Fork seals anyone?

[Tiffany]

Just had my new tires put on and the bike checked over and I need new for seals.

Before I go ahead and drop it at the shop, figured I would ask if anyone here knows how to do this and might want to show me and make some cash on the side.

Let me know.

[Mrfreeze5]

Im not sure exactly how yours are set up, but replacing fork seals on my bike was my first ever motorcycle service project and it went quite well. It should be a simple process but you may need a special tool if it is a dampening rod type fork. I needed a special tool and made one by welding a 5/8" bolt to either end of a 3' piece of tube. After that it was cake. If you can get a service manual(haynes/chiltons) it should explain the whole process. Basically a quick breakdown of the process for me was

drain forks(fork oil SMELLS!!! Its worse than gear oil!)
remove fork cap/adjustor
remove spring and spacer
use special tool to remove dampening rod
Remove snap ring over seal
pull fork body off the shaft, removing seal
Reinstall tube into body, install dampening rod
install seal
install spring/spacer
Fill with new oil
Install cap
Done

On my forks, the oil seal is recessed down and was a pain to get to, by yanking the whole tube out it took the seal with it. Installing the new one was difficult becasue of this recess too. I used the old seal on top as a driver and it made the job much easier and did not damage the new seal. I would recommend while your at it to replace the dust seals on the forks as well(the dust seal is the one you can see, the oil seal should be under it)

Again, this is how it was for my Yamaha. It may be a completely different setup for yours, but mine is older, and most of the newer styles have easier to dissassemble forks so the job may be easier. The whole works for both forks took me maybe 2-3hrs total.

[Tiffany]

I have the Clymers for my bike so will check it out tonight. I did the clutch (cake walk)...would think I could move on from there to other things.

Thanks!!

[jjeepcherokeer]

I had mine done by a guy just north of town for $30 in labor I bought seals and he did them in front of me. I is a mechanic at a shop up north and has everything in his garage to do them. it is al easy till it comes to getting the fluid levels exactly the same. I can dig his number up if you like.

[Tiffany]

Please do!!!! Would love to do them myself, but kinda need them done right the first time and don;t have time to play the equal fluid level game.

[ZappBranigan]

Do you have to take the forks off the bike? I assumed you did.

[Mrfreeze5]

Do you have to take the forks off the bike? I assumed you did.

Yes. But its not ABSOLUTELY necessary, but your making the job MUCH harder if you dont. Its cake to remove the forks though.

[Tiffany]

I really wish you were still here Wilson!!!!

[Mrfreeze5]

I really wish you were still here Wilson!!!!

Ive actually decided I REALLY hate the south and am moving back!! So come august-septemberish I should be back. WOOHOO!!! Just depends on when my buddy finds a suitable house. So far hes doing pretty well. 2 car garage(with built in engine hoist) pool and jaccuzzi. How can I say no to Colorado when thats waiting on me :D Waiting on app approval now. I cant wait! And my bike should be completely done by then!! Time to tear up some canyons. I didnt get to enjoy them much last year due to my bike running SOOO rich. Turns out the yahoo who had it before me didnt know what he was doing when working on it. He rejetted the carbs, but in 3 or the 4 carbs they were completely missing the starter jets!! So now it should run like a scalded dog(but not my dog, shes fast but shouldnt be scalded. Shes a very nice dog). Hes got a bike too(2000 Kawi Zx6r) so there will be lots of work performed on bikes and jeeps(he's of course got a jeep too) so you're more than welcome if you still need help with it then. Plenty of riding too. The bikes are our primary mode of transportation so long as weather permits. Oh yeah, forgot to mention, Ive gotta find a job too :D

[Tiffany]

Great news man...ya can't ever leave Colorado for good....i've tried 3 times now...look where I am!!!

I am hoping to find someone to do them in the next few days or I will be paying the folks at faster $240 to do them :(

I read the manual and right now, don't think I can tackle it.

[PhantomD AKA Zach]

I did the fork seal on my bike... it was a piece of cake!

there was a bolt at the bottom of the fork that gave me some issues, but otherwise it was easy, after removing the top nut I yanked on the fork to drive the seal out (as it said to do in the factory manual) and then used a piece of PVC pipe to drive the new one to it's place, replaced all the parts and filled it up with fluid using a graduated cylinder (photography dark room equip)

the fluid may not be EXACT but it's damn close, rides MUCH better!

Zach

[ZappBranigan]

Yes. But its not ABSOLUTELY necessary, but your making the job MUCH harder if you dont. Its cake to remove the forks though.

It's not the removing part I worry about. It's the getting-the-forks-back-on-in-such-a-manner-that-the-bike-won't-kill-me part that I worry about. :D

My Thunderbird has 26k on it right now, I figure it will probably need fork seals soon. Plus, I want to put some fork gaiters (boots) on so it will look more "British" and I figure if I gotta take the forks off anyway, might as well put the boots on when I reassemble the thing.

[Tiffany]

Have a guy in Loveland who is going to do them for me...will let you know the outcome once it's complete.

[Tiffany]

Well Loveland dude backed out due to family emergency...anyone here want to make soem cash and do this for me? Have seals and fluid.

Some whack job on cCraigslist told me he could do them for $250...shop only quoted me $200...

[Tiffany]

Got a friend to do them on Sunday for "you owe me a favor later" (can you babysit for us please).

He is going to do them at my house and will walk me through everything...best I could ask for.

[Tiffany]

First chance to ride with the new seals...holy crap what a difference. Don't feel like a bobble head when I hit a pebble in the road :D

Next is to get the new brake pads on, just changed the plugs, cleaned the K&N filter and fixed that pesky gas tank bolt that was stripped.