Oil seal replacement
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 359
Likes: 2
From: central Mississippi
Oil seal replacement
My left front fork oil seal is leaking. Replacing it is one job I've never done. I've got the factory service manual. It doesn't go into a lot of detail on just replacing the oil seal, mostly covers removing the fork. Any tips or shortcuts to doing this job? I was hoping I could just remove the outer fairing and take the fork apart from the top, down to the seal, but not sure. Does the fork have to be completely removed from the bike?
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,086
Likes: 1,128
From:
My left front fork oil seal is leaking. Replacing it is one job I've never done. I've got the factory service manual. It doesn't go into a lot of detail on just replacing the oil seal, mostly covers removing the fork. Any tips or shortcuts to doing this job? I was hoping I could just remove the outer fairing and take the fork apart from the top, down to the seal, but not sure. Does the fork have to be completely removed from the bike?
Rate limiting step is the allen bolt at bottom of slider.
Go to harley dealer and buy the two allen bolts.washers now. Buy seals also.
The allen is something like a 6mm...needs to be really long.
Cut an allen and place in a socket or purchase a long allen socket.
They are tight so an impact is sometimes required.
No need to remove tube.
Raise bike, remove front wheel.
Remove the allen bolts. Fork oil will leak out/drain.
Slide the sliders off (difficult)..you will need a friend to hold bike steady.
Slide the old seals off.
Slide new seals on NOW.
While sliding the sliders on the tube STOP and tap the new seals in with a split PVC coupler.
You need to get the seal on the tube into the slider way BEFORE you bottom out the slider for the bolt.
Then continue sliding the slider in and install allen bolt.
You drained the fluid so now you need to put fluid back in...if you have air shocks then you can use the suction method using air valve and side drain bolt along with a mity vac or similar..If you do not have the air shocks then a funnel and tube will be required top side.
Hopefully your year has air shocks up front so you can bypass the fairing removal.
Regardless, the removal of the tube is not required but removal of the slider is required.
The rate limiting step is the allen bolt inside the bottom of slider..make sure to have the long allen that is inside a socket and an impact driver on standby.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 856
Likes: 9
From: North Carolina
Fork seals are super easy once the forks are out. You do need an air wrench to get the bolt out of the bottom of the forks. I made a tool to set the new seals in place. I used some old PVC and a hose clamp. It worked great. Seriously, getting the forks off is twice as bad on FLHTC than rebuilding the forks. Although I agree that it's possible to do them while still on the bike I can't imagine how I could get the new oil in and make sure it's right. Once you've done it once you will see how easy it is. Put a towel over your tank so the handlebars dont goober it up.
Oh and one more thing..you probably already know this but, the front calipers on Harley don't bleed worth a flip the traditional way. But, reverse bleed them and it works quick and easy.
Oh and one more thing..you probably already know this but, the front calipers on Harley don't bleed worth a flip the traditional way. But, reverse bleed them and it works quick and easy.
Last edited by falconbrother; Apr 8, 2014 at 07:32 AM.
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