GSX1400 Owners .org

Technically Speaking => Suspension => Topic started by: Chappers on Thursday, 11 September 2025, 12:24 AM

Title: Replacing fork tubes
Post by: Chappers on Thursday, 11 September 2025, 12:24 AM
Can the fork tubes be changed without stripping all the internals out ?
cheers guys
Title: Re: Replacing fork tubes
Post by: SpongeBob on Thursday, 11 September 2025, 01:35 AM
If you have the OEM damping cartridges, then nope: the extension stopper ring is attached inside the bottom of the stanchions.
Maxton SD25cartridges have internal extension stoppers, so the stanchion stopper rings are not required -- actually they must be removed. With those cartridges, you can remove/change stanchions without removing the cartridges, as with most, I think, USD forks (At least that's the case with Marzocchi USD forks)
Title: Re: Replacing fork tubes
Post by: seth on Thursday, 11 September 2025, 02:37 AM
Quote from: Chappers on Thursday, 11 September  2025, 12:24 AMCan the fork tubes be changed without stripping all the internals out ?
cheers guys
As said earlier yes but need the correct ones as earlier (upto end of k4) and later (k5 onwards) are totally different internally and nothing is interchangeable.
Title: Re: Replacing fork tubes
Post by: Chappers on Thursday, 11 September 2025, 04:44 AM
Quote from: seth on Thursday, 11 September  2025, 02:37 AM
Quote from: Chappers on Thursday, 11 September  2025, 12:24 AMCan the fork tubes be changed without stripping all the internals out ?
cheers guys
As said earlier yes but need the correct ones as earlier (upto end of k4) and later (k5 onwards) are totally different internally and nothing is interchangeable.

Mines a 2007, if they can't be changed without a complete strip then i may send them to Brooks, is there a how to on here, can't find one.
Title: Re: Replacing fork tubes
Post by: KiwiCol on Thursday, 11 September 2025, 06:16 AM
A complete strip on the fork internals sounds daunting, but it actually is very do-able for anyone with a bit of hands on approach.  Dave has an instruction step by step tutorial to remove, strip, clean & replace the oil for the forks.  I've done it a couple of times & it's ok, just takes a bit of patience. 

This fork oil how to will get the forks stripped down:  https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=188.0
Title: Re: Replacing fork tubes
Post by: Chappers on Friday, 12 September 2025, 04:44 PM
Quote from: KiwiCol on Thursday, 11 September  2025, 06:16 AMA complete strip on the fork internals sounds daunting, but it actually is very do-able for anyone with a bit of hands on approach.  Dave has an instruction step by step tutorial to remove, strip, clean & replace the oil for the forks.  I've done it a couple of times & it's ok, just takes a bit of patience. 

This fork oil how to will get the forks stripped down:  https://gsx1400owners.org/forum/index.php?topic=188.0

Thanks for the link, I followed that guide a couple of years ago to change the oil but I need to change the tubes and can't remember if they just pull out or is there more to it.
Title: Re: Replacing fork tubes
Post by: KiwiCol on Friday, 12 September 2025, 07:29 PM
Take out the clip that sits above the seal & the 2 will pull apart.
Title: Re: Replacing fork tubes
Post by: Andre on Friday, 12 September 2025, 08:38 PM
Top Secret tip (don't tell anyone else): Workshop manual.
Title: Re: Replacing fork tubes
Post by: Chappers on Friday, 12 September 2025, 10:01 PM
Quote from: Andre on Friday, 12 September  2025, 08:38 PMTop Secret tip (don't tell anyone else): Workshop manual.

I've got two  :facepalm:  :whistling:
Title: Re: Replacing fork tubes
Post by: Chappers on Friday, 12 September 2025, 10:02 PM
Quote from: KiwiCol on Friday, 12 September  2025, 07:29 PMTake out the clip that sits above the seal & the 2 will pull apart.

Excellent, thank you  :salute:
Title: Re: Replacing fork tubes
Post by: Hooli on Saturday, 13 September 2025, 11:21 PM
Quote from: KiwiCol on Friday, 12 September  2025, 07:29 PMTake out the clip that sits above the seal & the 2 will pull apart.

Why have I never thought of that before? it's so obvious that'd work!
But then I like to flush the bottom of the legs with a swirl of petrol/degreaser to remove the sludge from the old oil & would rather have the cartridge out before I do that so I can wash them clean before adding new oil.
Title: Re: Replacing fork tubes
Post by: Kiwifruit on Monday, 15 September 2025, 08:08 AM
Good advice Hooli, I was shocked at how much sludge was in the bottom of each leg when I changed the oil in mine.
Title: Re: Replacing fork tubes
Post by: Eric GSX1400K3 on Monday, 15 September 2025, 10:32 AM
Each time I've rebuilt mine, Idrain all the old oil, pump the cartridge and then fill about 1/3 to 1/2 with kerosene before removing and pump the cartridge until all flushed out, a lot of gunk gets caught in the small passageways, a good flush of them and the bottom of the stanchion definitely helps.  Could use petrol, but thats a solvent and any potentially left in is not good for new fork oil.