How in the hell do you get the springs compressed and the fork nut back on?? I've got the bike on a jack, and have the fork nut, and a fairly accomplished wrench helping me. We can't get the freekin nut back in the fork...????

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I'll assume you watched the DVD first. The other trick I have seen here, is to test fit and mark the nut prior to installing the spring & spacer. Use a marker pen to create an alignment mark on the nut and fork body to note the nut position where the threads just start to engage. That way when you push down on the nut it will only take a slight twist before the threads catch.

 

Hmmm... I did it all by myself...

Put my leather gloves on for sure grip... the down tube in one hand and the nut in the other and just pushed and twisted...

Maybe you're not hold your mouth right or something...

Charlie D.

 

Marking the thread start point helped me. Also a tee handle socket wrench helps keep the nut square to the threads.

 

Well Randy, did you figure out how to get it in the hole yet?

 

No, I guess I'm gonna hafta put some fur around that hole. I'm waiting on my "assistant".

 

It can suck sometimes....... I found that kicking things did not help, yelling gave the same results.
I just kept messing with it and it finally went.
The thing that sucks is that now I have some progressive springs that have been in the garage over a year because my damn toe still hasn't healed from the first go round with that darn nut.

 

Hey ECVJOHN I resemble that remark !

 

Charly, no, I didn't watch the DVD until you mentioned it, but it didn't really help except to point out why I was having a problem.

My problems were due to my bike being a LOW model. First of all, there is VERY little clearance between the bars and the fork nut. Secondly, the shorter forks I guess make for more spring to compress, and thirdly, the LOW takes over a half an ounce more of fork oil.

Once I acquired a palm wratchet, and removed the handlebars, it was quite simple to put the Genie back in the bottle. In other words, the left fork took 3 days, the right fork took 20 minutes, and that included a beer break.

I think you can see in my sig pic, just how tight that fork nut is to the bars on the 883L model.

 

I didn't hesitate to take the bars off, it was still a tough job. Them springs are stiff. They feel much better going down the road though!