TOPIC:

I stumbled across a fork tool when poking around the bikemaster site, but I have no idea if it's appropriate for any vintage models.

Bikemaster damper rod holding tool
1/2" Drive 15mm-25mm --- 152263 (Honda, Suzuki, & Yamaha)
3/8" Drive 10mm-18mm --- 152264 (Kawasaki)



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Hi Martin, I have used this piece of stainless steel rod that was a part off of large printing press.
This was scrap from work in 1978! All I did was grind a flat spot on one side. This fits the Z1 & KZ styles with that D shape.
All I do is slide that down in and it sits nice and flat with the flat side of the dampner. Works great been using it since 1978.
I know your models and newer than mid 70's have diofferent.
But this is all I ever needed. And of course air impacts always help break loose.
Crappy picture with cheap phone.

Here's another option for holding the fork cylinders. The center tool shown in the link below. Ed

www.racetech.com/page/id/70

Thanks. There are all sorts of homemade options. I use a LH bolt w socket & a couple of ratchet extensions --- a LH bolt for removal & RH for installation. I posted that BM tool in case someone would rather go ahead & get the tool instead of making something, in case it's suitable for a KZ or two. ???

This works on a KZ1000 and it doesn't cost much: www.kz-1000.net/forkdamper

And a piece of 3/4" pipe will work for a KZ900 with a little work: www.kz-1000.net/post/22641094760/disassembling-kz900-forks

I made a homemade tool when I did my forks (see link below) and it worked, but I probably would have bought a tool if one had been available at the time. Oddly enough, the only tool I would not have bought or used was the genuine Kawasaki special tool; it looks too much like a reamer that would cut into the fork cylinder. Ed

kzrider.com/forum/21-tools/318027-budget...linder-holder#318027