Front fork issue

Hey guys. I received my new oil seals for my 1985 xj700n. I am stuck. The manual says that there is a special tool you have to use to stick down the inner fork tube to hold the damper I think so you can get the Allen bolt out of the bottom of the outer tube to get them apart. Does anyone have any tricks to get the Allen screw out as I don't have this tool and not exactly sure what it is since it just gives me a part number in the manual. Any help is appreciated thanks

 

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... +tool.html

 

So I tried the 19 mm bolt welded to a piece of rebar. I did not have any luck. It seemed to me that it was too small. Looking in the tube from the top it looks more like a 10 sided instead of 6 sided. I don't know I checked out all the info that I could find in the forums. Since mine is an 1985 xj700n is it possible that it's different? Thanks again guys

 

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=41895.html
Here are some pictures of the inside of my fork.

The Damper rod is what the allen bolt screws into, with the oil lock(brass thing) and lower fork tube sandwiched in between. You can jam a dowel rod, broom stick or anything the right size down the fork to lightly hold the damper tube while you turn the allen bolt. My 82 Seca 750 had no indentation in the top for a tool to grab into.

 

I'm new to the whole fork thing. I am not sure on your pics which is the damper rod?

 

It's the grey looking thing to the left of the fork spring.

 

In the pictures at the bottom of the thread there are some pictures showing the damper rod and oil lock in various states of assembly

 

Go here and see if other XJ's are the same

http://www.yamahapartshouse.com/oempart ... front-fork

 

Thanks for the info guys. All I am trying to do is change my oil seals and I haven't had any luck getting the inner tube out of the outer. I can crank on the allen at the bottom all day long and nothing. I've tried pretty much every thing that has been suggested and that I've read to hold the damper rod. Do these usually take alot to break the allen loose? Getting frustrated! Lol gonna have to start slamming beers soon!

 

I use a broom handle and jam it in there, if that doesn't work I take it to work and use an impact gun

 

Email Chacal (XJ4EVER) he will know the size if as you say its not 19MM ...are you positive you used a 19mm size old mate?

 

If I remember correctly, we had another member recently going through this with a later 700 and it turned out his damper rod needed a 22mm instead of the more common 19mm.

 

Yes I definitely used a 19 mm/3/4. That would explain the problem Fitz thanks

 

I have a steel rod that has a bolt head welded on the bottom........not sure of the size off the top of my head, though. It works great. the opposite end of it has two flat landings ground onto it so that a big wrench can be put on it to hold it.

That was made for me by another list member, and I will be eternally grateful.

Dave Fox

 

This site is awesome........couldn't have figured this out without the help of the group