Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

fork assembly question.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 10, 2014 | 08:17 AM
  #1  
Jameson's Avatar
Jameson
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 551
Likes: 2
From: Fort Bragg, NC
Default fork assembly question.

I'm reassembling my forks after installing progressive monotubes and chrome sliders. My service manual is deceiving me lol. There is a flat washer and what seems like a sleeve on the fork tube. Does it slide on top of the fork seal? So it would be slider with fork seal installed, then slid on to fork tube with the sleeve and washer on top of the fork seal? I hope I'm making sense.
 
Reply
Old May 10, 2014 | 08:50 AM
  #2  
jam436's Avatar
jam436
Supporter
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 73
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Supporter
Default

what model bike?
I'm in the process of doing mine for the second time as we speak, my monotubes arrived yesterday.
Are these the three parts you're referring to?:


..and anytime I disassemble anything, I always make sure to have a clean workspace to lay out all the parts in the order they were removed, even going so far as to take notes and pictures... saved my *** more than once...
 

Last edited by jam436; May 10, 2014 at 09:06 AM.
Reply
Old May 10, 2014 | 09:26 AM
  #3  
Jameson's Avatar
Jameson
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 551
Likes: 2
From: Fort Bragg, NC
Default

Yes those pieces. I can't remember how they went together.
 
Reply
Old May 10, 2014 | 09:26 AM
  #4  
Jameson's Avatar
Jameson
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 551
Likes: 2
From: Fort Bragg, NC
Default

2001 fat boy by the way
 
Reply
Old May 10, 2014 | 10:16 AM
  #5  
jam436's Avatar
jam436
Supporter
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 73
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Supporter
Default

Originally Posted by Jameson
Yes those pieces. I can't remember how they went together.
Hmmm, not sure about a 2001 FB... do have the service manual? ..because I';d hate to give you the wrong info
Maybe a call to the dealer service dept. is in order...

But on my Slim:
They go onto the slider in the order pictured...
The large one is the lower slider bushing.
The flat washer is the seal spacer, and acts as the "stop" for when you seat the seal.
The seal goes on top, with the printed side facing up.
Lastly you'll have that snap-ring that goes over top of the seal...

When I did it, I used a piece of 1 1/2" schedule 40 PVC to seat the seals.
I slit the pipe down just one side to allow it to expand slightly, to get it to fit over the top slider tube.
Just be sure to have the end cut an an exact 90° to seat the seal evenly.
I also placed an extra seal spacer I had (the flat washer) over the top of the seal to protect it and help seat it, then removed it after.
On the top of the PVC, I added a pipe plug, or end cap to make it easier to pound on - two smacks with a rubber mallet and the seals were in...

I got lucky this time as I didn't have to do the total disassembly again for the monotubes...
Good luck...
 
Reply
Old May 10, 2014 | 11:24 AM
  #6  
Jameson's Avatar
Jameson
Thread Starter
|
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 551
Likes: 2
From: Fort Bragg, NC
Default

So bushing seats in the fork slider, then washer, then the fork seal with snap ring? It feels like I'm having a hard time getting the monotone in the slider like the bushing is stopping it.
 
Reply
Old May 10, 2014 | 11:37 AM
  #7  
jam436's Avatar
jam436
Supporter
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 73
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Supporter
Default

Originally Posted by Jameson
So bushing seats in the fork slider, then washer, then the fork seal with snap ring? It feels like I'm having a hard time getting the monotone in the slider like the bushing is stopping it.
Again, I can only tell you what I had to do on a '13 Slim.
I doubt an '01 FB will be the same...
Do you have the manual?
At the very least a trip to the dealer might get you a better and more accurate answer - even if you have to take all your loose parts and ask about the reassembly order... better safe then sorry.
This isn't a job you want to do twice, or worse, get wrong...
 
Reply
Old Jan 12, 2023 | 08:33 PM
  #8  
Duke4AZ's Avatar
Duke4AZ
Advanced
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 62
Likes: 41
From: Phoenix, AZ
Default

.
 

Last edited by Duke4AZ; Jan 12, 2023 at 08:34 PM.
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 24, 2024 | 04:32 AM
  #9  
strokelessone's Avatar
strokelessone
Tourer
Veteran: Air Force
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Loved
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 477
Likes: 326
From: Beaver PA
Default

I have the service manual at home, but wont be able to get to it until 1800 tonight, about 12.5 hours. can send you pics and stuff if you are still stuck.
 
Reply
Old May 24, 2024 | 04:47 AM
  #10  
eighteight's Avatar
eighteight
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 10,795
Likes: 7,422
From: OH
Default

Originally Posted by strokelessone
I have the service manual at home, but wont be able to get to it until 1800 tonight, about 12.5 hours. can send you pics and stuff if you are still stuck.
He`s already waited ten years, what`s a few more hours ..
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:05 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE