Are the copper washers all in place and in good condition, I spent hours trying to bleed mine and found that had a air leak (no fluid) at the splitter, I had tried to reuse the washers one time too many!
New shocks would be better but, you can get the bushings for the original shocks quite easily, most auto shops that fit supension will have a variey of different bushings.
^Ha - Yes, no matter how you do it you will skin your knuckles or at least trap them, resign yourself to it!
I have used a long "cheater" piece of wood or whatever and gently work them with it pushed onto engine.
Good luck
^ & ^^, Yes, I'm wrong, a small brain, old age & a lifetime of drinking too much beer dont help! They must have sent the wrong size bolts with the plates! I made the wrong "ass umption!
Sorry for confusion, OP linked to "exactrep' Strengthening Plates, these are purchased complete with nuts, bolts & spacers, the 10mm bolts supplied are too short if you have solid mounts previously installed.
Don't the solid mounts come with new longer bolts? can't rememeber now.
The ones "exactrep" sell are not meant for use with solid mounts, they can of course be used with solid mounts, but some of the bolts they supply are not long enough if you have solid mounts fitted.
Couple of additional points, if bike is on centrestand use an old car jack and get the front wheel of the ground as well, tyre in contact with ground tends to deteriate, plus you can give wheel a spin occasionaly.
Also if you have "ACF 50" spray steel and electrics, not discs! this is what they...