g/s forks not right - advice needed

[oldnfat]

I have been going through the annual winter fettling of my g/s and decided to spray the fork lowers as they were looking a bit shonky.

I removed the front wheel etc. The when I took the fork brace off the offside fork lower section immediately dropped about 3 inches and then has gradually continued to slide down the stanchion. The logical conclusion being that it could Elie off the stanchion completely if I let it.

I can push it back up so that it hits the spring but will need some compression to line up with the nearside lower to refit the brace.

Clearly not right...and thoughts and advice on this would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

 

[ChasF]

Is the bolt up into the damper rod missing or stripped?

 

[Kenny]

Very basic forks. Undo the bottom drain plug to see if/drain any oil. Then undo large allen bolt ( as above ) and lower leg will come away. May just need new oil etc. Careful not to damage the oil seal when removing/replacing fork bottom.

 

[solidstate100]

Exactly what happened to mine. It was only the tension of the fork gaiter that stoped me pulling the slider off all the way.

I suspect the damper rod has become unscrewed at the top end - there is a piston at the top of the damper rod that the bottom of the fork spring sits on, that piston limits the downward movement of the slider.

 

[oldnfat]

Thanks all, will investigate the damper rod tomorrow.

Cheers

 

[Neil W]

Peace of mind, a full fork strip and rebuild should be the order of the day

 

[oldnfat]

Peace of mind, a full fork strip and rebuild should be the order of the day

Agreed.....I came to that conclusion as I was investigating further....not something I want to get wrong.