Hitchcocks Forum

I have purchased a pair of our hosts replacement fork springs for my 2009 Bullet Electra EFI. I was under the impression the springs would lift out when I remove the slot headed screw at the top of each fork leg but that does not seem to be the case.Does anyone know the correct procedure to replace the fork springs please?

Have a look at our hosts technical notes in the column to the left of posts..It'll probably be very similar for the EFI.

This is where we step into the complete unknown now that there is 3 different types of forks in the mix, 2009 I think will be similar to the early forks and require the bottom leg to be removed to get to the springs but I could be wrong, or you may have to remove the fork tube and unscrew the hex plug in the top to get to the springs. Problem is we don't know which bikes have which type of fork fitted in the UCE's I think they have been fitted with the three different types

Wheel off, caliper off, pinch bolts (which also hold indicators on) undone, front mudguard off, slotted screws off forks, loosen fork gaiters, unbolt the fork drain screws from the bottom of each fork, unscrew (well, actually screw) fork legs from casquette (you might need a large allen key, 10mm I think, to do this from the top or you might be able to turn the main tubes by hand undeneath the gaitors).




Getting there now! Next, putfork leg on bench in a vice which grips the main tube, remove the circlip at the join between main tube and fork end, then hit the threaded area atthe base of the leg where the fork oil drains from with a rubber mallet until the fork top and bottom separates. Use a c-spanner to undo the plunger from the main tube, remove spring then rebuild. Change oil seals (2 each side - be careful not to split the fork end, use heat and special fork oil seal removing sleeve!!!!!!!). Use new orings at fork top and for the slotted screw at the very top. Rebuild front end.




1 hour to get forks off, 30 mins to separate tops and bottoms and get springs out, 1 hour to rebuild forks and 30 mins to rebuild front end... if you have done it before and if fork separates and if seals come out nicely:) If not done before, or any other issues, give it a day. Sorry it isnt what you wanted to hear! Whatis wrong with your current springs?

EFI classic has different forks, which is what Norm is referring to. EFI Electra has the forks I described above... I know cos I rebuild mine regulatly!

Given the description of servicing forks on this thread. Personally if I get any problems I will be fitting some fork legs from another, make of motorcycle. When I fitted new dual rate springs in the CX500 it took less than 5 minutes.

I have been generous with timings in my description, to some extent. I have stripped my forks 3 or 4 times now on this bike for one reason or another. One of the most stupid reasons I had to strip them was when I suspects that one leg was slighty loose in the casquette after I had stripped them the previous week to change fork seals. I promptly drop my Allen key right into the fork tube from the top as it slipped from my socket set. This was the night before a long tour round the country and I was just doing some final tinkering before packing up and setting off the next morning.




I cursed a bit, had a cup of tea to calm down, then removed one fork leg in around 10 minutes. Tipped upside down to get my key back, and rebuilt the front end back up in another 10 minutes. The trouble can lie in the need to strip the fork and separate the end and tube, and then getting the seals out (which might not be essential for changing a spring, but realistically why wouldn't you change them at that point and you may well damage them on separation to some extent anyway).

Ooops..........I was expecting a half hour job to swap both springs.....Oh dear.I don't think i'll bother.Reason for the purchase was to try to reduce the fork dive under braking and I believed the hype that these are superior to the standard springs which I don't find are that bad for the type of riding I do...mainly putting along country lanes at a sedate pace.Does anyone want to take them off my hands?
Thank you to all posters.I'll just put a bit more oil in I think.