Front fork compression damping adjuster

[nickodemon]

Decided to set up the front forks on my recently acquired gen 1 and found the compression damping adjusters at the bottom of the fork legs seized solid. Anyone have useful tips to free them off. I have given them a good soaking with silkopen, but i think it will require another method, Cheers.

[Falcon 269]

Unlucky, mate.  I had similar problems with some R1 forks and it took several days of soaking with penetrating fluid to do the job.  That was with the forks off the bike and held horizontal so that the fluid could be pooled directly onto the screw.

The threads on these parts are fine so you can't really get heavy with impact tools or the like.

You could try heat/cold, and also consider the freeze-type penetrating sprays.

Good luck.

[nickodemon]

Thanks Mike, I think i'll need it!

[nickodemon]

Tried heating the damping adjusters with a blow torch to try and get them to free off   No joy. I don't want to use too much force as the adjuster screws are in good condition and i don't want to chew them. I'll keep spraying silkopen at them for the next few days. On a brighter note the exup valve allen bolts came out . Two came out no problem, but the bottom one was mostly rotted away, so i hammered a tight fitting  torx socket and it came out at the first attempt   Replaced them with stainless allen bolts and loads of copper grease.

[ghostbiker]

Yeah i had my adjusters siezed up to. i was lucky in that they were stuck in a fairly good position for me, not ideal but was ok.

I left them alone for the first year then when i had the front forks worked over by Ktec for full revalve/spings etc they managed to get them out although they did have to replace them by the time they got them out. but only charged a couple quid each to do so.

i think most ppl just leave them be once set up so they never get moved and just sieze up with road crap and lack of use.

Grats on the exup valve service.... go buy a lotto ticket quick :P

[nickodemon]

Just ordered some freeze spray off fleabay. Give it a try when it arrives

[phil on a fazer]

the problem is where they are located...low down on the forks so close to water/road crud.
 
If some one machined some form of cap to go over them i for one would certainly buy them. 
 
mine have always been seized, tried penetrating spray to no avail. Getting a K-tech rebuild next month hopefully so will see what happens.

[1967fazer]

Ahh so thats what they're for, might have to check mine out!

[nickodemon]

Tried freeze spray a couple of times - Still no movement

[nickodemon]

Put the bike into the local bike shop to have swing arm bearing fitted and asked them to have a look at the compression damping adjusters while it was there. Picked the bike up and was told that they had freed off.   I asked if they could feel the adjuster click as it rotated, he replied that he didn't notice, so i drove it home and checked myself.   The adjuster turns, but so does the alloy/ aluminium outer sleeve. 'no clicking'   The adjuster rotates about two turns in ether direction and stops. The question i have is the adjuster still 'adjusting' with the outer sleeve attached or does it have to rotate seperately? 

[devilsyam]

back to the shop bud they done fooked it

[Falcon 269]

What our technical expert really means is that they've most likely stripped the thread between the adjuster screw holder and the fork lower.  It's a very fine thread and easily damaged. 

My guess is they either took an impact tool to the screw and the holder shifted instead or they removed the holder to release the screw and cross-threaded it on re-assembly.

Either way, Luke's right.  You need to go back and discuss this with them because if there's a problem with the holder, the fork leg is a write-off.  

[nickodemon]

Apparently they used oxy - cetalene blow torch on it for 45 mins

[steeeve66]

i wrote to Yamaha with a view to get them to issue replacement adjusters instead of writing off the whole fork lower - here's their response:


Thank you for your email, regarding the Front Forks on your 2004 model Yamaha FZS1000, the details of which have been noted for our files.

We have in this instance referred your enquiry to our Parts and Accessories Department, who has advised, that due to its design, the Compression Damping Adjusting Screw, is not available separately.

We thank you for taking the time to contact as and hope the above may clarity your enquiry.

Regards,

Customer Service
Service Department
After Sales Division
___________________________________________________
Y A M A H A  M O T O R  ( U K )  L T D
Sopwith Drive
Brooklands
Weybridge
Surrey  KT13 0UZ
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail:
Website:   +44 (0) 1932 358000
+44 (0) 1932 358030
cust.service@yamaha-motor.co.uk
www.yamaha-motor.co.uk



if we all wrote and hassled them something might change(?), i found their response a tad irritating tho ("..due to it's design..."??)

[Gnasher]

From memory you should be able to remove the adjuster by unscrewing it from the lower leg, this make it easy to get at the adjuster screw.  Try pen oil from the back or a little heat to the outside I've released a few in the past using both methods that said yours may be past saving these are not one of the bike strong points.