Fork Seal Sunday!

Energy One
Th3InfamousI

Th3InfamousI

Administrator
Staff member
I needed a new front tire have about 10k miles on the k9 figured I would go ahead and replace the fork seals and bushings as well. They were not too bad, fuck that fork oil smelt like Sulfur! I'm not sure why that was the case, but it almost made me puke when I took the fork caps off.

I didn't do a How-To as we already have one on Fork seals. I did my ridgeback two years ago and used GasMans how to and PVC fork seal driver. Well that was a pain so for this one I went ahead and bought the right tool. World of a Difference! No offense to gasman his tool worked, just took more effort. I recommend springing for a real driver! I also recommend grabbing a bunch of old t-shirts for rags fork seal and changing the oil is a mess.

I will be using 30wt oil, I had used 20wt in my Ridgeback and I think it's too soft and will Pogo down the highway occassionally. I'm about to swap out the 20 for 30.

I got this MotionPro which is nice the blue ring slides around so you don't have to worry about it coming apart like the old style. $40 on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Motion-Pro-08...3072210&sr=1-1&keywords=41mm+fork+seal+driver







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Twisted

Twisted

Well-Known Member
Nice! Thanks for posting a link to the tool. I've been putting off doing mine and I have to get it done this winter, but I need new tubes too, one has a big nick. I'll have to pick this tool up too.

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FrankBDPS

FrankBDPS

Well-Known Member
Nice work. I been down with a cold for a week but feeling better today. I need to get the bike on the lift and get started on a couple of things.
 
MossBerg590

MossBerg590

Active Member
Nice, I need to do mine as well. I don't know what it is about forks but I've always been hesitant to change fork seals even on my dirt bikes. Ill take the motor apart etc but haven't attempted fork seals yet, haha.
 
Th3InfamousI

Th3InfamousI

Administrator
Staff member
MossBerg590 said:
Nice, I need to do mine as well. I don't know what it is about forks but I've always been hesitant to change fork seals even on my dirt bikes. Ill take the motor apart etc but haven't attempted fork seals yet, haha.
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First time was a little tough since when it came apart parts went everywhere so I didn't get to see how they all went together. 2nd time around it was easy. Although, I did try doing it by memory and I didn't make sure the fork caps were loose before I took them out of the triple trees. That was a mistake!

It's a simple job, and the seal driver makes it much easier with the PVC homemade tool I needed two guys and pounded the grab out of it not worth it IMO. Also, on my ridgeback I needed an impact gun to get the damper bolt out however this was the first one on the K9 and I didn't need to use the air so that was nice.

Probably head over to Stroker's tomorrow so they can mount the new tire on the Rim for me. Was thinking of trying it myself with a couple tire spoons but I don't think it would be worth the hassle, I wish I had more room and I would just spring for a tire changer.
 
BWG56

BWG56

Guru
Did ya think about changing the wheels bearings while you have it apart also, maybe I missed that. I did my oil for the first time around 15K and your right, it stank, I will change mine every time I put a new front tire on from now on along with the fork oil. I used Harley Extra Heavy fork oil, which is 30wt.:old2:

Looks like you have some of those rubber horse mats from tractor supply also:oldthumbsup::oldlaugh:
 
Th3InfamousI

Th3InfamousI

Administrator
Staff member
BWG56 said:
Did ya think about changing the wheels bearings while you have it apart also, maybe I missed that. I did my oil for the first time around 15K and your right, it stank, I will change mine every time I put a new front tire on from now on along with the fork oil. I used Harley Extra Heavy fork oil, which is 30wt.:old2:

Looks like you have some of those rubber horse mats from tractor supply also:oldthumbsup::oldlaugh:
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The bearings look good actually but I just bought a new bearing extractor and press tool so I'm going to go ahead and replace them anyways for good measure, cheap insurance. It's a neat tool was going to make another post on it when I do with a How-To.

The tool is recommended in the Harley manuals and JIM's sells it for like $300 but I found one on Amazon for $86 made by a company called Pit Posse. Its a cool tool actually and heavy duty for the price. I realized after taking the front tire off since the it sits on the hub you can only put it on the hub of the rotor side only, the other side I need to make a steel plate or something so it doesn't sit on the rim and mark it up. Back tire is fine since you can take off the rotor and pulley and sit it right on the hub. Tool should work fine pressing it in don't even have to take the hubs off! Great!

Pit Posse VT102 Harley Davidson Wheel Bearing Remover And Installer Tool Lifetime Warranty https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005SUX9MI/ref=cm_sw_r_other_awd_5ReNwb1CV2Y9R


Yep those Horse Stall mats are great need to buy 6 more and I'll have the whole floor covered in the garage. Rubber floor worked great today I can sit the forks on the mat without worry about messing them up!

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Th3InfamousI

Th3InfamousI

Administrator
Staff member
MossBerg590 said:
What seal kit did you get? I found these on ebay pretty cheap, not sure if they will work or not.
JMAAOSwj0NUd1JW&vxp=mtr" target="_blank" class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2FNEW-Bikers-Choice-Fork-Seal-Kit-41mm-HARLEY-DAVIDSON-FREE-SHIP-%2F151493176191%3Fhash%3Ditem2345b26b7f%3Ag%5Bemoji14%5DJMAAOSwj0NUd1JW%26vxp%3Dmtr&hash=a10c4bff6aff44e0e7191896ed7bb662" rel="noopener">http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Bikers-...m2345b26b7f:gJMAAOSwj0NUd1JW&vxp=mtr
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That seal kit won't work you are missing the copper bushings in my last picture. You want to replace that bushing.

Look up 41mm Fork Bushing Kit and you will see what I mean. Those kits are about $30 then you still need to buy the seals which is another $10 and also buy fork oil.

For the price WSW sells the whole kit plus the 10oz of oil all measured out for like $60. It's worth the price and don't have to fart around measuring oil then you have 12 oz left you won't use for years.



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Nukeranger

Nukeranger

Nukeranger
Thanks Eric for the Amazon link for Motion Pro (08-0489) 41mm Ringer Fork. Just placed an order and noted there were only 7 left and now 6. I am also looking at the link for the bearing remover/installer.

Thanks for sharing.:old2::old2::old2:
 
Th3InfamousI

Th3InfamousI

Administrator
Staff member
Nukeranger said:
Thanks Eric for the Amazon link for Motion Pro (08-0489) 41mm Ringer Fork. Just placed an order and noted there were only 7 left and now 6. I am also looking at the link for the bearing remover/installer.

Thanks for sharing.:old2::old2::old2:
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Yea I'm gonna do a separate post on the bearing tool. I'm not recommending the tool yet I haven't tried it, so maybe wait for my review. It's about $25 cheaper on Amazon than on the companies website.

I do see a slight issue with how it extracts the bearings on our front rims. I'm gonna see what I can do to work out it. I looked at slide hammers and this tool was about the same price and came with the presses we needed so I thought it was a good buy.

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Nukeranger

Nukeranger

Nukeranger
Yeah, I figured. I have a slide hammer, plenty of all thread rods around and plenty of bearing removal disks in the tool box. So, I may have everything I need or I can just cut one down on the small lathe I have just to make motorcycle parts. I did put the bearing removal tool in my wish list on amazon just in case it works for you and I get lazy about making another specific tool for a specific bike.
 
Dragonslave

Dragonslave

Active Member
Nukeranger said:
Yeah, I figured. I have a slide hammer, plenty of all thread rods around and plenty of bearing removal disks in the tool box. So, I may have everything I need or I can just cut one down on the small lathe I have just to make motorcycle parts. I did put the bearing removal tool in my wish list on amazon just in case it works for you and I get lazy about making another specific tool for a specific bike.
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Post what tool works the best when you get around too it.
 
Nukeranger

Nukeranger

Nukeranger
I have thought about swapping from my HF 12 ton to a HF 20 ton many times. I'll have to go measure the rim size and if it fits all rims, I may do this instead.

Update: My HF 12 ton will fit 1 wheel out of all my bikes with it's approximate 16 inch width.

http://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-shop-press-32879.html Looks close on the 21 inch BD wheel which I measured at close to 22 inches!
http://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-a-frame-industrial-heavy-duty-floor-shop-press-37999.html Looks like a winner on width.

Could someone measure their Big Dog 21 wheel diameter which is currently removed from your bike to get a accurate measurement?
 
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Th3InfamousI

Th3InfamousI

Administrator
Staff member
BWG56 said:
As an alternative to the bearing tool, if you have the room, I would think a HF 20ton Press for under $200 could be a more versatile tool, just a thought, again if you have the room.
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Yea I do want that press not just for bearings but I need to press in new control arm bushings on the truck too however I am just running out of room in this 2 car garage

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