Rebuilding Forks using New Inner Tube / Stanchion

[Hammerheads]

G'day fellow TRX owners,

What started as a routine leaking Fork seal replacement has spiralled into an as yet incomplete project.

A multitude of parts where sourced to perform the seal replacement, plan was to ensure the job was done correctly replacing all potential associated wear and tear components while the Forks were stripped down.

On removal of the Forks it became obvious that the Fork tubes were pitted and would destroy any new seals way ahead of normal expected life.

Plan A was suggested to be a re-metal and chrome for the tubes which was pursued via. a repair shop, after an inordinate amount of time the tubes remained in their shop and not sent out for the work, without going into details I lost confidence in the shop and retrieved my parts and moved to a Plan B.

Plan B was to purchase after market tubes from the UK (Paolo and Franco Tarozzi from Firefox racing), the tubes were purchased and have arrived in good order.

My question to the TRX forum is with regards to a captured metal slide / fitting that appears to be either pressed or clipped inside at the bottom of the old tube, this fitting is absent from the new tube.

Can this fitting be removed from the old tube and then re-fitted to the new tube, and if so what is the procedure to ensure it can be done without damage and be reused.

Would very much appreciate any assistance regarding personal experience with this metal slide / fitting.

Thank you,

Hammerheads