[rlaf75]

My bike is on the lift waiting for the reinstallment of the inner fairing and dash pod that's currently at paint but the fork tubes are accessible for possible monotube install. I understand that all the inner guts need to be removed along with oil but I should be able to get everything out while they're still in the trees. I ask because the front wheel is in the dock and the bike is tied down and ignition switch is out and don't want to have to mess with the tumbler alignment. My question is, for the monotube installation, do the forks need to be removed from the trees or if I can remove the inner workings while still assembled in the trees can the monotube be installed? I told you it was an oddball question and thanks in advance

 

[sometimer]

The front wheel needs to be removed to get to the brass bolt at the bottom of the fork. If you had a jack that you could use on your lift, this could be done now. Don't know that suspension can be swapped out with forks still in place though. Seems this would be adding an extra level of difficulty. Monotube install is really not to hard. I did mine in a few hours. Check youtube for a pretty good video on the process.

 

[FrankieB]

forks have to come out of the trees to get the cap off and pull the springs. Tip: once you are ready to pull the forks, slide them down to clear the top tree, then tighten up the bottom pinch bolt up to get the cap loosened up some but not all the way off.

 

[JayKS]

forks have to come out of the trees to get the cap off and pull the springs. Tip: once you are ready to pull the forks, slide them down to clear the top tree, then tighten up the bottom pinch bolt up to get the cap loosened up some but not all the way off.

Frankie's exactly right. That's a great tip too. Once you have the fork tube off the bike, it can be very difficult to find a way to clamp the fork enough to break the cap loose without damaging the tube. Using the pinch bolt to hold it works really well.

 

[rlaf75]

Another question. I have the HF lift table with the wheel dock that craddles the wheel bolted to it. What's the best way to jack the bike up so I can remove the wheel and fork tubes? I have a jack the fits under the bike frame but do you think I'd have to remove the wheel dock after I jack it up?

 

[Triplej]

Depending on how high your jack will go you should be able to. I just tore the better half's bike down and used the rear pegs for the tie downs and jacked the bike high enough to pull the front wheel off while the fender was still on. The bike is pretty stable with just the jack under it. I like having the tie downs for security (bike is in gear).

 

[FastHarley]

Another question. I have the HF lift table with the wheel dock that craddles the wheel bolted to it. What's the best way to jack the bike up so I can remove the wheel and fork tubes? I have a jack the fits under the bike frame but do you think I'd have to remove the wheel dock after I jack it up?

Just go to my DIY page and make yourself a jack outlined here:
How To Fabricate an Inexpensive Motorcycle Scissor Jack for Your Table Lift PDF Download

I have used 2 of them when building a bike's suspension around your given frame height under full riders sag. I strap the bike down to a table so it is stable/will not move and figure everything from there. These will do this but make sure your bike is strapped down rock solid. To R&R your forks are easy using only one of them.

The good part is these only cost me $5.00/each at U-Pull-It.

 

[laxinharley]

Another question. I have the HF lift table with the wheel dock that craddles the wheel bolted to it. What's the best way to jack the bike up so I can remove the wheel and fork tubes? I have a jack the fits under the bike frame but do you think I'd have to remove the wheel dock after I jack it up?

You know we have already done this to mine on the exact same table. And I am 5 houses down.

 

[rlaf75]

You know we have already done this to mine on the exact same table. And I am 5 houses down.

blah blah blah! Don't worry if I decide to do it now you'll get a call

 

[rlaf75]

For those that have done monotubes how did you tighten the 6mm allen bolt on the bottom of the fork without the monotube turning inside

 

[FrankieB]

For those that have done monotubes how did you tighten the 6mm allen bolt on the bottom of the fork without the monotube turning inside

You turn the fork up side down on the floor, then compress it to tighten the bottom bolt. Will be easier if you have two people, one to push down on the slider and one to tighten the bolt.

 

[rlaf75]

You turn the fork up side down on the floor, then compress it to tighten the bottom bolt. Will be easier if you have two people, one to push down on the slider and one to tighten the bolt.

Thank you FrankieB.