Today we’ll work on the front end.
It’s nice that there are so few component parts.
A cap with a structure where the stroke doesn’t change even when preload is applied.
Excellent.
The better the finish looks, the better.
We use SKF seals. These seals will stiffen over time, so lubrication will be necessary.
It’s quite a fussy design.
The fork oil isn’t in too bad a condition.
There are a few scratches and some shine, but I’ll polish and smooth them out.
No runout on either side—reassuring. Finding runout at this stage always gets me down.
There’s not much point in measuring, but just to be safe…
Surprisingly low spring rate.
Let’s check the position where the axle slides in smoothly.
I’ll paint over any dirty spots, even if it’s just cosmetic. It won’t peel from a wrench. The finished appearance improves dramatically.
As always, bikes without an under-tube are tricky to figure out where to lift.
