Blown fork seals

[Suzuki mad]

While starting to get my GS1000ET ready for this summer, I've got her running, checked the brakes (rear needs a little work) to find that both my front forks have blown the seals.

I've got all the spares, just its so long since I rebuild some.

Can I pull the seals with the tubes in place or do I need to split the whole thing?

If its a split job any advice on how to to get the top air caps off the 1000 fork tubes without damaging them as the caps are no longer available from Suzuki.

Cheers
SM.

[rustybronco]

Before you loosen the pinch bolts on the triple tree, wrap the top caps with a few wraps of electrical tape, then loosen the air cap with an 'adjustable' wrench.

I prefer a complete tear down of the forks. to me it's easier than trying to remove and reinstall the seals while the inner fork tubes are in place.

[850 Combat]

My brother hooked a 12 volt air compressor to the air caps on his 1100G and popped them out without dismantling the forks.

[Suzuki mad]

I'm wondering how much damage I will do to the seal by slipping them over the upper part of the fork leg which is starting to go rusty and a little pitted.

I cant afford to buy new fork tubes to replace them here in the UK.

[rustybronco]

You can polish out the pits by wrapping a 'loop' of 400 crocus cloth around the tubes and working it like you were shining (buffing) shoes.

I'd still break them apart...

[mrbill5491]

Yup split the fork legs, probably time to give the guts a good cleaning no?