Honda-SOHC

SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB750 => Topic started by: Martin6 on July 19, 2023, 10:50:23 PM

Title: Fork Gaiters
Post by: Martin6 on July 19, 2023, 10:50:23 PM
1976, K6. Still going well and I'm enjoying my rides. Nearly 2,000 miles in the last couple of months. The bike hadn't had much use for many years and it seems to be smoother and punchier the more it's ridden.

Anyhow, both fork gaiters have given up. They are both more splits than rubber. Doesn't look awful, but I have replacements and a bit of time free over the coming week.

I thought I could just remove the front wheel, unthread the speedo drive, take the brake calliper off the other fork. Then loosen the pinch bolts and slide the forks down and out of the clamps (mudguard still attached) to get to the gaiters.

However, the Haynes manual starts with disconnecting all the wiring and removing the headlamp, then clutch cable, braking system etc.... Is there a short cut? Will the forks just slide out of the clamps and headlamp mounts without needing to do all that?

Thanks,  Martin
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: Trigger on July 19, 2023, 11:11:27 PM
Don't believe everything you read  ???

Front wheel out, mudguard off, undo top pinch bolt and lower yoke clamp bolt and pull the fork out  ;)
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: Oddjob on July 20, 2023, 02:33:10 AM
What about the brake lines? And the speedo cable?

If you dismount the calipers, detach the speedo cable and loosen the pinch bolts top and bottom you can indeed remove the whole front end in one piece, it’s fiddly and heavy but it can be done, then just remove the gaiters, replace with new and refit in reverse. It is easier with the front wheel out and the mudguard off though.
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: Martin6 on July 20, 2023, 06:40:02 AM
Thank you both. 👍
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: Trigger on July 20, 2023, 06:55:28 AM
You do not need to take any brake lines off.
Once the mudguard is unbolted from the fork, unbolt the lower bolt on the caliper arm and let the brake hang. Easier to loosen the two allen keys a couple of turns in the back of the caliper so, the disc slides out with ease  ;)
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: Oddjob on July 20, 2023, 02:31:33 PM
No you failed to mention the brakes at all, failing to mention them means the brake lines would stop the forks from coming out of the frame. Keep up.
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: Trigger on July 20, 2023, 04:45:35 PM
It will not stop forks, it will stop one fork %"$$.

Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: Oddjob on July 20, 2023, 04:51:58 PM
Depends if there are 2 calipers or one, either way the point stands.
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: Trigger on July 20, 2023, 05:03:25 PM
And my f*%&£ point stands that he doesn't have to take all wiring, head light apart. So stop being so pig headed  ;)
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: Martin6 on July 20, 2023, 06:17:18 PM
All done, I just undid the two Allen bolts and parted the calliper. Getting the mudguard off was the trickiest bit  :).

👍
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on July 20, 2023, 06:54:08 PM
Hope the metal behind the Gaiters is not like mine were - well rusted.
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: Martin6 on July 20, 2023, 10:00:28 PM
I was lucky. The chrome behind the gaitors was fine on both. Not the case for the area covered by the headlight shrouds. One was clean, the other was pitted. I cleaned it up and put a coat of ACF50 on. Will be fine for now.
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: Trigger on July 21, 2023, 01:45:46 PM
Great that you have them fitted now Martin  ;)
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: Bryanj on July 21, 2023, 04:38:24 PM
The bit inside the headlamp brackets was not chromed in thevfirst place
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: AshimotoK0 on July 23, 2023, 08:08:16 AM
I got some brand new genuine Honda fork gaiters from Yamiya a couple of years ago .. one of them has a  split in it... even though the bike has never been on the road since the chassis was rebuilt ! The original 1969 ones had done 46k miles and not split at all ... only hardened a bit at one end. Trigger sold me some genuine NOS ones to replace them, which are hopefully from supply a few years back. Problem with Yamiya is that it's hard enough ordering from them in the first place, never mind returning anything. If you complain or question anything it's as if their honour that is at stake and they dig their heels in. The world seems to have forgotten how to compound rubber properly any more. So many aftermarket rubber parts are sh$te and seems that  you can't even trust genuine Honda any more.  :(
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: Trigger on July 23, 2023, 08:27:12 AM
A lot of parts have changed mate, though they are still the same part number.
Just look at all the bolts, nuts and washers that were originally fitted to these old girls that were in chrome. Now most of those part number which are the same are just bolts, nuts, and washers in BZP  ;)
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: Martin6 on July 23, 2023, 09:39:16 AM
Very true. The gaiters I took off were a shiny, smooth, almost plastic finish. Doubt they were originals though. The replacements are a dull, rubbery texture. I hope they last.

I noticed an interesting video on YouTube by Paul Henshaw, comparing Lucas rear lights. Originals: "Lucas- made in England"; genuine replacements: "Lucas- England". Expect we can guess where they are made.
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: Bryanj on July 23, 2023, 10:13:17 AM
Not in Brum any more
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on July 23, 2023, 10:38:08 AM
As well as selling the family silver when the UK utilities were sold off many famous UK brands  ended up either going into administration of just ceased trading with the names lying dormant.

The rights to some of these household names were later purchased by savvy foreign competitors who bought the often decades long reputation associated with the brand..
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: Martin6 on July 30, 2023, 08:52:07 AM
I've read some complaints about how the replacement gaiters split after minimal use.

Years ago, I bought a product developed by a German car firm to overcome complaints about squeaking and spliting soft top roof rubbers. It's called Gummi Pflege (not named by the marketing department!). I've used it on lots of car and motorbike rubber parts. It seems to seep into the rubber and makes it more pliable. I have an old car and re-coat rubber parts every few years, it seems to work.

I've put some on my new gaiters. May help. I guess I will find out over time.
Title: Re: Fork Gaiters
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on July 30, 2023, 08:58:48 AM
In the car trade we used silicone grease for squeaky door rubbers.
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