cause the forks the wear unevenly, as well as the tire. Also, the front end may not track straight. It needs to be replaced.

[The Buddha]

He's prolly crying from all the work he's gonna have to redo ... but hey ... its winter ... what else you gonna do right ...
But, better than having some stuff get messed up ... I also dont trust cast BS, if its bent ... it could well get stressed wrong and crack.
Cool.
Buddha.

[jrains89]

ok so how do i replace teh bottom triple?

[The Buddha]

You take of the whole thing, the legs, the bars, the top triple, etc etc etc
Unbolt the top retaining lock nut (if its very tight, use a spanner or a socket spanner - make one by cutting or welding to a large socket ... or buy one its 1.5 inch ID, 2 inch OD 4 prong) ...
OK in a way, refitting it is easier. As you remove the legs etc etc, stuff it in the new lower triple and make a full assembly as you go along. Once you get the bent one out, slide that whole set up into the frame and re fit the locknut. Typically lock nut needs a full hand tighten with full load on the lower stem and back out 1/4 turn.
Grease the bearings and races when its apart - water proof synthetic grease ...
What you're doing is exactly what we do for kat FE swaps. You do this and a kat FE swap is a breeze. So consider it practise. BTW that dust seal on top is very very important, do not tear it or lose it ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[jrains89]

so i took the forks back off and everything gettin ready to replace the lower triple and i noticed that somehow putting them on i must have dropped the caliper against them or something because there's some noticeable little dents that feel pretty prominent. I read that anything like that will cause the seals to leak after a while, so i was wondering has anybody ever successfully refinished or had a shop refinish the innter tubes?

[The Buddha]

Oh yea ... GS fork legs leak for nothing ... dents, pits, scratches ... the stupid thing is a POS what you expect.
And yea, even scrapes you cannot see or feel can get it leaking.
Cool.
Buddha.