Please help fork rebuild help

[sauldgold]

I know this is a really remedial question -- I've read multiple threads on the topic, and I have a shop repair manual, but alas, I am not much of a mechanic and I am just frustrated and confused.

A while back I decided to restore an old G5. Regarding the forks, the existing internals were shot, so I bought all new FAC dampers, wirth springs, fork tubes, seals, crush washers, etc. excited to get back on the road.

However, I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get the tab in the bottom spring cup aligned with the recess in the fork lower. 

I know the two are supposed to lock together, but I've tried it upside down, right side up, with the full spring and damper assembly, without the full assembly and just the cup by itself -- each time hoping for some click, some snap, some resistance or any indication that I have the pieces properly aligned, and there is never indication whatsoever that the cup "tab" is properly aligned inside the fork lower.

Can anyone please explain this to me ?  Where am I going wrong ?  How do I do this right?

Thanks in advance.

stock pic for reference

[SED]

"hoping for some click or snap..."   You're on the right track.  Dave Richardson (Guzziology) says drop it in 180 degrees out, then twist it with a long screwdriver pushing down so that you can feel it drop in. 

 It looks a little different than the Monza and the LMIII but seems like the same process.  Here's what I did (complete with pictures):
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=75441.0

The "lower element" has a locating pin and the workshop manual says there is a detent to receive it and that you must make sure it is located correctly.  Dave Richardson suggests putting in in 180 out from the detent then rotating it with a long screwdriver so that you can feel the pin drop into place.  As the only detent is formed by the drain hole you can also mark the top of the lower element with a marker so you can look down and confirm that it is lined up with the fork drain plug:

Let us know how it goes.
 

[jwinwi]

Are your fork lowers clean? Lots of muck ends up settling down there... If the recess isn't completely clean you may not be able to feel the tab when it lines up with recess. Whenever I have fork lowers off I dump some kerosene in there until I can see the recess.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Are your fork lowers clean? Lots of muck ends up settling down there... If the recess isn't completely clean you may not be able to feel the tab when it lines up with recess. Whenever I have fork lowers off I dump some kerosene in there until I can see the recess.

Good point.