How-to dismantle the Moulton F-frame fork

[@lescrook2750]

Following this video, just stripped down my 1966 front forks. What a doddle. They did need a good marinade in plus gas beforehand. Cheers and happy Moultoneering.

[@cefnonn]

This is the holy grail for those who are perplexed by their Moulton suspension forks! I've got to replace the lower bearing races on my 'F frame' Moulton and this video makes me feel a little easier about doing it. Thankyou!

[@FFVoyager]

Thanks, the problem with these old things is that they are not all going to be the same! Hopefully seeing what should be in there and how they come apart will help others when they come to refurbish their forks.

[@Dawesman1950]

Very, very useful. I don't think I would have been able to work that out for myself and, as you say in the commentary, the written instructions are rather confusing. Thank you very much! One thing, the rebound spring (the first thing you removed) on mine undid easily enough but wouldn't come out afterwards. Then, I had to 'unscrew' (at least, that is what I thought I was doing at the time) the large screw in the short rebound spring before it would come out.

[@Kwakmanonthebay]

First class! Wish this had been to hand when I did mine a year ago. Well done.

[@Dawesman1950]

Yes, indeed, not all the same. I found getting the lower bearing retainer cup off hard. You mention that you've heard people use a C-spanner and hammer - I had to do that. Even then it took a couple of hard knocks to get it to move and I had to use the C-spanner for the 1st half of the threads before I could move it by hand. The circlip was impossible to get off until I realised you could get 1mm of a gap under it to get a screwdriver in by pushing the bush down. I am indebted to you!

[@campervanman928]

Thanks for that, will have a go at stripping down my 63 Deluxe forks now

[@FFVoyager]

I hope it helps. Once you get the rebound stop screw out it is pretty simple.

[@stephenscholes4758]

In regards fork-blades, mine are off-centre (so raked-back). Would it be safe to bend them back, perhaps with the appropriate Park Tool ffs 2? I am in Australia where parts are scarce and a Moulton Preservation change-over cost prohibitive.

[@FFVoyager]

Given where you are, the best thing you can do is try. You can't make it any worse can you? I'd be careful to check the brazing where the fork joins the steerer tube after the repair as some early forks failed there.

[@nonejaeuk]

thanks for your video I could dismantle and reassemble front suspension. but still a little play between steerer tube and head tube. is it ok? or I need to change the parts, srrated nylon bearing?

[@FFVoyager]

+정재욱 Most likely. Sometimes you can fit the serrated bearing in a different position and it will take up the slack, but if you had it apart it is likely to be fitted back in a different splines anyway.

[@FFVoyager]

I'd hit the cup if it would not undo, but I hope that the video suggests that the dismantler does not do that to start with. That circlip can be a bit of a bugger to get off! :-)

[@rohanlancaster]

Great video. Thank you. I've just been given a Moulton F 60s bike. It's great, but the prospect of a restoration is a little scary. I don't know Moultons at all. I haven't had time to pull it all apart yet, but mine has quite a bit of play in the front fork suspension unit. It's not the headset, that seems pretty solid, but where the fork enters the steering column. Would that normally be just the bushings, or could it be something else as well? I aim to find out as much as I can before i embark upon this journey. I'm in Australia and parts will no doubt be tricky to get.

[@FFVoyager]

Highly likely to be the bushes. Have a look at the spline fitting you might be able to take up slack by simply refitting it in a different position to the one it is currently in.

[@rohanlancaster]

FFVoyager Thanks, for the feedback. I might give that a go. My feeling is there may be a little too much slop for that simple solution, but I'll check. Parts must be very rare these days.

[@FFVoyager]

Rohan Lancaster If there is too much slop, then replacing the bushes might well be the solution. New parts are available from Moulton Preservation.