Fork slider change question

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Jun 30, 2019 | 07:16 AM

Mchad

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From: SWFL

Fork slider change question

My dealer wants 3 hrs to change the stock fork sliders to the black ones they have on order for me. I’m on the fence about trying the job myself, or just paying what will amount to 4 bills after tax, shop fee bs, etc., and saving me the time and risk of F’ing something up (since I’ve never disassembled a fork before, apart from swapping springs or tweaking emulator settings)

Per the manual, from what I see it’s not that complicated, looks to be little I can screw up. So so if I decide to do this, I have some questions.

I’ll be replacing the oil and dust seals, better to stick with OE or go with James Gaskets?
Manual doesn’t say anything about replacing the bottom bolts or washers, but should I? They’re copper, right? Easy to deform?
What about the oil locks, are they reusable?

The forks only have a couple thousand miles on them, so I’m not changing bushings. I’ve got some loctite thread sealer from another project so that’s covered. I already have a 49mm seal driver I bought a couple years ago but never used. So I have everything I need, except the answers to the above. Let me know what you think.

Thanks

Jun 30, 2019 | 07:48 AM

Phil13

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From: England

I'm guessing Harley have a fork service kit out for new Softails by now, they do them for all the other models, so personally I would just go with that. Keep it simple so to speak. Edited to add I'd stick the bushes on the shelf for next time.

In the mean time settle down and enjoy this master class in changing fork stanchions and seals for hints and tips.

Last edited by Phil13; Jun 30, 2019 at 08:04 AM.

Jun 30, 2019 | 09:45 AM

Agoober

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From: Nunya.

Chad why don't you do the work and nitride or kashima the forks and you'll have black tubes with a better action ??
Spoiler alert I have no idea what this costs these daze.

Peace fork safely.

Jun 30, 2019 | 06:50 PM

Mchad

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From: SWFL

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agoober

Chad why don't you do the work and nitride or kashima the forks and you'll have black tubes with a better action ??
Spoiler alert I have no idea what this costs these daze.

Peace fork safely.

I don’t know what any of that means... Sounds like colorful coatings? If so, I’m good with silver. I know, I’m putting black everywhere else, but you have to have some contrast...

edit: yup, coatings. I see the advantages as described, but I don’t want the gold or black coloration.

Last edited by Mchad; Jun 30, 2019 at 07:09 PM.

Jun 30, 2019 | 07:06 PM

Agoober

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From: Nunya.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mchad

I don’t know what any of that means... Sounds like colorful coatings? If so, I’m good with silver. I know, I’m putting black everywhere else, but you have to have some contrast...

They're coatings that reduce stiction in the forks making the action more supple,smoother.

Peace.

Last edited by Agoober; Jun 30, 2019 at 07:07 PM.