3XW Fork question

[Ganboy70]

Hi everyone, about to embark on rebuilding my forks for the first time on my '92 and collecting tools.  It seems the caps can be removed with what looks like a normal 22mm socket rather than the fork cap removal tool.  Not to sound too naive but... is the damper rod removal the same as other models, should I expect anything else different on the 3XW?

Thank you,

Tom

[Adam FJ]

Hi, there is no damper rod on the 3XW only re-bound adjustment. Just remove the tops and pull out the spring. You will still need the tool to hold the nut in the bottom of the fork leg though.

Adam.

[Ganboy70]

Thanks Adam.

Tom

[SlowOldGuy]

That answer is not correct.

The '91+ forks DO have a damper rod.  Aside from the lack of the rebound damping feature on top of the damper rod, the forks are identical in function to the '88-'90 forks (non-anti-dive units).

In fact, I used my '85 fork tubes in '89 sliders with the '89 damper rod during my front end upgrade.

You're correct, the fork tube caps do not require the "damper rod holder tool" but you might need it for disassembly.  You'll need it for reassembly also if you wnat to get the damper rod bolt properly torqued.  If you don't use the tool, you can hit it with an air wrench and hope you get enough torque before the rod starts spinning.

DavidR.

[andyb]

So could you swap to the later caps to gain adjustability on the 91-93 models?

[Ganboy70]

Good information, thank you David, I thought there must be a damper rod considering that's the only adjustment on the 3XW but haven't gone out to work on things considering the likelihood of frostbite in the garage just now at -15c. 

Cheers

[SlowOldGuy]

So could you swap to the later caps to gain adjustability on the 91-93 models?

Andy,
I'm not understanding your question.  The '91+ already use the "later" style cap and it actually has 4 preload adjustment steps rather than the 3 steps of the early models. 

I believe you could use the early style damper rod and fork caps to add rebound damping adjustment to the later models forks.

DavidR.

[andyb]

Later, earlier, it's all the same

Yes, I meant to use a 84-90 top on the 91-93 forks.  Just didn't know if you'd also have to change internally the bit lower, or if the later ones used different guts that made them nonadjustable.

But, you figured it out.  Just was curious.

[Arnie]

Can we start with some definitions?
The "damper rod" is the part at the bottom of the fork that has some small holes in it that  the oil flow through to slow down the fork action. 
The FJ forks prior to '91 also had an "adjustment rod" that (I believe) would close off some of the holes in the "damper rod" so you could vary the flow of oil and thus the speed of compression/rebound of the forks.
I think many readers are confusing "damper rod" with the "adjuster rod".
If you put "early" fork caps on the '91+ forks you'd also have to put spring topping washers instead of the circular blanks that came with the '91+ forks.  You'd still need the adjustment rod, AND the adjuster in the "damping rod" to vary.
Just changing the caps will get you no adjustability.

Arnie

[andyb]

Ok, so you'd have to do a guts swap.  (<-Note my technical terms).  Just wondered how much was changed internally between the years.