Triumphrat

Thunder_Forever · 08-23-2005

Me and a buddy jumped right in and threw the fork gaiters on in no time flat. You can talk about something for so long but when you actually do it, it's much less complicated. Thanks to Triumph for making a very simple a classic machine!
Also thanks to all on the forum for the wonderful tips. They helped.

GaryD · 08-23-2005

Way to go! Sometimes those too timid to plunge in on their own and do their own wrenching get tiresome and its refreshing to hear someone went ahead and found the water was just as shallow and warm as everyone told them.

ChuckofTahoe · 08-25-2005

While on this topic, does anyone know what the purpose of the plastic flange thing on the front of the front fork is for?

To me it seems to detract from the beauty of the stainless steele fork.

badrufus · 08-25-2005

The plastic flange is a stone guard. It does detract, but one stone nick is all it takes to develop a nasty fork seal leak. You can take them off it you want; they just sit in a grove and if you take the forks out, one at a time, you can carefully knock the guards out of the groove with a block of wood and rubber mallet. Or take em out and put gaitors on.

thunder_forever,
I too was pretty nervous as this was one of the first mods I did, and you have to take the forks out, but when you finally do it, it works, and they look great. Then you realize that alot of these things are just a matter of having the right tools, reading the instructions three times, asking questions when you need to, and most of all--just doing it. Then the first time you screw something up it, seems like the world will end for a minute, or ten, and then you have a beer, or three, and figure out if you can fix it and how, and shortly it's fixed or in the process of being fixed. Then you know that screwing it up doesn't end the world or even the bike, and then you get to hear about other people's screw-ups and after awhile have some funny stories to tell. It all starts with those gaitors.

ChuckofTahoe · 08-25-2005

Well that is a good reason to have them.

I am leaving them. In general I am finding that the stock bike is extremely well thought out and I am taking a go slow approach to mods. I can see the need for louder pipes eventually but I am going to wait a couple of thousand miles before doing this just so that I really get to know the bike first.

Thanks Badrufus.

Quote:

On 2005-08-25 00:07, badrufus wrote:
The plastic flange is a stone guard. It does detract, but one stone nick is all it takes to develop a nasty fork seal leak. You can take them off it you want; they just sit in a grove and if you take the forks out, one at a time, you can carefully knock the guards out of the groove with a block of wood and rubber mallet. Or take em out and put gaitors on.

Tenover · 09-27-2005

I will be installing gaiters probably this weekend, if I can gather the nerve.....I bought a Triumph Shop Manual today, did you follow the fork removal instructions from there? Also, I have no way of getting my front wheel off the ground, is there an easy, cheap method for this one time, until I can afford a jack or center stand? Thanks for any tips!

50yrDream · 09-28-2005

I don't know how to do Quote thingie but Chuck of Tahoe said it best for me too(except my megapones should arrive any day now) :hammer:

Tenover · 09-28-2005

Well.....I'm up to "A couple thousand miles", so I figure it's time to do it... :razz: Plus, the Shop Manual is pretty good in my opinion, and they explain exactly how to remove the front wheel and fork(s). Just wanted some reinforcement!

Thunder_Forever · 09-28-2005

Tenover,
I left the front wheel on the forks, and just pulled the caliper. Then pulled both forks right out of the triple tree. This was easier than any other way I have read about.

jlzmeehan · 10-02-2005

Yeah,leaving the wheel on would work ,but you would have to elevate the bike at least a foot off the ground to be able to pull the forks all the way out.

With a good lift,that makes for a good short cut.