Hitchcocks Forum

Afternoon all,

I'm stripping down my front end of my bullet 65 atm and have run into a problem. I have a fork spring that is stuck inside a main tube stanchion. The first spring just slid straight out but the second is causing me a headache. It's wedged in there very tightly, very tightly indeed. I've tried with a screwdriver to pull the spring out but the tension is so great it just springs back inside the stanchion. I've also tried giving the spring a gentle tap at the other end but to no avail. Any ideas on how to remove? Also whilst removing/ breaking down into the component parts each fork is missing the short spring but measuring the main spring the length is 21.5 inches is this correct? I thought I read somewhere that they were 20.5 inches in length.

Thanks for reading

A 20.5inch main spring and a one inch top out spring could easily be replaced by a single 21.5inch main spring. [br] The non standard? longer spring(s) could be slightly larger in diameter than those they replaced which becomes problematic when the fork leg internal diameters vary - as they indeed they sometimes do on these ‘finely’ engineered motorcycles. [br][br]?

Have you tried wedging the spring whilst it’s been extended (with some wood to prevent damage) then rotating the spring to tighten the coils thus reducing its diameter?

Hey ric,

Thx for the reply, I tried twisting it with the screwdriver and initially it didn't work. Tried again under greater tension and using a heat gun gently heated the other end before tapping with a screwdriver and success it popped out. Popped out being and understatement, the spring and screwdriver shot across the garage and I now have a little dent in the garage door. Measuring the two springs side b side the one which is stuck is bigger in length. I think I will replace both spring to be certain.
Again thank you for your help

Skaltar, NEVER ever replace just one of a pair of springs.