Replacing a clip on - help for an ejut pls

[The Novice]

I bent the clutch side clip on last year and after it keeps pinching my thumb on the frame i decided to try and replace it last night.

Anyway, got it off, went to put the straight one on and i have a couple of questions.

1) there is a circlip type thing round the fork which is stopping the clip on going down the fork - am i supposed to use a (lot) of force to push it past that so it goes lower or is that circlip where the bottom of the clip on rests.

2) the haynes manual shows the lug on the clip-on fitting into the hole on the underside of the yoke. Thats not what the right hand clip on does, and neither is it what the one i took off did, the lug on the clip on fits between the space in the yoke where the bolt goes. is the haynes manual wrong?

3) should the top yoke just slide on nice n easy or does it need more than a lot of swearing and shouting to get it on (have tried this). I cant seem to get it to go on enough at all at the moment (but see no 1). Its also as if the front wheel needs to move towards the frame v slightly so the hole for the sterring stem will line up properly with the fork top holes.

I have a lump hammer and a block of wood waiting for me to get home from work............

[ibby4585]

Hi.

The clip on fits in the gap as you have mentioned. The circlip sits in the groove at the top of each fork

If you loosened the bottom yoke bolts, top yoke bolts and clip on the forks just slip into position until the circlip hits the grooved rim of the clip on.


No force is needed.

Hope this helps

[The Novice]

ok thanks, I havent loosened the bottom yoke as the front of the bike would just slide down the forks wouldnt it?!
its on a rear paddock stand, I have taken the top yoke completely off (loosened clamps and removed steering stem nut) removed left clip on.

the lug on the clip on was definately not in the hole on the underside of the top yoke when it came off. Thats what was confusing me but i think its just plain wrong at the moment. Maybe the clip ons are on the wrong side, ie left clip on on the bike s/be on the right fork. Thats what it sounds like to me at the moment. Is there a reason someone would do that? I will have to have a good look when i get home.

everything turns into a chore on this bike.

[dunkenb]

Probably done to try and change the angle of the bars. The circlip stops the bars going lower down the fork tube. If you want them lower ( to drop the forks through the yokes to speed up the steering etc) just remove the circlip..

[ibby4585]

Take photos of what you mean mate. It is very straightfoward putting the forks back so there might be and underlying problem.

Just do one fork at a time and they won't slip down.

[The Novice]

just had a good look at the haynes and the clip ons are deffo on the wrong sides. What a joke. I now have to sort the other soddin side aswell to put it back to standard.

I dont want the forks higher/lower, i just wanted it back together !!

[ibby4585]

Swapping the clip ons over is popular as it gives you a different angle.

Don't stress about it, easy job just swap them over and torque everything up.

The fork top should just poke out from the head stem yoke about 2-3mm

[The Novice]

Thanks for the info, I will try and get it done tonight - however there is no doubt in my mind I will find something else that stop me in my tracks.

clip ons on the wrong side bla bla doesnt however change the fact i couldnt get the top yoke to slide on easily, if i have the same problem later i will post some pics up if i can remember how to!

[The Novice]

this is what i meant about lugs, you can see the hole in the bottom of the yoke for it but the lug on the clip on isnt in the same place, dont seem to be on the wrong side either as if you turn it round its the wrong way.


this shows where the lug sits on the yoke now


if its not a problem then i will just leave as is to save the hassle

what i am having a problem with however is getting the yoke back on, it does not slip on.

you should see on this i cant line it up

here it is a bit closer, it cathes on the top of the stem thread.....


any ideas? if i undo a bottom fork clamp, it wont really help me will it? i need to undo both but cant as the bike is only on a rear paddock stand.

[ibby4585]

hopefully someone on here can tell you if they are standard clip ons and yokes for a 23, im unsure.