Putting a chrome fork kit on my 08 Heritage and I'm looking for any tips. I have the service manual and have already picked up a few tips here and there.

From what I understand I don't really need any of the tools recommended by HD. I'm going to make a pvc clamp as a tube holder. I'll be using a pvc pipe as the fork seal bushing tool. Brute strength will be used as a fork spring compression tool. And a tape measure will be my fork oil level gauge.

Sound Okay?. Any other suggestions, caveats, or comments would be appreciated.

Couple specific questions:
What size forks do I have. 39mm or 41mm.
What size pvc pipe i.d should I use for the fork seal installation.
Should I use HDs recommended fork oil (type E) or is there something better.

Wish me luck.

Edit: I found that the forks were 41mm:
http://www.aimag.com/08Models/08_FLSTC_specs.pdf

 

jimmers, ditto here. I will probably start on mine between Christmas and New Years Day. I plan on using a plastic graduated cylinder to measure my fork oil. I'm making the seal tool from PVC and as soon as my seals come in, I'm making a fork tube holder like the HD one. My plan is to take lots of pics and document it really well. I'm also changing the rotors and adding all chrome hdwr to the stock black calipers and adding a Progressive fork lowering kit. I skeezed a really good write up I could send you...

When are you planning to start your job?

KB

 

Lots of lub when putting the forks into the trees to help eliminate scratches...

 

Kbore, I hope to do mine w/i the next month. Forecasting a bad winter this year in NJ so I don't know how much more riding I'll be doing.

Hardest part for me is usually getting started. I can always find reasons to put those difficult projects off.

Would've never thought of adding chrome to the front but I got the kit for less than a 1/3 of its usual cost so I couldn't pass it up. Had a moment of panic when I saw all those tools recommended by HD. But now that I see they're not really needed I feel better about it. I like learning new things and doing my own work so I'm sort of looking forward to the challenge.

My manual recommends using liquid measurement only if you aren't disassembling the fork. Otherwise it says to use an inch/mm gauge.

If you do your's first, by all means let me know what sort of problems it any you run into. I'll do the same.

Bluesssman, thanks for the lube tip.

 

jimmers; FYI, James Gaskets sells a complete fork kit for $15 bucks- Seals, upper and lower orings, spacers, seal clips and copper crush washers were ALL included: JAMES GENUINE GASKETS. THe picture in the Fat Book catalog didn't show everything that came in the package...its all here!! $14.95 for the set....MoCo get $14 EACH just for the seals!! JGI-45849-84 Fork Oil Seal Re-build Kit: Drag Specialties P/N DS-174781. I just got mine in the mail..