Need to change the fork seals on a 1998 Electra Glide. Do I have to remove the forks from the bike or can I just remove the wheel, fender the bolt in the bottom of the forks and pull the sliders off?

Really didn't want to pull the fairing apart to remove the tubes if I don't have too.

 

You are going to want to pull them off the bike completely to do this. There's a lot of pressure from the springs that needs to be released before the lowers come off. Not sure how you would get them back together again.
If they haven't been apart and refreshed since new there are a couple of other bushings in there that can be replaced.
Pull them apart and clean them out good you'll be surprised at how much crud is in there.

 

Saw this video, But I don't know if the 1998 Electra Glide front end is the same.

 

Seems I remember installing Chrome sliders on my '96 without removing the fork tubes. The best thing to do is check your Factory Service Manual, it will take you through he steps required.

 

 

Amy on HDF sponsor Motorcycle Metal's website shows ya how to strip and rebuild forks, including changing the seals. Well worth watching.....

 

That video leaves out a couple of things but your '98 should be essentially the same.

The spring just puts pressure on the damper tube.
Once you pick up the front end there should be no pressure transferred from the damper tube to the lower slider.

It should be doable this way but the hard part will be seating your fork seal correctly.

Personally I'd give it a try.
If it doesn't work you can always go back and take out the fork tubes later.

 

I'm in the middle of this job right now. Will probably get to it this afternoon if I can get some other chores knocked out first.

Personally, I'd pull the forks. Your bike is different from my'90 FLHTC, so not sure what's involved. I'm guessing you could get to the forks without pulling the inner fairing. Just the outer.

But as was said, because getting to them is such a chore, you want to get in there and "do it once, do it right".

Also, odds are your steering head bearings have never been inspected or re-greased. Now's the time.

 

The same forks have been used since the dawn of time, only being replaced in 2014. There may be minor details that are different, over the years, but the essentials are the same. On a bike that is almost 20 years old there are bushings that will probably also be best replaced while you're in there, so as 0maha suggests, get 'em out!

 

I'm going to side with the others who are saying to do a rebuild on your forks and steering head. Lotta years on those fork bushings and steering bearings. The last time I did mine I put a grease zerk in the steering neck so I could grease the steering, I recommend that too, if it doesn't already have one.