reassembling fork tubes

So it's been a few weeks since I disassembled my forks (awaiting my ordered parts), and I need a reminder -

When reassembling the fork, does the large brass bushing (which sits under the oil seal) GO ON from the bottom or the top? It's very, very tight - and the bottom bush must be below it (obviously), so do I slip it on the bottom of the tube and then put the bottom bush on below it (and apply circlip to finish) OR do I put the brass bush on at the top of the tube (it just seems like it's almost too big to fit) and work it down the tube to where it seats into the bottom stanchion?

Seems the 'top down' approach makes sense (typical of other forks), but it just seems like it doesn't fit (or want to).

Thanks

It's meant to be sliding fit, try some WD 40 on it, if it doesn't slide up and down the whole length of the tube nicely with little effort you have a problem. i normally put the bottom bush and circlip in first as this sometimes requires a tap with a mallet to get the bushes on and then some kind of tool to fit the circlip so this is easier without another bush floating around on the tube. I also try the tube with only the lower bush fitted in the alloy fork bottom to make sure it also slides nicely - this way if there is some resistance you will know whether it is the bottom or top bush that is at fault.

Yes, Thanks!

I thought that had to be the case, so I checked and the brass look a little rough on the inner diameter - 10 minutes w/ some 220 sandpaper and they were ready to slide freely around the tubes - went back together in a snap.

-kjo

I just put mine together with new stanchions and bushes, and when the first time I tried it there was a good amount of sticttion, swapping bushes from one to the other solved that with no other fettling.