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Springer fork maintenance

3250 Views 15 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  Screwy Louie
4
Hey now from NJ,

Looking to go over my springer forks, disassemble, clean, replace hardware and anything worn.
I’ve never had one apart and figured I need something to compress springs before loosening bolts that hold it together.

Any instruction steps, experience, or tools anyone can share with me?

See pics of my springer and tool I was thinking of making

Hope to hear.
Thanks
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Are you taking it apart because you think there's an issue? There's not alot of "maintenance" to do on a springer, and least not that requires disassembly. Main things would be:
  1. Not sure what brand that is, so check the legs for cracks around the crossmembers. The early cheapo springers occasionally cracked there. That front fork crossmember has a unique shape, so I'd wonder about the thinnest part in the center, too.
  2. Rocker bushings shouldn't be loo sloppy on the studs, and then make sure they're well greased.
  3. neck bearings greased.
  4. Brake anchor arm needs to be able to pivot, and be greased. I can't see in your pics how it's attached to the rear leg. if it's just bolted to the leg, that would be a problem.
  5. also as it relates to your brake anchor arm, the mount on the rear leg is higher than it should be ideally for a drum brake (that springer is typically setup for a disc brake. it should be parallel to the rocker. You may or may not notice some weirdness when braking.
  6. Make sure you have the lock tab washers on all of your rocker stud nuts.
  7. lube the spring rods (inside of the springs). an OEM springer would have zerk fittings to lube the bushings in which the rods slide, but perhaps your springer does need it?
  8. The steering stem on some of the aftermarket springers could also come loose, so check that while you're in there.
  9. your handlebar riser bushings look pretty well toasted too.
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Bushings do look too brittle for a prolonged highway run.
9
Hey Scott,
Really appreciate you help.

No issues that I’ve noticed. I was just looking to clean up the springs and check to see if the long rods that seem to hold it all together needs replacement. Looking to go over her a bit before a real ride.

so per your notes:
1. How can I tell the brand? Didn’t find any cracks anywhere.
2-3. Rocker bushings seem ok. Will do with
greasing.
4. Brake anchor arm pivots, has bushings on both ends, but only bottom has grease fitting.
5. Ok, I see it’s far from parallel. What’s the fix if any? The front brake is useless, but I figured the shoes are worn since the cable adjuster is bottomed out. Haven’t checked them yet.
6. Lock washers on all rocker stud nuts. Will do.
7. Do I need to disassemble the springs to grease the spring rod? I don’t see any grease fittings.
8. Stem doesn’t feel loose.
9. I just replaced the riser bushings. Thanks!
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Hey Scott,
Really appreciate you help.

No issues that I’ve noticed. I was just looking to clean up the springs and check to see if the long rods that seem to hold it all together needs replacement. Looking to go over her a bit before a real ride.

so per your notes:
1. How can I tell the brand? Didn’t find any cracks anywhere.
2-3. Rocker bushings seem ok. Will do with
greasing.
4. Brake anchor arm pivots, has bushings on both ends, but only bottom has grease fitting.
5. Ok, I see it’s far from parallel. What’s the fix if any? The front brake is useless, but I figured the shoes are worn since the cable adjuster is bottomed out. Haven’t checked them yet.
6. Lock washers on all rocker stud nuts. Will do.
7. Do I need to disassemble the springs to grease the spring rod? I don’t see any grease fittings.
8. Stem doesn’t feel loose.
9. I just replaced the riser bushings. Thanks!
View attachment 273092 View attachment 273093 View attachment 273094 View attachment 273095 View attachment 273096 View attachment 273097 View attachment 273098 View attachment 273099 View attachment 273100

That brake arm is at a terrible angle. It should be just under 90 deg.
That brake arm is at a terrible angle. It should be just under 90 deg.
Hello,
Any pictures of how it should look? Any way to fix with current set up?

thanks for input.
Ideally the brake anchor and rocker are parallel, otherwise you may notice screwy brake behavior when braking and the forks go up and down at all. Granted that's not that drum is not the most effective and precise brake, so perhaps you don't notice. Regardless, that's how it "should be setup. On your springer, you'd have to make a bracket with a lower anchor point.

Lastly, I see that your anchor is free where it attaches to the rear leg. That's good. But you'll need to keep that lubed (there's not zerk fitting that I see), and make sure it's using a good shoulder both, and not just riding on the threads of a plain bolt.
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Ideally the brake anchor and rocker are parallel, otherwise you may notice screwy brake behavior when braking and the forks go up and down at all. Granted that's not that drum is not the most effective and precise brake, so perhaps you don't notice. Regardless, that's how it "should be setup. On your springer, you'd have to make a bracket with a lower anchor point.

Lastly, I see that your anchor is free where it attaches to the rear leg. That's good. But you'll need to keep that lubed (there's not zerk fitting that I see), and make sure it's using a good shoulder both, and not just riding on the threads of a plain bolt.
View attachment 273102
Thanks for the support. I’ll see what I can come up with.
Hello,
Any pictures of how it should look? Any way to fix with current set up?

thanks for input.
To fix, make the inner wire of the front brake cable longer and reset the brake lever on the brake cam. The angle should be more like this:

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Thanks I’ll try that.

interesting picture. Is that a leaf spring fork?
Thanks I’ll try that.

interesting picture. Is that a leaf spring fork?
I found it by googling BSA front Brake, but can't find it again. I assume it is like this one:

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I don't think you'll need a special tool to break that down.
Yeah, I wasn’t sure, but not much of a spring load as I was thinking.

Thanks for the support
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