Race Tech Fork Cartridge Rod Holding Tool – Dirt Rider Magazine

There are tools that every dirt rider needs, and others that are more specialized. This Race Tech tool is one of the specialized ones. It fits in an ordinary vice and allows you to securely hold round shafts without marring or damaging them. That is important if you need to replace shock seals or work on the inner cartridge of a fork. In either case, the finish of the round shaft must stay flawless and perfect. Any burr, lip or gouge in the surface will instantly destroy the seal and ruin the sealing surface. Race Tech makes this $59.99 tool in a variety of sizes, but each holds three or four different size shafts. I needed the tool to hold the cartridge rod of a Showa fork to install a Race Tech Gold Valve kit. Even though I have an aluminum Motion Pro suspension vise without normal jaws, the RT tool worked perfectly to hold the polished shaft. If you’re truly planning on rebuilding a fork to like-new performance, you will need this tool to keep from doing more damage than you fix. So for sure this is not a tool that every garage needs, but if you need it, nothing else will do. -Karel Kramer