Front Fork Gaitors

[DazSeaton]

Hi all,
An easy one for you. Is the best way to replace the front fork gaitors on my A10 to remove the front wheel and slide them up from the bottom? Do the gaitors fit over the mudguard support brackets on the lower fork leg. cheers Darren

[Topdad]

Hi Daz, I had a split gaitor about 2 years ago and I seem to remember dropping the forks .If thats an 8" singlesider then it's the same as mine so I think they will fit over and you could do it that way but abit of a ball ache having to dismantal the mudguard which you don't if you drop the forks and I don't think it's any quicker ,it's a matter of preference really ,it's a winters weekend job methinks regards BobH

[a101960]

Do the gaitors fit over the mudguard support brackets on the lower fork leg.

Unfortunately they do not. You will need to disconnect the brake cable and brake plate torque strap. Remove the front wheel, and the mudguard. You will also have to take off the headlamp, and remove the top nuts, and pinch bolts. Before you completely remove the top nuts give them a tap with a rubber mallet to help with releasing them from the fork yokes. A screw driver wedged in the lower yoke will help also. Do not try to do this job unless you have access to the proper service tool for pulling the legs back up. Some people say that you can use a broom handle. All I will say is that has never worked for me. I hope that this helps.
John

[RichardL]

For me and,  I'm sure, others here,  the tool for pulling up the stanchions is a ground-down top nut on the end of an all-thread rod. Then,  another nut and a spacer and Bob's your uncle.  Isn't that right Bob?

Richard L.

[Ethelred]

I followed these instructions when doing my forks recently, all went well.
http://www.a7a10.net/forum/index.php?topic=880.msg5777#msg5777

[Topdad]

Absolutely Richard regards BobH

[DazSeaton]

Hi Daz, I had a split gaitor about 2 years ago and I seem to remember dropping the forks .If thats an 8" singlesider then it's the same as mine so I think they will fit over and you could do it that way but abit of a ball ache having to dismantal the mudguard which you don't if you drop the forks and I don't think it's any quicker ,it's a matter of preference really ,it's a winters weekend job methinks regards BobH

hi bob, i presume you mean a 8" single sider axle bolt (and not the brake drum).  its dead easy to remove the brake cable, wheel & mudguard. done it before. yes, just prepping for the weekend. got to get it done before mot runs out on the 28th!!!

thanks to all for your replies. its just the rubber gaitors (bellows) i need to change not the springs. was trying to avoid knocking the forks out the steerig head.
cheers
Darren

[tombeau]

This may sound horrible...
I fitted a set of gaitors on my R100s commuter hack to protect the stantions. I sliced them up the back with a scalpel put them round the fork legs, and superglued them back together. They were still fine when I sold the bike 2 years later.

[Topdad]

I like that idea, talk about "thinking out of the box " 'course you'd have to be neat but certainly a way to save time ,Regards BobH

[bsa-bill]

sliced them up the back with a scalpel put them round the fork legs, and superglued them back together

It used to be possible (maybe still is) to get O ring kits that contained  lengths of various thickness round rubber a razor blade a tube of super glue and a guide for cutting the rubber at right angles.
Measure the rubber cut and glue the two ends together and bingo an O ring, our workshop lads used them a lot, quicker than sourcing  a proper spare in the days when boxes of O ring were not available

Damn looks like I'm in "in my day mode" again

[fido]

......Damn looks like I'm in "in my day mode" again

Yes, after doing that you could go to the pictures, get a fish & chip supper, get the bus home and still have change from a shilling 

[bsa-bill]

get a fish & chip supper,

Aye lad and it was proper fish , none of your Vietnamese cobbler rubbish

[Jules]

no extra cost for the worms in the cod these days too, from what I hear 

[DazSeaton]

all done, dead easy. gaitors just fitted over the mudguard brackets.
noticed the tax disc holder has sheared off now and taken the tax disc with it.
I bet they charge for a replacement even though the original is free. hey ho.