revtothelimit - motorbike forum

So, more stupid questions.

I'm attempting to fit my new Gilles risers. I need to remove the stock ones and to do that I need to undo the nut underneath the top fork yoke (x2). It's specced to 40nm. It's really tight for space. I can just about get my 14mm onto it square, but not much of an angle to turn it. Anyway, my first couple of attempts were futile. I've looked at a breaker bar, but I don't think I have the room to use one due to the chunkiness of the breaker bar end. The headstock and fork legs are very much in the way.

Before spending/wasting more money on this, should I just get a workshop to do it?

I f##kin hate spannering.

Yes

Sounds like you're making it harder by taking the shortcut of not removing the top yoke. If you're not competent or not confident to do that then better bring it to a workshop.

The Gilles manual doesn't state that the top yoke needs removed. I'll get in touch with Paddock tomorrow and see what they quote.

Looks like you'd get in there with a long socket or perhaps a 3/8 bar. Can't imagine there's any need to remove the top yoke.

The still's from here if it helps:

Thanks Chris. It's a standard ratchet bar, so not much leverage.

The area under the top yoke will be pretty crowded, so you might find that a long extension bar means you can get at the nut and the ratchet driver can operate in a much bigger arc. As long as there is line of sight from the ratchet to the nut, it doesn't matter how long the extension bar is. I bought a selection of different sized 'long' extension bars and they have been so useful.

These are the ones I bought:


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403727890331

I have short extension bars which make it easier. I can get the socket onto the nut nice and square, just can't budge the bugger.

You need a length of scaffold pole (or similar) to slip over the ratchet handle. Leverage is your friend, as Archimedes might have said...

Give me a shout if you want to borrow any tools, I'm only in Nantwich.

Thanks everyone. I'm only over in Congleton @ChrisW I'll see how I get on.

Ask the supplier. There may be a knack to it

Well I've managed to remove the air scoops from in front of the tank (thanks pop rivets) so that gives me loads more space to undo these nuts. I've also decided to go and get a 6pt socket for this nut as that will give me a better chance of removing these. All the sockets I have are 12 pt and more chance of rounding the nut as it's quite a bit of torque.

I have a short wobbly extension as below which is very useful for this kind of thing. I also have a full universal joint but that tends to lock up.

I hope I will be fine now. A better socket with a breaker bar should work. Just down to me now.... *gulp*

I know this is trivial to many on here, but it's a big deal that I get this done myself.

Take the top yoke off, makes it much easier.

Success. New risers will be fitted today.

tricol wrote: Fri Nov 17, 2023 9:05 am Success. New risers will be fitted today.

Tell us more.

I bought these: https://www.gillestooling.com/shop/hand ... -kit?c=185 from Calsport. Must say, they're beautifully made, really high quality, which you'd expect from Gilles. Fully adjustable, up to 24mm lower and roughly the same forward and backwards. Planning on running them as low as possible and a touch more forward.

i meant about how you got the nut off