Changing out sliders
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 133
Likes: 1
From: Everywhere
Changing out sliders
Hey guys. I know this has been asked before but here it goes again. I'm gonna swap out my lower sliders on my '10 SB. The dealer quoted me 1 hour for labor. Does that seem about right? If thats about all it will take I may just have them do it and save me a possible headache.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
I know it would take me alot longer than an hour to swap in some chrome sliders. I like to do as much of the work on my bike as possible, but for an hour total of labor, thats not to bad.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 133
Likes: 1
From: Everywhere
Right! If it's only an hour. I just don't want have them do it and then tell me it took 4 hours.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 144
Likes: 1
From: CALI
i did my lowers and tripple trees and all after i had the powder work done. it took me about 10 mins to get the front tire and brake caliper unbolted and then about 5 mins to drain the fluid out. then about 15 mins to pop the dust caps and seals off then the sliders just pop off the tubes after that. took me about 45-60 mins to put it all back together torque to spec and add the new fork oil into the tubes. it is a pretty simple job just take your time and youll do fine. if you got the service manual your golden its step by step easy stuff. the only thing really all that speacial you will need is a seal driver
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,483
Likes: 39
From: Passaic County, NJ
i did my lowers and tripple trees and all after i had the powder work done. it took me about 10 mins to get the front tire and brake caliper unbolted and then about 5 mins to drain the fluid out. then about 15 mins to pop the dust caps and seals off then the sliders just pop off the tubes after that. took me about 45-60 mins to put it all back together torque to spec and add the new fork oil into the tubes. it is a pretty simple job just take your time and youll do fine. if you got the service manual your golden its step by step easy stuff. the only thing really all that speacial you will need is a seal driver
As far as a seal driver....the OP can buy a 2 foot x 2" i.d. (inside diameter) length of sched 40 pvc from any of the home stores. It's a couple of bucks. Just sand down the first 1/2" of the edge or it will hang up in the lower once you drive the seal.
Also, you'll need a 12mm allen socket. I got mine from NAPA. It's just the right length. If you look for a thread that JRK posted a while back about the size of that bolt, you'll find the part number for the item I'm referencing.
Trending Topics
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,579
Likes: 10
From: S.E. MO
It took me under 2 hours to do it my first time so a hour sounds about right.
A buddy just had new seals put in his front end on his V-Rod and the dealer charged him for 1 1/2 hours labor.
A buddy just had new seals put in his front end on his V-Rod and the dealer charged him for 1 1/2 hours labor.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,722
Likes: 7
If you can hold them to that hour and no more, I'd let them do it. Especially if you don't have the tools you need and would have to go out and buy them. I swapped mine myself and have had to tear one down and put it back together again because of a busted oil seal. And I'm still pretty sure I couldn't do it all again, including removing the front wheel and putting it all back together again, making sure everything is torque'd right, f'ing around with getting seals to seat properly, etc. in an hour.
On the other hand, if you have the tools and the time, that would be an hour labor saved to do something else with. But don't plan on doing it yourself in an hour.
There are several threads floating around out there on how to do it yourself without actually removing the forks from the trees. SC_Longhair and Bberck have threads I used and they also helped me via pm as I was going through it.
But you need tools that not everyone has laying around that will probably cost you what that hour of labor will cost you if you have to go out and get them. You need a torque wrench to do just about anything to your bike. For this task, specifically, you need a 12mm allen wrench for the bolts that hold the sliders on and a 35mm (I think) socket to remove the fork caps (be careful doing that by the way) to refill the tubes with oil. The entire front end is metric, so if you don't have metric sockets and hex bits, you'd have to go buy those too. Personally, I like buying tools as I need them and do what work I can on my own so I'll have them for next time. Saves in the long run.
On the other hand, if you have the tools and the time, that would be an hour labor saved to do something else with. But don't plan on doing it yourself in an hour.
There are several threads floating around out there on how to do it yourself without actually removing the forks from the trees. SC_Longhair and Bberck have threads I used and they also helped me via pm as I was going through it.
But you need tools that not everyone has laying around that will probably cost you what that hour of labor will cost you if you have to go out and get them. You need a torque wrench to do just about anything to your bike. For this task, specifically, you need a 12mm allen wrench for the bolts that hold the sliders on and a 35mm (I think) socket to remove the fork caps (be careful doing that by the way) to refill the tubes with oil. The entire front end is metric, so if you don't have metric sockets and hex bits, you'd have to go buy those too. Personally, I like buying tools as I need them and do what work I can on my own so I'll have them for next time. Saves in the long run.