Fork Seal "emergency"
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 433
Likes: 18
From: Cheyenne, WY
Fork Seal "emergency"
Just noticed today I have a fork seal leak and I leave for a 1500 mile trip day after tomorrow (leaving early morning). I've never replaced seals before but I do all of my own work and consider myself pretty mechanically inclined. So my issue is, assuming my local dealer has what I need, is it worth the risk to pull the entire front end off of the day before the trip (if something gets damaged/stripped I'll be screwed). Or would I be better off leaving it until I get back.
Thanks
Thanks
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 5,448
Likes: 6,275
From: pacific northwest
Just noticed today I have a fork seal leak and I leave for a 1500 mile trip day after tomorrow (leaving early morning). I've never replaced seals before but I do all of my own work and consider myself pretty mechanically inclined. So my issue is, assuming my local dealer has what I need, is it worth the risk to pull the entire front end off of the day before the trip (if something gets damaged/stripped I'll be screwed). Or would I be better off leaving it until I get back.
Thanks
Thanks
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 13,404
Likes: 34,322
From: Pine Flat Dam/South Bay Area, CA
Just noticed today I have a fork seal leak and I leave for a 1500 mile trip day after tomorrow (leaving early morning). I've never replaced seals before but I do all of my own work and consider myself pretty mechanically inclined. So my issue is, assuming my local dealer has what I need, is it worth the risk to pull the entire front end off of the day before the trip (if something gets damaged/stripped I'll be screwed). Or would I be better off leaving it until I get back.
Thanks
Thanks
fork oil
seals (might as well do both)
pvc pipes from home depot...
anti seize
loc-tite blue
lift and tools...
2-3 hours afternoon job.
your call-
here to help if needed
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 4,384
Likes: 8,742
From: Texas
"special" tools required
1 3/8" socket for the fork caps.., or a large adjustable - loosen them prior to loosening up the triple clamps
12MM extra long hex wrench / bit for loosening the bolts at the bottom of the forks holding in the internals
Wooden dowel rod - in case the internals spin when removing the bottom bolts
An extra set of hands when reassembling - compressing the springs AND trying to start the tops caps simultaneously is a pita
All in all - fairly straightforward repair
Ghost
1 3/8" socket for the fork caps.., or a large adjustable - loosen them prior to loosening up the triple clamps
12MM extra long hex wrench / bit for loosening the bolts at the bottom of the forks holding in the internals
Wooden dowel rod - in case the internals spin when removing the bottom bolts
An extra set of hands when reassembling - compressing the springs AND trying to start the tops caps simultaneously is a pita
All in all - fairly straightforward repair
Ghost
Put the top cap on first without the spring in and make a mark on the top cap and fork with a sharpie the spot that the cap threads start to engage. Makes trying to get the top cap to start threading a bit easier once the spring is in the fork.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,066
Likes: 97
From: Northern VA
If just a weep leave it alone. One of those jobs if you haven't done it before you're going to run into issues. Easy to say it's a quick job if you've been in there before, but I remember my first time working on the forks wasn't pretty.
Supposed Harley 49mm fork cap socket didn't fit the top fork nuts, manufacturing defect they took it back and refunded me.
Your fork bushings could be bad causing the fork tube to move off center in relation to the fork leg, taking out the seal.
The stupid dust cover could be so corroded to the fork leg that you won't be able to get it off without some serious persuasion (like on mine, they were destroyed in the process).
Just some free advice.
Supposed Harley 49mm fork cap socket didn't fit the top fork nuts, manufacturing defect they took it back and refunded me.
Your fork bushings could be bad causing the fork tube to move off center in relation to the fork leg, taking out the seal.
The stupid dust cover could be so corroded to the fork leg that you won't be able to get it off without some serious persuasion (like on mine, they were destroyed in the process).
Just some free advice.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
If just a weep leave it alone. One of those jobs if you haven't done it before you're going to run into issues. Easy to say it's a quick job if you've been in there before, but I remember my first time working on the forks wasn't pretty.
Supposed Harley 49mm fork cap socket didn't fit the top fork nuts, manufacturing defect they took it back and refunded me.
Your fork bushings could be bad causing the fork tube to move off center in relation to the fork leg, taking out the seal.
The stupid dust cover could be so corroded to the fork leg that you won't be able to get it off without some serious persuasion (like on mine, they were destroyed in the process).
Just some free advice.
Supposed Harley 49mm fork cap socket didn't fit the top fork nuts, manufacturing defect they took it back and refunded me.
Your fork bushings could be bad causing the fork tube to move off center in relation to the fork leg, taking out the seal.
The stupid dust cover could be so corroded to the fork leg that you won't be able to get it off without some serious persuasion (like on mine, they were destroyed in the process).
Just some free advice.
