XJ650RJ Fork disassembly?

82 XJ650RJ Seca

I am attempting to disassemble the forks. Photos on line show at the top of the tube (at triple clamp) a snap ring holding the spring retainer. I have no snap ring or groove to hold a snap ring??????????? The spring retainer will depress a little when pushed down. I have found no way to remove the spring retainer.
At the bottom of the fork leg there is the 9mm socket head bolt that I believe is connected to the damper piston assembly.

I plan to replace the fork seals, change the 30 yo oil, and buff the lower legs.

I have done a web search and have not found any post with photos that are still posted.

Thanks Curt

 

loosen the bolt that holds the tube in the tripple tree then you will be able to push it down enough to see the clip
you have to remove the bolt at the bottom a little heat to soften the locktite and a broom handel from the top to hold the dampen piston

page 156 to 164 haynes manual

manual also shows the homemade tool to sub as broom handel

page 160 RJ drawing

 

remove front tire to take the load off of the spring or that cap will come flying out with the spring

this link will help
Fork Seals, 85 XJ700N, picture heavy

 

you may need to make a tool and bolt it inplace at handelber mounts. thread a hole use a bolt to push down cap. I used a 3/4 inch plywood and a lag bolt predrill hole and put small socket on end of bolt

 

I was wrong, there is a wire retraining clip that holds the spring cap in place. I compress the spring cap to where I could get under the wire clip and worked it out.

The old oil in the fork was very dirty.

Now to remove the bolt to separate the upper from the lower fork legs.

My weight is 200lbs, what weight fork oil should I use? For my BMW R100GS I move to 10W from 7.5W to increase the dampening, improved handling on rough roads.

 

7.18 oz 10w fork oil is spec some go to 15w fork oil.

i think 7.5 is a lighter oil than 10w and give you a softer front end response

check your inbox

 

^ what he said. 15.