Removing sliders from stanchions for gators??

First off its my first time ever messing with motorcycle forks. Need to install new gators for the ones that came on my ‘74 were trashed. Obviously I could drain and drop the forks thru the triple trees install gators and reassemble but can I just remove wheel, fender, unbolt caliber and drop the slider from the stanchion? If so, how is the slider attached to the stanchion? Only see one possible bolt #18 on the bottom of the sliders behind axle. If it can be done this way how do they come off and what can I expect to come loose. Forks are in great shape with not many miles on them so not expecting any issues. Thank again for all the great help you guys provide.

It can be done without dropping the leg out the yokes, but it is far, far, far easier to remove them from the yokes and a lot less messy. do one leg at a time. Plus you will not be disturbing the seals and bushes.
Remove the wheel, mudguard etc, slacken the fork top nut first then the bottom yoke pinch bolt. Using a hammer and a block of wood to avoid damage, give the fork top nut a tap to shock it out the taper in the top yoke, beware of the spring under the top nut, fully unscrew the top nut and loosen the damper rod nut and unscrew and remove the top nut, then slide the leg out the yokes. Keep the leg upright to avoid getting oil everywhere. Fit gaiter and, making sure the 'o' rings that sit top and bottom of the headlamp brackets are still in place, refit the leg Repeat for the other side.

kn0ck4times said:

can I just remove wheel, fender, unbolt caliber and drop the slider from the stanchion? If so, how is the slider attached to the stanchion?

Only see one possible bolt #18 on the bottom of the sliders behind axle.

If it can be done this way how do they come off and what can I expect to come loose.

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Yes, remove bolt 18 and unscrew the collar, 11.

The slider can then be used as a slide hammer to dislodge the upper bush from the slider after which the slider should drop off the stanchion.
The lower bush retaining circlip and bush can be removed from the slider Edit: stanchion allowing the upper bush, (Edit: paper washer), seal, collar and old gaiter to be removed.
If the damper assemblies are still attached to the cap bolts, nothing should fall out but look out for the fibre washer 26, under the damper tube.

L.A.B. said:

Yes, remove bolt 18 and unscrew the collar, 11.

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The slider can then be used as a slide hammer to dislodge the upper bush from the slider after which the slider should drop off the stanchion.
The lower bush retaining circlip and bush can be removed from the slider Edit: stanchion allowing the upper bush, (Edit: paper washer), seal, collar and old gaiter to be removed.
If the damper assemblies are still attached to the cap bolts, nothing should fall out but look out for the fibre washer 26, under the damper tube.

Click to expand...

Do I need any type of adapter to install the andover gaitors 06-5743? I had the short boots on bike when I bought it. I see steadfast cycles sell a tall gaitor adaptor but not sure how that works. Do the gaitors just slide over and into the groove on the slider and zip tie on top?

kn0ck4times said:

Do I need any type of adapter to install the andover gaitors 06-5743?

Click to expand...

No.

kn0ck4times said:

Do the gaitors just slide over and into the groove on the slider and zip tie on top?

Click to expand...

It's the joint between the slider and the screw collar but, yes.

there are some bad quality gaiters around... see previous discussions!

kn0ck4times said:

Do I need any type of adapter to install the andover gaitors 06-5743? I had the short boots on bike when I bought it. I see steadfast cycles sell a tall gaitor adaptor but not sure how that works. Do the gaitors just slide over and into the groove on the slider and zip tie on top?

Click to expand...

A rubber mallet with ends slightly larger than the diameter of the gaitor or the diameter of the collar, warm them with hair dryer and slip them on the ends of the mallet ready to be installed, when ready quickly pull them off and fit to collar. Thy keep their shape just long enough to make fitting a doodle. Th taper sides on the rubber mallet are ideal to stretch the gaitor, but make getting it off the mallet onto the collar a quick step to complete.

If you are going to the bother of changing out the gaiter, go ahead and strip and wash out the fork slider etc completely.
When is the last time anyone was in there? You will be unhappy when you see the amount of silt that collects.