Wingnut Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 I'm replacing the stock fork cartridges and springs on my 2019 Tracer with Ohlins. The NIX 30's have their own tool requirements. Question: if I'm essentially "gutting" the innards of the stock Yamaha fork tubes, re-using nothing, do I need to disassemble them? (remove springs using a compression tool) or can I just hold the assembly while removing the bottom cartridge bolt? This is a one -shot deal so I'm reluctant to spend money on special tools that I'd never need again. I can make my own pull-up tool and cartridge wrench. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteinpa Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 Best video I've found. Will answer all questions. You "can" go homemade on a spring compressor, wood, metal,... You Tube again. I figure all the money I'm saving on labor, a little can go towards tools. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporting Member piotrek Posted January 10, 2021 Supporting Member Share Posted January 10, 2021 (edited) If you're not keeping anything, unsrew top cap from fork tube, dump the oil, undo the bolt at bottom (need a long hex bit) and remove the assembly. Edited January 10, 2021 by piotrek 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteinpa Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 Still need the spring compressor to get the fork cap. Unless even that is replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporting Member piotrek Posted January 10, 2021 Supporting Member Share Posted January 10, 2021 12 minutes ago, peteinpa said: Still need the spring compressor to get the fork cap. Unless even that is replaced. He's replacing it all but the fork tubes. It helps to use an impact driver to undo the cartridge bolts, but not necessary. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteinpa Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 WOW, that's some kit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporting Member betoney Posted January 10, 2021 Supporting Member Share Posted January 10, 2021 23 minutes ago, peteinpa said: Still need the spring compressor to get the fork cap. Unless even that is replaced. Replacement cartridges use custom fork caps, the cartridge, spring and cap are assembled as one unit, pull out the old one and drop in the new one. 2 ***2015 Candy Red FJ-09*** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingnut Posted January 11, 2021 Author Share Posted January 11, 2021 Ya, "some kit", pushing a grand 🙄. I'd love to do all my own machine work but I lost most of my years of acquired tools to an ex's lawyer. The cost of replacing all that and STILL doing all the work didn't make sense so opted for a "someone else figured it all out" kit. I get a lot of satisfaction making my own tools, but I can't help but grind the molars a bit when I see obscene prices for little stamped out pieces of crap (I've had that job a few times). Curse of my background. Hey all, thanks for everything!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buggy Nate Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 Still need to take the cap of to set the fork oil height correctly and/or bleed the cartridges. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingnut Posted January 12, 2021 Author Share Posted January 12, 2021 46mm socket for the cap. oil level set with slurp tube (motion pro-like thing). It'll all be set before assembly. I've rethunk my original post, the damper rod rotates freely in the damper tube when hot connected to the fork cap, not much help in holding the cartridge from rotating when removing the bottom retainer bolt. Other manufacturers have a slot or groove in the bottom of the fork stanchion that mates with the cartridge foot. So other than aligning and seating the damper tube foot before cranking on the retainer bolt there're no special tools req'd. Since Yamaha offers the tool I'm assuming that design feature isn't present in my fork tubes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingnut Posted January 12, 2021 Author Share Posted January 12, 2021 I can't find a picture anywhere of an actual stock fork cartridge, much less the foot of one. Not in service manual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingnut Posted January 12, 2021 Author Share Posted January 12, 2021 But the NIX 30's have round feet so I guess that kind of parks the concept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wingnut Posted January 12, 2021 Author Share Posted January 12, 2021 (edited) THIS ...is NUTS! https://www.partsvu.com/damper-rod-holder-90890-01582-00.html It's a piece of 30mm tubing with notches at one end to engage the cartridge to keep it from turning while torqueing the retainer bolt. It isn't massive, it isn't built to jam into the wheels of an attacking M-1Abrams, it's just to keep a slippery hard-to-reach component from rotating until the bolt bites. Unbelievable usury. Yes, I know that Motion Pro makes one too but it's too short, disappears into the fork stanchion, requires some garage McGyvering to use it. Edited January 12, 2021 by Wingnut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporting Member betoney Posted January 12, 2021 Supporting Member Share Posted January 12, 2021 34 minutes ago, Wingnut said: THIS ...is NUTS! https://www.partsvu.com/damper-rod-holder-90890-01582-00.html It's a piece of 30mm tubing with notches at one end to engage the cartridge to keep it from turning while torqueing the retainer bolt. It isn't massive, it isn't built to jam into the wheels of an attacking M-1Abrams, it's just to keep a slippery hard-to-reach component from rotating until the bolt bites. Unbelievable usury. Yes, I know that Motion Pro makes one too but it's too short, disappears into the fork stanchion, requires some garage McGyvering to use it. If I remember correctly, a few years ago someone here made one like this out of PVC tubing. Motion Pro Damper Rod Fork Tool ***2015 Candy Red FJ-09*** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supporting Member piotrek Posted January 12, 2021 Supporting Member Share Posted January 12, 2021 (edited) 55 minutes ago, Wingnut said: THIS ...is NUTS! https://www.partsvu.com/damper-rod-holder-90890-01582-00.html It's a piece of 30mm tubing with notches at one end to engage the cartridge to keep it from turning while torqueing the retainer bolt. I made one here... but again, you don't need it to remove the OE cart, and your new NIX carts will need a different tool anyway. Didn't you say the kit comes with tools to install? Edited January 12, 2021 by piotrek 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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