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Fork Shroud Gap

Submitted by Andy Holbrook on Friday, 29 August, 2025 - 10:48
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Heavy Twins

Has any body had this on a Dominator.
Where a gap opens up below the fork shroud .
Any info on this would be appreciated.
                     Andy

Attachments
Dominator fork gap.jpg

Submitted by howard_robinson on Friday, 29 August, 2025 - 12:27

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Hello Andy - It looks as though you haven't got the damper rod screwed properly into the top nut. It needs to be as far into the top nut thread as possible before you tighten the lock nut.  Are both sides showing the gap ?  Have you just reassembled the forks or has this gap just suddenly appeared ?  The damper seems to have bottomed at the extent of the rods travel and the weight of the forks and front wheel are held by the damper nut alone.  As you screw the damper rod further into the top nut the damper rod effectively shortens and the gap will disappear.  I assume that the top nuts are fully engaged in the stanchion tubes.  Good luck, Howard

i have a similar fault with a pair of roadholders and it seems the damper rod is longer than another set of roadholers i have which fit correctly. so i guess the wrong damper rod is fitted.
regarding the fork top nut. fitting the damper rod first and locating the fork nut central into the stantion is no easy task with shrouds fitted  

Submitted by Andy Holbrook on Sunday, 31 August, 2025 - 12:12

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I know what you mean about getting the top nut in.
I find if you use a bike lift orientated towards the front of the bike, you can lift and lower the postion of the rod and spring to make fitting the nut a whole lot easier. You can bring the nut right up to the start of the thread, then a little hand pressure to get the thread engaged.

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Bike lift.jpg

Thanks Howard, I tapped out the top nut as deep as it would allow, then reduced the width of the lock nut.
This has made a difference. There is a tiny gap now. I'm going to reduce the length of the damper rod only by 3/16" / 1/8", run the thread down a little more . Then it will tuck under fully.

Attachments
Improved shroud gap.jpg

Submitted by dan_field on Sunday, 31 August, 2025 - 14:01

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By doing that you are reducing fork travel, I'm sure I read somewhere about the different length shrouds that were used, and I guess its possible that yours aren't the right ones? Or that you've got longer damper tubes.  I think RGM give dimensions if it helps!

 



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