Well, now that it’s running, time for one of the last bits of strip, clean, inspect and paint… the front Wheel, front Forks and the brake Calipers…
So I set to taking the front wheel off, removing the disks and stripping it back for paint… at the same time I start to clean and inspect then wire brush the Front Forks ready for some Black Hammerite…
It goes well for a while, until I realize that the bottom of one of the forks has a chunk missing… this means that only half the spindle would be gripped and I’m not happy with that on a 100mph machine…
I wish I’d spotted it before 30 minutes of Wire brushing – forks were near ready to paint and I’d also drained ready to refill with Fork oil…
Yuk – dwelling on my options, I decide to find a good second hand pair on my favourite auction site and continue with removing them from the Yokes.
Only problem one of the M10 Bolts is rounded and shows evidence of Mole grips… one fork off, one stuck in it’s place… I try my favourite routine of drill and screw extractor to no avail… this time the extractor – albeit cheap and chinese, snaps in place and that’s back to the drawing board…
A bit of YouTube surfing later and I decide on the best course of action.. I find a Splined socket and proceed with a Big Hammer, to make the Bolt it’s new best friend… boom – it gives in and I’ve got both forks out…
It’s a voyage of discovery and this way at least once finished I know that every part is either sound, cleaned and painted, or replaced and re-fitted with new Bolts as required. New M10 Bolts on there way, as are a pair of second user forks…
Now I just have to get the splined socket out…