Ariel Owners Motorcycle Club

I am installing the front forks on my 1951 red hunter. Is there a technique to get the forks up far enough so that I can get the plug bolt to engage?

There's a special tool that screws into the leg. Draganfly do them, here's a link.

https://draganfly.co.uk/shop/85886/fork ... 2/#TOOL-32

hi, and welcome to the AOMCC and the forum , but the tool is on backorder and you can wait a long time for them to be in stock, i think if you need one quick you will have look around to borrow or buy one

If you are stuck, you can remove the top yoke (doesn't affect steering bearings), lift off the two headlight shrouds exposing the stanchions which can be lifted by hand. Lock the stanchions off in the raised position (using the Allen bolts in the bottom yoke), refit the shrouds, top yoke and loosely fit the top plugs in the stanchions. Lastly loosen off the Allen bolts which will allow the top yoke to drop down to the correct position and then bolt everything back up.

... or borrow a puller.

Pete

Thanks for the advise. I will try that today

If it is the same as my Huntmaster the thread is BSA's own thread I think or stand corrected Clive

If I understand correctly, I put the axle in and used ratchet straps over the yoke to pull the fork legs up far enough to engage the top nuts. I used a wooden post with crude vee cut in to support the steering head.
Dennis

I know it's a bit tedious, but I find it helps to fit the stannchions without the headlamp ears, then clamp them temporarily, using the allen screws in the bottom yoke, then remove the top yoke ,fit the ears (with the headlamp loosely shell fitted, loosen the screws in the bottom yoke and finalise the job. Fitting the headlamp makes shure everything is ligned up.

keith