DAMN O rings

1up3down · Sep 16, 2015

ok so my front forks where clanging a bit when brake applied, could hear the rattle inside the fork ears that hold the headlight

ordered in 6 new O rings, 3 to go in each upper fork slider

except, really could not get any to fit in there, yes I lubed up the O rings and slid them in place and...could not..get the tubes to slide in place

the O rings were blocking, stopping, even with two of us with strong hands we could not shove the upper tubes in place without dislodging the new O rings

in the end we managed to get one O ring shoved down about a half inch from above, could get nothing in place coming up

so is this a joke, how DO you guys install those O rings, or do you even know their function or that they are even in there from 45 years ago?

signed: resigned to defeat

L.A.B. · Sep 16, 2015

1up3down said:
in the end we managed to get one O ring shoved down about a half inch from above, could get nothing in place coming up

I don't understand what you are doing?

Sorry to ask what could be a daft question but you aren't trying to install the O-rings INSIDE the headlamp brackets by any chance?

Changaroo · Sep 17, 2015

Further to what L.A.B. wrote. The O Rings go between the ends of the headlamp ears and the upper and lower fork yokes/triple trees. Two on the bottom and one on the top on each side.
David

milfordite · Sep 18, 2015

Use a bit of silicone to hold the o-rings in place while you slide in the tubes.

1up3down · Sep 18, 2015

Further to what L.A.B. wrote. The O Rings go between the ends of the headlamp ears and the upper and lower fork yokes/triple trees. Two on the bottom and one on the top on each side.
David

yes, I know where they go

the problem was trying to get them in place

we tried every way we could think of, we first slid them over the upper tubes prior to insertion into the ear, nope, too tight - no movement

we then put them in place inside the ears but when we tried to slide the tube inside no go, the O rings blocked, stopped, upward movement

what IS the procedure ?

L.A.B. · Sep 18, 2015

1up3down said:
we first slid them over the upper tubes prior to insertion into the ear, nope, too tight - no movement

we then put them in place inside the ears but when we tried to slide the tube inside no go,

What do you actually mean by: "inside the ears"? I can't think what it is that you are trying to do?

Are you sure you have the correct size O-rings?

1up3down · Sep 18, 2015

Hi Les !

By "ears" I am referring to the hollow tubes that the upper fork legs slide into, these ears also hold the headlight in place.

the manual shows three O rings inside the ear tubes that stop the ability of the fork upper tubes from rattling inside the tubes

mine only rattle when the front brake is applied, which is necessarily quite often whilst riding

I don't know how to better describe the function and supposed placement of said O rings, which are, yes, the correct size and properly sourced from the very credible supplier here across the pond, OldBritts of Fred and Ellla fame.

I will continue to suffer silently, defeated

rattle on !

L.A.B. · Sep 18, 2015

1up3down said:
Hi Les !

By "ears" I am referring to the hollow tubes that the upper fork legs slide into, these ears also hold the headlight in place.

the manual shows three O rings inside the ear tubes that stop the ability of the fork upper tubes from rattling inside the tubes

No, the O-rings don't fit INSIDE the tubes. They just sit outside at each end of the tube so fit in the yoke recesses between the tube and the upper and lower yokes .

L.A.B. · Sep 18, 2015

The two lower O-rings fit in the lower yoke recess, and the bracket tube just sits on top of them:

The single upper O-ring fits in the recess on the underside of the upper yoke (hold in place with grease or silicone)

So what you should ultimately end up with, is the three O-rings positioned each end of the tube as shown below, two at the lower end (shown left) and one at the upper end:

BritTwit · Sep 18, 2015

This is just a fiddly process until you get the hang of it.

1up3down · Sep 18, 2015

ah !

got it, thanks Les !

kerinorton · Sep 18, 2015

I had the same trouble when I restored my 71 750/. I ended up refitting the flat section square/rectangular rings it originally came with.
Dereck

MikeM · Sep 19, 2015

I have the same issue on my 71. The O rings are certainly gone and disintigrated. To replace them do the forks have to be dis assembled?
Top nuts off, dampners removed etc? Is there a way to secure the brackets without taking the whole thing apart?
My headlamp rattles around and that cant be good for the bulb. Believe it or not it says Lucas on it. I cant believe its still the original.

L.A.B. · Sep 19, 2015

MikeM said:
I have the same issue on my 71. The O rings are certainly gone and disintigrated. To replace them do the forks have to be dis assembled?
Top nuts off, dampners removed etc?

Not completely disassembled, but the fork legs have to be dropped, and that does involve disconnecting the damper rods from the cap nuts and the lower yoke also needs to be dropped slightly to release the headlamp bracket tubes from the yokes.

MikeM said:
Is there a way to secure the brackets without taking the whole thing apart?

You mean...bodge it? :wink:

You could try pumping some silicone sealant in around the tube ends but don't overdo it, or you could make it difficult to drop the forks out in the future?

L.A.B. · Sep 19, 2015

Thinking about this some more, if the fork legs were dropped just clear of the upper yoke and the lower yoke is dropped as mentioned before, if the yokes were then twisted out of alignment I think it might be possible to remove the brackets without completely dropping the forks and could probably be done with the wheel in situ?

Torontonian · Sep 19, 2015

It's very easy to remove the front wheel to allow for the drop. Big wood to support the front under motor. A strap sling ratchet to a garage joist another idea. :!:

DAMN O rings

1up3down

L.A.B.

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Changaroo

milfordite

1up3down

L.A.B.

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1up3down

L.A.B.

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L.A.B.

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1up3down

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MikeM

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Torontonian

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