4L0 fork cap removal?

[chrisg]

Hi, I am currently polishing my forks and want to change the oil whilst they are out of the bike. There is a plug/cap held in place by a circlip. I assume that I need to compress the plug and remove the circlip, however how do I compress the plug?  

[JonW]

Have a search. weve talked about this quite a lot of times now. Google my patented approach and other ideas.

[chrisg]

Hi, Thanks for that. Gives me food for thought. I'm thinking of clamping the stanchion in the bottom yolk, leaving a gap and compressing the plug by using a bolt and bracket on the underside of the top yolk. Bit Heath Robinson and not as good as the bracket in one of the threads but here's to hoping.

[chrisg]

I clamped the stanchion in the lower yolk and used a screwed rod and some big washers that I had. Managed to compress the plug and remove the circlip, although it took a quite a lot of pressure.

[stusco]

I did mine by hand pushed it down with a screwdriver maybe yours is stuck with rust/crud spray some releasing oil on it first

[nokturnal]

Mar 29, 2020 18:24:16 GMT 1 stusco said:

I did mine by hand pushed it down with a screwdriver maybe yours is stuck with rust/crud spray some releasing oil on it first

Me too. Popped right out.

[JonW]

They do rust and get stuck in place, especially if people run them in rain with the caps off. can fill with dirt too.

[peter007]

same with me large pozi screwdriver, loosened top yoke and pushed with good pressure and had the needle nose pliers ready and bobs your uncle, one side was a bit tight so a few gentle taps with a mallet on the screwdriver and it loosened

[Deleted]

You can also use mole grips under the top yoke to hold what ever you use to compress the cap down, to free up both hands and stop it from springing up. Just don't release the clamp quickly once the cir-clip is out !!!!!