About to start fork seals need info?

[Anonymous]

Hi. This coming Monday I am going to start replacing my for oil seals. Here is what I need to know. Shouldnt I be able to do the job while the forks are on the bike? Meaning cant I put it on the center stand, get the tire off the ground and just pull the fork tubes off? My second question is about geting the tire off the ground. I was going to use a jack right under the engine were the oil filter is. #1 is this a good safe way to jack the front up? #2 if I jack the front up far enough to get the tubes off is there any posability that the bike will get off center and move forward therefore falling off the center stand and to the flore? Thanks in advance for the help.

[Paul]

I have always taken the fork tubes out to do it, because I thought it would be easier that way! Don't see why you couldn't leave them in if you want to, but you would have to be careful that the bike didn't fall while you were undoing the screw at the bottom of the forks (the one that holds the sliders onto the tubes) That can be really tight sometimes - not so much tight as corroded at the bottom.
To raise the front I put a heavy enough weight on the rear of the seat to raise the front, then strap the weight onto the bike so as it doesn't get accidentally knocked off. That would make a mess of the forks that you had just rebuilt! I wouldn't like to put a jack under the oil filter in case it cracked something.

[SqDancerLynn1]

You have to remove the wheel so the heigth doesn't make that much dif.
I would break the bolt loose 1/2 turn before removing the fork tubes The bolt has thread lock on it, I usuall use a 2x6 under the pipes to raise it up with a floor jack. Reinstall the bolt with locktite

[Anonymous]

Here's what I do when I pull the forks. I use some tie downs from the garage ceiling (on a stud) and attach to the handlebars. I then raise the bike and suspend the front from the tiedowns. You can then completely remove the forks and do the job without fear of a 'big boom'.

I have had a bike fall over once when on the centerstand with the front end off. I won't do that again, they are way to unstable for me in that configuration.

Safety is most important. Small children could be crushed quite easily when a bike is balanced on the centertand with the front end off.

[Anonymous]

I would love to be able to do what you suggested but unfortunatly my whole garage is sheet rocked and this is a rental so I cant just cut into it. I will ask my dad tomorow If I can borow his garage for the day. He has an 8,000LB winch atached to hir rafters wich are reinforced with 4X12's. Thanks for the suggestions please keep them coming.

[Anonymous]

I take the front off my bike whenever I change tires. All you need to do is tie the centre stand so it doesn't fold up on you. You'll also need a milk crate or something like a stack of old tires under the front of the frame so that the bike doesn't fall forward. Taking the forks apart like you are going to do is the best way (perhaps better done off of the bike as you'll need to remove the handle bars if still on the bike and both methods require the removal of FOUR whole bolts ). If you leave the tubes together you risk damaging the sliders and you won't get all of the dirt out.

Steve

[Anonymous]

Talking to a few people yesterday I can to the conclusion I would have to take the tubes off. My biggest concern is keeping the bike off the ground untill I am doine with the forks.