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What the fork

Submitted by ron_williams on Wed, 05/03/2014
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Commando

When I purchased my Commando MK3 it had already been dismantled. The forks were together but not attached to the frame. I have dismantled the forks and cleaned everything and have new bushes and seals. The Damper rod (505mm long) was badly pitted and it also had an extension screwed on the top end (168mm long) which I could not find in the parts listing or manual. I was also missing both âBush Fork Spring locatorsâ. I purchased two new damper rods and locators. These arrived and I had a trial fit. Oh, the thread on the extension is not long enough to fit the locator and a nut. Called the supplier to ask, he said the damper rod is the correct length and he said the extension should not be there. That made sense, I fitted the fork up but once the damper tube is bolted to the slider tube and the damper rod is screwed to the âbolt fork tube topâ this leaves the forks in the fully compressed position and cannot be extended. Which makes me think, should I have this mystery extension on the damper rod?

Another mystery, the new gators have and I/D of 45mm but the Collar which they should fit on is 55mm? Is this correct?

Triumph forks were so much easier.

Any help would be appreciated

Submitted by ron_williams on Wed, 05/03/2014

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As much as I hate answering myself, I may have a solution. After looking through the technical section I came across the main tube (stanchion) lenght of 231/4" wereas my ones are 29" long which would answer the mystery tube of 168mm to make up the extra 6". So did someone change the forks for the Easy Rider look? surley not. can someone cnfirm that 231/4 is correct.

And what about the Gators

Submitted by david_evans on Thu, 06/03/2014

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The bottom diameter of the gaiters look like they will never fit in a milllion years but with a lot of gentle stretching and maybe a hairdryer to warm the plastic up, they will fit.

Submitted by ian_cordes on Thu, 06/03/2014

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Silly question, but did you check that the gaiters are the same diameter at both ends? I had a similar issue with gaiters on my Matchless, until I realised that, although they look similar, one end is actually a larger diameter than the other!

Submitted by james_fanning on Sat, 08/03/2014

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Previously ron_williams wrote:

Yes, The other end is a lot smaller as this fits the stanchions.

I will try the hairdry approach.

Thanks

I think you may be talking about the small black smooth plastic gaiters that go over the top of the fork leg and snug onto the bottom of the stanchion. If so , yes you're right - heat them up until they just start to go soft and they'll be easy to stretch over the fork leg top into position. I heated mine in the oven but maybe a hair dryer will also work although you need to get them fairly hot before they soften.

 


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