Ohlins Base valve removal

[PEB]

Should the base valves on my 02 ohlins spin right out or are they somehow conected to anything besides the lower tube?

Paul B

[GMP]

Paul,

Just like a Zoke, WP, etc., they thread into the bottom of the cartridge tube. What is different about the Ohlins, is that the cartridges themselves are a much tighter fit in the lower tubes.

[PEB]

Glenn rocks!!! I will be trying to coerce a rounded base valve out of the fork tonight.

Paul B

[GMP]

Paul,

Always use a six point socket with the face taper releived (ground flat) for maximum contact. If its real bad, try this tip from Les:

Get a six point socket the next size smaller. Grind the outside away at the end as to form a sharp six sided chisel. Tap the chisel socket over the rounded hex with a hammer, until flush with the base. Now use the impact gun. I was able to save a rounded WP base valve this way. Not sure offhand what the size of the Ohlins hex is, I seem to remember it being smaller than the WP. It maybe better to try and use the next smallest standard size socket first, if you can tap it on, before going this more radical route.

[PEB]

I used one of these, http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00952162000P, It worked quite well and now I have the set to attack other buggered bolts. The base valve came to me damaged and it willl be reinstalled as a custon filed 16mm bolt not the rounded 17 that came out. I had procured another base valve to replace it but the replacement is drastically different than what it was supposed to replace, I suspect they are different year or are the result of a previous LTR treatment. I will be refilling the forks with some new 5wt oil not the 10wt that my local tuner put in. Goodbuy sore wrists after riding. I plan to fill the forks from the top then top them off from the bottom to avoid the hours of bleeding I did last time.

Paul B

[Loosenut]

That's a shame! Stock BTW.