In the sh*t - out - and ooops back in.

[Colourtheme Dave]

See post in tech forum
Anyway due to lack of response in the tech forum I decided to strip down forks for service and a good clean out.
Old problem of bottom damper bolt spinning tried all the usual methods, preloading the forks etc no go.
Drilled out bolt with 4mm to 8mm drill in 0.5mm increments. Bolt was like chocolate so came out easily. Out of sh*t. Then removed the dust seal on the fork tube and the dust seal stopper ring. Using fork tube as a sliding hammer oil seal will not budge. Have poured plusgas on top of the seal to see if this will penetrate between the seal. Back in the sh*t, having a brew and a bit of a weep!!

 

[Me!]

You have removed the circlip....

 

[Colourtheme Dave]

Hi, Yes circlip has been removed and I have had my brew still no go, fast as a knacker. Do not really want to start digging around with a screwdriver in case I damage either the face of the fork tube or the fork slider body

 

[slim63]

Heat & carry on as you are, but you are liable to damage the finish on the fork bottom

 

[Me!]

Yup carry on until one of your arms comes around the back of your head and hits the opposite ear.

 

[Colourtheme Dave]

Well it's out!! heat gun (hot air) around aluminium fork leg judicious sliding hammer effect but still managed to ride the lower bush over the upper. More heat and out she popped, with no damage to the fork leg or tube
Now just the other one to do and start the rebuild.
Thanks for encouragement lads, always good to know your not alone in the world!!

 

[DEG5Y]

Sorry didn't see your post in the tech section but for future reference, what I have done in the past to undo the bottom damper bolt is to leave the forks clamped tight in the yokes. Remove the wheel.
Then using the bolts that grip the spindle in the forks, I fix a piece of flat bar across the fork lowers having pre drilled holes for the bolts to go through.
So now we have the fork tubes gripped in the yokes and the flat bar stops the lowers turning. now an allen key with a tommy bar is usually all I've needed to free off the damper bolts.

 

[Colourtheme Dave]

Good forward planning DEG5Y. Good to hear peoples way around problems.
Thanks
My main problem was that the bottom bolt started spinning and I could neither loosen or tighten, needed to get it re-tightened in order to drill it out. I reassembled the fork put under load and managed to tighten it and drilled it out.
Did the second leg today and using what I had learned did not even try to loosen the bolt just drilled it out. Had the leg dis-assembled to it's component parts in 25 minutes. Happy days

 

[Me!]

The secret here is an air impact. That will overcome the stubbornness. Tried and tested. Just be careful when you do them up as you don’t want them in reeet tight !

 

[Colourtheme Dave]

Yes I did try that took it to my mates garage as I knew they could be a problem but did not manage to get it first go and it started spinning. Ordered the parts from Fowlers they arrive tomorrow, ready for rebuild. I am replacing both bushes and seals and copper seal washers I will not be using Loctite on those bolts.