550 front forks help

[Davelu88]

Hi all , I refurbishing the top yolk as needs paint and now I've got it off the forks have lowered and the springs have come up ,when reassembling  how do Ilift the forks and compress the springs to get the fork top nuts on . cheers

[deltarider]

You can use a wrench (or whatever) to slide it between the handlebars and the topnuts and then use it as a lever to press the topnut down while using an open end (or adjustable wrench) to fasten them. Worked for me.

[MCTID]

I have used a fabric strap with a ratchet......bit of a struggle but got there in the end. The Straps were off E Bay for about a tenner for the pair.

[Davelu88]

Hi do you mean use ratchet straps to lift forks if so where did you attach to bike . cheers

[Bryanj]

You didnt need to remove the nuts to get the top yoke off,  but as its too late now before you put it back on support the frame so the front wheel is just touching the floor and use a socket, extension bar and tee bar to push down the n turn the nut.

[Davelu88]

Cheers I think I get what your saying , push down on one side at a time and compress the spring and fork should rise . or am.I being a complete idiot .

[MCTID]

"Hi do you mean use ratchet straps to lift forks if so where did you attach to bike"......Response: my bike was being completely rebuilt so I was fitting the Forks without the front wheel in place.......so the straps went around the bottom of the forks and the top of the forks, then the ratchet mechanism was used to pull the forks up into the top yoke compressing the springs at the same time. As I was doing that I screwed in the Top Nuts and tightened the lower Yoke Pinch Bolts (it's a Triumph.....but the principle is the same). As I said, it was a bit of a struggle, but I got there in the end without damaging any paint or busting my knuckles.

[Davelu88]

Lesson learnt, I had a ratchet strap with hooks on ends so I put the strap over beam in garage and hooked under the fork ears then ratcheted up and worked a treat. Many thanks for  replies.