what can i use to compress the spring seat to get the circlip out? i saw in gamuru's how to he's using some 18 foot long clamp but can i use something else? could i just get somebody to push it down with a socket wrench extender or something similar? it's been my experience that fork springs don't fight back THAT hard. just curious if anybody has any tips. i want to change the fork oil and see if the fork seals actually need to be replaced before i invest the time and the money into that project.

yes, a friend with a socket wrench is your best friend for this job... I use a hammer and socket wrentch, hammer the seat in and hold it in with your shoulder against the socket wrench, and pry the circlip out. Goes in the same way... It aint fun but it works

noticed your point about it not fighting back that hard. It doesn't, once you get it down you can keep it down wihout that much force.. my biggest problem the first time was getting it to come back up. pb blaster or kroil to loosen it up

all you need is an assistant, anybody 8 years or older can do it. I used my patented RickOMatic hammer handle to push the cap down, and had my kid peel the ring out.

KROIL. Mine were stuck, I put PB blaster, JB80, CRC, Liquid Wrench and everything else I could find in there for 9 months to no effect. Less than 10 minutes after applying Kroil they popped free.

The inner diameter of the fork is tapered. Hammer the seat down too far and you're going to be stuck.

Just far enough to get the circlip out.

can i get kroil locally or do i have to buy it online

I have heard the some ACE or ACO hardware stores carry it; I bought mine on-line (2 for $12, shipped) and it came in 3 days.

ok, so I am going to jack this thread. I am trying to replace seals (of course) and I am LOST! Where is the circlip???:
Is this what you are talking about in compressing?? Is this what you take a socket and a hammer to??
And tell me why I cant just pry the seal out and slip it up and over the tube??

Thanks
Frustrated

Should be in the top picture, but it looks like it isn't there, it is possible to remove the circlip & the 'plug' is still stuck in there, you have to use some serious penetrating oil (croil) to shift them. Once you get that out, you can remove the spring, then use a damper rod holding tool to undoo the cap head screw in the bottom of the fork leg, then you can take the other circlip out that holds the seal, all as described in the manual.

I can't really tell if what you got there is a CAP hanging-on by a fragment of a Circlip or what.

Wrap the Fork Tube to prevent being marred and hold it in a Vice.
Use a Socket and Drive the Cap down and be prepared for the Cap to "Spring Loose" with every tap.

Look for debris in the Locking Channel.

Alternatively, place 2 Nuts on a Bolt that has matching threads to the Air Valve Hole.
Screw the Bolt down into the Air Hole.
Tighten a Nut down to the Cap to freeze the Bolt.
Tighten the second Nut to Lock the Bolt.
Lube the surrounding edge of the Fork Cap with Fork Oil.
Have an able-bodied assistant apply BOTH >> Turning and Downward Torque on the Cap.
Be prepared for it to suddenly release.

While your assistant is working turning and compressing, ...
Using the Tail of a small File in gloved hands; "Scrape" the Debris out of the Circlip Locking Channel.

BE PREPARED FOR THE END CAP TO BREAK LOOSE AND SPRING OUT FROM THE TUBE FROM THE MOMENT YOU APPLY TURNING FORCE.

+++ DANGER +++ EYE HAZARD

Thanks a lot guys! I will give that a shot! Guess I wasn't REALLY expecting it to be soo much work. Oh well, it is only January. Got plenty of time.

That is what I thought. I found myself asking myself "what did I get myself into" between swear words. I don't have anyone to help me and didn't have all the tools I needed at first to tackle that job. But I got it and now I am smarter and more experienced and would't back away from that job. Good luck!

yep, I still have a fork tube I abandoned for a 30 buck one off ebay. The cap was stuck so bad... Even welding a nut to the cap, placing a metal plate with a hole drilled in over the fork tube, screwing a threaded rod into the nut, and screwing a nut on the top of the rod over the plate, and using all my force tightening that nut didn't get it free (did all that make sense?)

Edit-I did change the seal on the new one and finish the job...