The SM recomends the use of a jack to raise the front. I don't have a screw jack with adapter brackets to lift the bike as the SM recomends. I would use my hydrolic floor jack with a thick piece of wood between it and the oil pan but I'd rather avoid this to elimenate any chance that I might dent my oil pan.

Is there any reason that I couldn't use my triple tree front lift to inspect steering play? It inserts into the steering stem hole from below and lifts under the triple tree.

No. Not a good idea. Why? Because you are using the lower tree as it sits, it swivels. Place a few fingers over the hole at the bottom of the stem. Move the steering with your other hand is grab a grip and move it side to side. Therefore, I think you defeat the whole point of finding, "Static Float."

You need both upper an lower fork crowns to float or move free without anything on top or bottom of the crowns. You can try two ways you think are comfortable for you. If you have a brace on a wall or a post you can hold a lot of weight with, take a tie-down, hook one side to the bike somehow. With the adjustable tie-down end, you take the jack, load the lower sump case with a piece of wood and with the bike in gear, you tie the bike off with both the jack/tie-down and the side stand << Being the other brace; so the front wheel just lifts off the ground.

Second way is without the use of the tie-down and take your chances the front end does not smack down of the jack is moved away. The tie keeps the bike on the side stand and the back wheel locked in gear keeps it from moving.

Then you follow procedure about yanking on the forks being careful you do not need a lot of muscle to move the forks to find play. It is either there or not is how to explain it. She freely moves as if you had a fish scale on one end and could drag the bar, see how many pounds to pull it. This is one way of being constant on the pull being if you load the bearings you can see the difference.

So with the load on the side stand, the shim of wood and the jack loading a little weight and not all of the bike sitting on the jack and rear wheel, you do not compromise the sump case that bad, and I would not worry about using the side stand and sump, forget the work area as a brace.

It needs to be done. I am going to disassemble/clean/repack/install/set load/assemble forks/watch from beginning to end. You started a thread, lets build on it.

For now, practice, Rook. Hands-On the puppy.

Remember: No air tools!

* Last updated by: Hub on 7/22/2009 @ 12:25 PM *

OK, I'm watching. No rush, there's several other jobs to do for the 7.5 K. I'll have a look in the garage for a sturdy place to hook a strap. I've seen the front wheel lift on the side stand before so I know what you're talking about. Sounds like the strap attached to the wall wraps around the bike and hooks to the left side of the bike. The strap cradles the bike across the left side and holds it from tipping over. The jack has the right side lifted up under the oil pan to lever against the side stand and pick the front wheel up.

* Last updated by: Rook on 7/22/2009 @ 5:34 PM *