Removing CB77 front fork seal covers

[rappaj17]

Would anyone happen to know how to remove the chrome fork seal cover from the front shocks of an early model CB77? The late model forks with the aluminum bottoms seem to slip right off with some twisting power, but I can not seem to get the covers off of the early model forks with the steel painted bottoms. I would imagine that the four divots around the outside of the chrome cover are for some kind of tool? I tried a belt wrench but had no luck.

[jleewebb]

There is indeed a special tool, some folks have made their own. You might try adding a hose clamp to your strap wrench to make it clamp down tighter, it worked for me. See pix. I slipped a small piece of plastic (cut up sample credit card) in to pad part where hose clamp could have marred chrome. Whole story in my restoration thread. Good luck, Lee

[Kirk]

I have been running into the same issue as you here is what I did.
Check around the threaded side and make sure it is not bent, Then soak the top and bottom with penetrating oil Like PB Blaster. Soak two or three times over a couple of days. Make sure to wipe the excess oil off or the wrench will just spin, you may have to use some soap and water. Then use a rubber strap wrench (it has more grip) DO NOT PUT THE FORK LEG IN A VISE LIKE IN THE PREVIOUS PHOTO. You will most likely damage it. Put only the part where the axle goes through you will have to hold up the other end. Then try the rubber strap wrench, make sure you are turning the right direction. I tightend one even tighter once. (Whoops) Here is a post on the tool. Thanks Randall On the tool Construction

http://www.honda305.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2142

and a photo of a similar strap wrench I use.

Thanks,
Kirk

[Spargett]

What's the pattern with the lower portion of the fork being painted silver. I've seen alot of that and it's always puzzled me.

The late model forks with the aluminum bottoms seem to slip right off with some twisting power, but I can not seem to get the covers off of the early model forks with the steel painted bottoms.

[rappaj17]

After breaking one rubber strap wrench, I tried another one and got the chrome cover off by clamping the bottom axle part of the shock in a vice. Thanks for the help.

Now that I have the bottom of the shocks separated I am going to have them powder coated red. I'm doing the red/silver color scheme and I think the original color for the bottoms of the shocks is red. I guess I could see painting them silver if you want to make them look like the aluminum style bottoms.

[LOUD MOUSE]

Steel - frame color.
Aluminum - silver. ...........lm

What's the pattern with the lower portion of the fork being painted silver. I've seen alot of that and it's always puzzled me.

The late model forks with the aluminum bottoms seem to slip right off with some twisting power, but I can not seem to get the covers off of the early model forks with the steel painted bottoms.

[Spargett]

What determines which bikes have the bare aluminum or not? Was that never stock?

Steel - frame color.
Aluminum - silver. ...........lm