Hitchcocks Forum

Is this possible or does one have to dismantle the forks to get them on? Will they stretch over the bottoms? Soak them in hot water to soften them up and pull them over? (I've not received them yet so I don't know how soft they are.) If dismantling is required I can start that today, so it would be good to know. Many thanks,

Yep, slide the fork leg out of the yokes to fit them...

They won't go on from the bottom, quickest way is to take the fork leg out complete, unless you think the seals need doing then it's taking the sliders off.

OK, thanks. So, remove the wheel and mud guard and stays, undo the domed nuts at the bottom of the forks and simply pull them out? Will the oil go everywhere? Any other surprises? Cheers.

There's a bit more to it than that but there is a tech note on this site (on menu on the left hand side of the page) explaining how to do the oil seals. It's worth cahnging the oil for something lighter - I use ATF which is about ASA 5. The tricky bit is getting those bottom domed nut tight again when you've finished as the folk stud often wants to spin with the nut. If this happens, get some tension on the spring by using a helper or a ratchet strap or something then the nut will do up. I find it easier to do this once the wheel is back in. You don't need the special tool to guide the stantion back past the oilseals - a bit of cut-up plastic milk carton works a treat. If you are replacing the oil seals you DO need to support the alloy slider, either with the special tool or home made arrangement of jubilee clips. It's all too easy to crack the alloy otherwise.

Thanks Pete. Having read through it I think it sounds straight forward enough. We'll see tomorrow. Cheers.