Fused preload front suspension adjuster

M

MorganC315

New member
Location
Burton on Trent UK
Former owner of my 668 Diamante broke off the top of one of the front preload suspension adjusters. Wanting to replace it, I unscrewed the top adjuster body and released it but still attached to the main spring in the suspension leg. Try as I may can't pull the adjuster body off the spring. Any ideas please! Thanks.
 
You need to do some google searches on servicing USD (upside down) forks. My Yamaha Kayabas require a fork spring compressor (which I made) that takes the preload off the fork cap and allows it to be unscrewed. Replacement has to be done with care to ensure the height of the cap on the threads exactly matches left-right damping adjusters. No big deal if the springs are a mm or two diff but the damping tube to its adjuster won't like being a mm or two out.
 
Do you have WP's or Paioli's? The factory workshop manuals from both WP and Laverda are available, covering dismantling and overhaul.

regards
Tom
 
TomL said:
Do you have WP's or Paioli's? The factory workshop manuals from both WP and Laverda are available, covering dismantling and overhaul.

regards
Tom
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Thanks Tom, they are Paioli's - thought a quick and simple job, just unscrew the broken preload top cap and swop out with a replacement but seems more complicated. I'll check the manual. Best regards Ray
 
piranha-bro2 said:
You need to do some google searches on servicing USD (upside down) forks. My Yamaha Kayabas require a fork spring compressor (which I made) that takes the preload off the fork cap and allows it to be unscrewed. Replacement has to be done with care to ensure the height of the cap on the threads exactly matches left-right damping adjusters. No big deal if the springs are a mm or two diff but the damping tube to its adjuster won't like being a mm or two out.
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Thanks for the words of wisdom. Ray
 
MorganC315 said:
Thanks Tom, they are Paioli's - thought a quick and simple job, just unscrew the broken preload top cap and swop out with a replacement but seems more complicated. I'll check the manual. Best regards Ray
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I can send it to you if you can't find it in the wild. No problemo.

Tom
 
The Paioli Owner's Manual that came with the bikes when delivered covers this, all the tools needed and many of the maintenance and upgrade kit tasks, worth getting a copy.
Here's a page that shows how the cap is fixed to the rod.
 

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arancia said:
The Paioli Owner's Manual that came with the bikes when delivered covers this, all the tools needed and many of the maintenance and upgrade kit tasks, worth getting a copy.
Here's a page that shows how the cap is fixed to the rod.
Click to expand...
That looks like pretty much the standard system with cartridge forks. Without knowing the intricacies of the Paiolis, and some time since I last worked on USD forks, would it be possible to undo it from the other end and remove the entire insides to better get at it?
 
Tippie said:
would it be possible to undo it from the other end and remove the entire insides to better get at it?
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I don't believe that's possible, the removal seems to be only from inside with a long tubular wrench reaching down into the leg. I last did it with a modified metal broom handle but am not confident that it was retightened adequately so I'm on the lookout for the real tool or some dimensions to make a better improvised gadget for the next time. With 20/20 hindsight, I really should have done the measurements when it was apart - just another learning point!
 
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My 'conventional' 46mm Paiolis use the same system as USDs and yes, from memory there is a tube with a thread at the bottom that screws into the slider base (exactly as it would for the USD version). I made a special tool - not difficult: a steel tube of the correct ID and a metal base with two flats welded onto one end, which mates over flats at the base of the tube in the forks. Can take a pic if you like, but there are variants for different sizes and models, and the diagrams of homemade ones are available in the internet.
 
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