2000 Vintage Sport Fork Seals

[ehardmik]

Took my Vintage Sport to Harley dealership for new fork seals (leaking) and they wont touch it because they dont have manuals...so I'm on my own. Does anyone know what size seals these inverted forks take?? I changed fork seals on a 79 sportster years ago...but those weren't inverted. Not sure if I'm getting in over my head on this one. Any help would be most appreciated!!

 

[Bobby Schulz]

Can you get me a pic of them? I may be able to help you.

 

[ehardmik]

Do you need a pic of the forks or the seals? I haven't taken the forks apart yet...

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Im looking at the manual and you probably have the GCB Inverted Forks 54MM.

It calls for 350cc in each leg of Bel-Ray HVI 15w Racing Suspension Fluid

Are these your forks?

1) Drain oil from each fork leg by removing the drain screws and pumping each leg until empty. Loosen the (4) pinch bolts on the upper triple tree only. Use a pin spanner tool (Storz p/n FT6481A1) with a soft thin cloth to prevent scratches and just loosen the top cap on each fork leg. Remove the front wheel and fender, then remove the individual fork legs from the triple trees.

2)Hold the exposed section of the steel fork tube (43mm diameter) carefully in a vice using aluminum soft jaws to prevent scratches.

3)Loosen the pinch bolt at the top of the lower leg that helps lock the lower leg onto the steel tube.
The lower legs are threaded onto the steel tube with a normal right hand thread. Insert the front axle into the lower leg and use it to unscrew the lower leg from the steel tube. It may be necessary to slightly warm the lower leg with a heat gun to help remove it.

4)Unscrew the threaded seal holder from the upper aluminum tube using spanner tool (Storz p/n FT4354). The dust seal can be removed with your fingers. The oil seal is located on the opposite side of the seal holder. Remove the wire retaining ring and spacer washer (if present). Place the seal holder on a soft piece of wood covered with a cloth and drive the old oil seal out of the seal holder using a screwdriver or similar tool. Press the new oil seal into the seal holder with the spring side of the seal facing you. Reassemble the spacer, retaining ring, and dust seal. Put some thin packing tape over the fork tube threads to protect the new oil seal and reinstall the oil seal holder.

If you intend to replace the fork bushings also, proceed as indicated.


6)Remove the threaded cap at the top of the fork tube using the pin spanner and a soft piece of cloth to prevent scratches. This will expose the fork spring and cartridge rod. Loosen the jam nut on the cartridge nut and remove the top cap from the cartridge rod. The complete cartridge and spring assembly can be removed from the bottom of the steel fork tube. NOTE: It is not necessary or advisable to disassemble the cartridge unit.

7)You can now remove the steel tube by pulling it out from the bottom of the upper aluminum tube. Pull on the steel tube in a slide hammer motion. This will force the lower guide bushing out from the upper tube. The upper bushing is located on the top of the steel tube and can be removed by carefully expanding it and sliding it off of the tube. Install the new bushings and reassemble the fork in reverse order.

8)When you are ready to reinstall the lower legs, use a small amount of Loctite 565 Teflon Pipe Thread Sealant on the threaded portion of the steel tubes.

STORZ PERFORMANCE MOTORCYCLE ACCESSORIES



Also, take a look at the Harley Inverted Fork - I assume the process will be similiar
http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Media/downloads/Service/isheets/-J04097.pdf


You can try calling Storz Performance using the link above see if they carry any rebuild kits or seals, although these might be hard to find :down: They are Italian made.

I suppose you can try BDMPP or Shovelhead Kicker as well. Good luck!! Maybe someone has a set laying around.

 

[Bobby Schulz]

Just a pic of the forks.

 

[ehardmik]

That is exactly what my forks look like. Perfect!! Thanks for the help, Eric!!

 

[ehardmik]

Thanks for willing to help me out, Bobby!! Looks like I got the info I needed. Safe Riding!!!

 

[Th3InfamousI]

Thanks for willing to help me out, Bobby!! Looks like I got the info I needed. Safe Riding!!!

Did you try calling to track down a seal kit yet? I was doing some reading and not sure if Storz carries them anymore. Its on their parts list however.

Maybe Bobby knows of a resource for the seals?

 

[2000bigdog]

vintage sport fork seals

I have the same bike and the same identical forks on my bike. I have the same issue with the fork seals leaking. I removed the forks and taken them to the big dog dealer about 2 years ago and had them rebuilt. I put them back on the bike and about 2 months into riding they leaked worse than when i took them to get rebuilt. I contacted the dealer and basically they brush it off and say that there is nothing they could do. So i ended up tearing them apart myself and found that a suzuki leak proof seal with the same dimensions. I installed them and i was good for the whole riding season. Put the bike away for winter and when i brought it back out they leak again. So i rebuilt them again, and repeat from the year before. Pulled the bike out couple weeks ago and they leak yet again. Does anyone know what front end i could put on this bike to get rid of these inverted forks or where i can find a decent priced set of new gcd forks. Im not spending 1900 on just the forks when i can buy a whole front end for a harley for about the same price if not cheaper. Any input would be helpful. Im tired of rebuilding these things and want to fix it for good or atleast longer than a year.

 

[numbers]

I know this is an old thread but, wanted to let you know, the company above(link) DOES still supply the repair kits and seals for the GCB forks, as of 3-5-15. just ordered mine. Thanks