Fork Leak question

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May 22, 2016 | 06:56 PM

#11

Berick

Road Captain

Joined: Nov 2014

Posts: 505

Likes: 24

From: Edmonton, Alberta

Just saw your pics..... get a shop manual buddy. You took the top bolts off but there are lower triple tree clamps to loosen before you can drop your fork tubes.

May 22, 2016 | 08:43 PM

#12

14GuineaPig

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2013

Posts: 3,483

Likes: 601

From: USA

This is for 1997 & 1998 Softails

May 22, 2016 | 09:13 PM

#13

gilmour68

Road Master

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 1,167

Likes: 20

From: NE Pennsylvania

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berick

I just replaced my internals with Progressive Monotubes over the winter months but in doing so had to install new fork seals. It's an easy job if you have tools and a motorcycle lift. I think the seals and oil were under $40 Canadian but I bought a fork seal driver that cost $90 Canaidan. Money well spent in order to do the job myself again in the future if needed.

If you can borrow a buddies seal driver then it won't cost you much at all. There are a ton of Youtube videos on how to do it..... combined with a shop manual it's a very easy job just a little time consuming on your first attempt.

When I tore apart my front end this past winter, I installed chrome sliders and Progressive Monotubes. To seat the seals, I used a length of PVC pipe, 1 1/2" ID (if I remember correctly) and I sanded the edges down to round them off so they wouldn't damage the seals. Since I had the take off sliders, I took a used one and used it as a slide hammer along with the piece of PVC pipe to seat the seals. I used a piece of smaller PVC pipe in the past to seat the seals in my Sporty's forks when I changed the sliders and had good results as well.

May 23, 2016 | 05:48 AM

#14

CBCanada

Thread Starter

Cruiser

Joined: May 2016

Posts: 165

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From: Oshawa, Canada

I actually went to The Harley dealership and ordered the service manual $80! That was last Monday. They told me a few days to arrive. I called back Friday and was told 3-4 weeks. So in Saturday I bought a pdf version for $7 and was working off that but it's several models combined from 1988-1999 so maybe I looked under wrong section.

In anycase thank you for posting that. I will continue work today. I did not know Canadian tire sells fork seals ? And fork drivers??

May 23, 2016 | 05:56 AM

#15

CBCanada

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Joined: May 2016

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From: Oshawa, Canada

I can see the pinch bold under the plate. From what I can see, The one on the left side looks like the corners have been worn off a bit. So this will be fun to take off.

May 23, 2016 | 07:58 AM

#16

CBCanada

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Joined: May 2016

Posts: 165

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From: Oshawa, Canada

See it says to looses. Up the pinch bolt but it does not say to remove the headlight and the chrom bracket behind the headlight. This is why I did not think of that bolt... Unless some one knows how to access it without taking out the other parts

May 23, 2016 | 09:15 AM

#17

CBCanada

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Joined: May 2016

Posts: 165

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From: Oshawa, Canada

Success! �� Are loosening up to headlights and the bracket behind it , I got the nut loosened with a breaker bar... The fork came off, The seal look real bad not sure if it's ever been changed! Ok now on to changing the seal! I am going to continue in this thread