1,000 Hand Slap

I had a feeling that I should dismantle the CT90 forks and make sure they are in real working order. I think squishing them with my hands is not a good test.

Here they are, ready to be dismantled. I didn't look up how to do it, and it seemed that my method was not very good. I took out the bolts on the triple tree that hold the fork tubes and pounded on the top of the tubes with a mallet whilst holding the tree steady in my left hand. I couldn't set them on the floor, since I didn't want to damage it.

One of the tubes had some rust, and I was glad that I decided to take these things apart, but very frustrated with my technique. The distance you see between the gater and triple tree was as far as I could pound the tube after a few hundred slaps with the mallet. At this point I started to count.

This was a stupid idea... put top brace over the bolt and hammer down on it. I don't know what I was thinking, but maybe the idea was to create more surface area to pound on. 

In this picture you can see how I was holding it with my left hand, and also the progress after 1,000+ mallet slaps. My hammer arm was getting pretty warmed up by then. 

Almost done! What kept me going was the way I could tell that I was making progress, even if slow! This was about 1,400+ slaps. 

VICTORY! 

I don't think there was really anything wrong with my technique. It was required actually. The tubes are supposed to slip right out, but some crusty rust was preventing this on this tube.

However, I think I should have waited a few hours after loosening the triple tree clamps; the other fork tube fell right out the next morning. Maybe the metal took a while to relax after being clenched for so long. Could it have made this tube come out easier? I'll never know...

Here are the casualties: 

 Oh no! Not my mallet! My most useful tool!

There is no way I am going to spend $3 on a new mallet. 

My left thumb was also a casualty. Holding the triple tree steady for so long was not good for that thumb. Of course, it only felt painful after letting go of the thing. An hour of video gaming later and it was fine. 

Besides, hurting yourself while building a motorcycle just makes you more badass and manly, right? 

I will try restore the fork tubes next!