Seal replacement 'secrets'

[Scud]

Hello all,

I am going to replace my fork seals soon (left one leaking) and was wondering if anyone had any 'secrets or tricks' that may help from removal to installation. I have a Clymer manual but first hand knowledge is always better.

1980 GS750E.

Thanks,

Scud

[robinjo]

I take the old seals out with a tire iron and drive the new ones in using the old seal, of course new fork oil and a good time to paint or polish the forks, check the wheel bearings, disc's etc. Did my girlfriends seals last weekend, took me about 2 hours I think, including making the tool to hold the inner fork part. Just a 55 cm long piece of 12 mm threaded rod with 2 times 2 19 mm nuts tightened against each other on either end.

My forks are next *sigh*

Good luck!

[Scud]

Robin,

Thanks for the reply! Do you use the two 19mm nuts that are tightenend against each other to loosen the halves instead of the allen screw? Sorry, I get confused easily.. 8O

I was also curious as to the SIZE of the Allen screw (8,9,10mm,etc.) that holds the two halves together, anybody know this one? I was going to go purchase one (allen socket) to have for future fork jobs

Scud

[robinjo]

Robin,

Thanks for the reply! Do you use the two 19mm nuts that are tightenend against each other to loosen the halves instead of the allen screw? Sorry, I get confused easily.. 8O

I was also curious as to the SIZE of the Allen screw (8,9,10mm,etc.) that holds the two halves together, anybody know this one? I was going to go purchase one (allen socket) to have for future fork jobs

Scud

Depending of you have to get them loose or back in I either use the special tool or the Allen bolt, if you can put a bit of a weld on the nuts and rod to keep them from loosening up.

The size of the Allen bolt was 8 mm I believe, forks are back together now so not easy to check, get a set of Allen tools, they are handy.

[Scud]

Will do and thanks again.

Scud

[Planecrazy]

Oh, sorry ... I was going to refer you to the closest "Sea World." Figured they'd know the secret to replacing lost seals!!

Steve 8)

[Scud]

Very good!!!!

Scud

[Scud]

Well...it took me alittle over five hours to do both forks, the hardest part was getting the two halves apart once the allen screw was removed. I had to place in a vice a tug and smack them until they gave, after that it was fairly easy.

Thanks for all the advice, especially planecrazy...Sea World.... =D>

Scud

[AOD]

Lord, I remember the first time I did fork seals...what a nightmare to remove them.

Torch them out...rubber melts before metal, lol.

[Planecrazy]

Thanks for all the advice, especially planecrazy...Sea World.... =D>

Scud

Well, you just never know when people will misinterpret and give you all sorts of advice that has nothing to do with the heartbreak of losing a seal! Glad I could help!!

Steve 8)