Mechanics; recommend a strap wrench

I've got like four different strap wrenches and I downright hate all of them. I feel like not a single one of them works well. Used primarily for separating fork tubes from the lower castings, so it's always being used on a smooth, shiny surface that can't be marred up and often has a little oil residue on it.

Whatcha got?

 

Old leather belt and Vise-grips.

 

I can't find exactly the one I used to use; I believe it was Mac Tools but it was similar to this and worked very well.

http://m.sears.com/index-g.html#/details/guest/SPM10782610016?source=online

And if I needed more grip I'd use the big fat rubber bands from the mailman.

 

You need a lollipop.

 

Is the head on that aluminum? What's the coating? Anodized? Hard-coated?

 

Aluminum, anodized, designed especially for what your are attempting to do.

 

just found my new project I will have to make me a lollipop

 

Where does one get one?

 

That is the one I use on my oil filters, car-truck-bike whatever


Why do you need a strap wrench for the forks? Grab one end with one hand and the other end with the other hand and slam apart, no?

 

The newer gsxr require disassembly of the lower fork in order to install cartridge kit.

 

Mike - lollipop for 43 and 41 from Ohlins will make your life so much easier. Use a torch for about 20 seconds on the stanchion and the thing just comes loose like butter - most of the time. I was a strap wrench guy until T-man converted me. Worth the stupid money Ohlins wants. Still use the strap for weird sizes - and swear alot.

 

Its actually A Ohlins product.

 

Shit...I need a lollipop too.

 

For fork-specific use, get the lollipop like Terrence recommends. For general strap wrench duties, I use an old leather belt, wrapped a couple times, then TWO hose clamps tightened around the belt. THEN I use a strap wrench on that. Works a charm. Of course heating the fork lower for your job makes it a cinch, too.

 

Throw it on the ground. Just about everything I want not to come apart does when it touches the ground.

 

And the Kawi forks. And the Honda forks. All the BPF nonsense. Even most of the R6 forks.

Don't know how I never saw one of those before. It's not in my Ohlins catalog. I'll order the 41 and 43 Monday. As I was thinking about it today, I was going to have something exactly like that machined or made using old fork leg damper mounts.

Thanks, Rick and T.

 

I use that technique but I usually add in swearing at it and if that doesn't work, I add in throwing gang signs at it and/ or threaten it with sodomy/ harm/ death.

 

Yeah I purchased it while working on a ZX-10

 

I replaced fork seals on my 09 ZX6R and it had big piston forks and I didn't use anything like that.

Grab and slam worked like every other fork I have ever done? Maybe I am just abnormally strong gripped?