Fork Oil Change On A 9er

[Scottie21uk]

I started doing my fork seals today on my 2006 TDM 900.

 

First time I've attempted fork seals and when i took the forks apart ive found the internals are different on each fork. the left hand side has 2 spacers where as the right hand side has the same internals as shown in the workshop manual.

 

Changing seals etch was easy enough but for the love of me I can't get the internals back together. 

 

I have the damper rod in and measure the air gap and get the level current but when trying to reassemble the rod keeps dropping out of the cap and into the fork itself which i then have to fish out.

 

The only solution i can see is to pour all the fluid into a container once measured, rebuild the internals, fit them and then repair the measured fluid?

 

If theres an easier way could somebody let me know?