Hitchcocks Forum

Just received a load of parts that I ordered from our hosts and trying to fit the new rubber fork gaiters - tough job to try and get the bottom end onto the fork lower! I know that they are manufactured to be tight so that no clips are needed but blimey!

Any handy hints here chaps?

Hi I did this on my 250,by keeping a lot of downward pressure on the gaiter to fork tube,try to keep it parallel with the tube and not at an angle ,then get a small as possible electrical flat blade screwdriver make sure it has no sharp edges,then by sliding the screwdriver between the fork tube and the gaiter,gradually work your way around the diameter gradually easing the gaiter onto the fork tube with the constant downward pressure,then keep working around it a little bit at a time,the hard part is the start and getting all the gaiter onto the tube.

Colin

What about trying rubber lubricant, as used for fitting tyres?

Never done it on this bike, but how about putting a loads of cables ties, vertically with lump at bottom, round the fork, so the ‘sharp’ bit of cables ties is inside the gaiter. Make sure bottom of gaiter is grease free so it grips the cables ties, then somehow!.... pull down on the cable ties.

Or slightly more sensible. Slice a drinks can open, wrap it round the fork and inside the gaiter. Make sure the can is greased well and slide the gaiter down.

Or just do what Dalgrae said

You could try making them a bit more flexible by dipping the ends in very hot water.

Wheaters wrote:You could try making them a bit more flexible by dipping the ends in very hot water.

Hot water and some soap.
On handlebar grips, hairspray.

I've found talcum powder very good for sliding rubber along metal. Obviously it doesn't help the initial thing of getting it over a sharp edge.
Don't know if it helps here, but I used it successfully when putting a new ammeter (surrounded by a rubber sleeve) in.
I don't think the exact scent matters...

Hi again I would not use any hot water,as yes it would help with the initial flexing,and maybe help with getting it started but would soon cool down ,and I suspect you would loose some of the intended grip on the fork tube as the gaiter would probably stretch and not fully shrink back.The real difficulty is getting it started all around the diameter,once this is done keep pushing down on the plain section only on the gaiter to get maximum pressure to enable it to eventually push onto the fork tube the required amount

Colin

They do stretch a remarkably long way. I put 4 fingers inside them and pull them way apart into a square shape until it's wide enough to fit over the fork. I usually land up with scratched fingers though.

dalgrae wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 10, 2021 11:42 am

Hi again I would not use any hot water,as yes it would help with the initial flexing,and maybe help with getting it started but would soon cool down ,and I suspect you would loose some of the intended grip on the fork tube as the gaiter would probably stretch and not fully shrink back.The real difficulty is getting it started all around the diameter,once this is done keep pushing down on the plain section only on the gaiter to get maximum pressure to enable it to eventually push onto the fork tube the required amount

Colin

That doesn’t happen with rubber. If it did, your tyres would fall off in hot weather