My '04 police model EG, like the civilian model, calls for servicing the forks at 50K miles.&nbsp\\; As I approached the service interval I started reading my Service Manual about what was involved and also reading threads on the topic.&nbsp\\;
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The service is made more difficult because of HD's use of a cartridge in the left fork, and I read of some owners switching out the parts to duplicate the catridge-less '06 and newer set-up\\; others who simply converted the left fork to the same as that used on the Road King which don't use a cartridge\\; and, still others who did the cartridge service themselves.
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Local dealerships wanted $400-500 for the service work.
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I didn't like the idea of changing the left fork to the cartridge-less Road King version because HD probably wouldn't have gone to the trouble of the cartridge for the fairing equipped Touring bikes if they didn't need it for the added weight of the fairing and equipment they contain\\; the parts cost for the '06 and newer version would still require me to dissassemble the existing forks and reassemble them with the new parts (which didn't appeal to my limited skills)\\; and, I was reluctant to tackle the service as laid-out in the SM.
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What I ended up doing was contacting a local dealer and confirming that their service dept. would perform the service work on the forks if I brought the forks to them for $100 plus parts.&nbsp\\; So that's what I did this week-end.&nbsp\\; Removed the forks Friday evening, and took them in on Saturday morning to the dealer who has a "first come/first served" no appointments needed Saturday morning schedule.&nbsp\\; The forks were returned to me in two hours and I installed them Saturday afternoon.
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Since the installation, I've ridden the bike about 75 miles and can't say the change was dramaticmore like installing a new set of shocks on a car sort of difference.&nbsp\\; Others might find that significantmore important to me was simply getting a required service done at an acceptable cost that allowed me to do something on my bike that I hadn't done beforethank goodness for the Service Manual.
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Couple of notes:&nbsp\\; the fork cap bolts require a 1 3/8" wrench/socket.&nbsp\\; I discovered this after dissassembly had begun, and couldn't find a wrench or socket on Friday evening.&nbsp\\; So, Pirateeye and I found a 1 1/4" wrench and I used his grinder to "create" the 1 3/8" open end wrenchworked fine.
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Also, I was installing a CB antenna, etc. so I had a couple of projects going at the same time as the fork service.&nbsp\\; At least that's my excuse for forgetting to tighten the pinch bolts until after I had "completed" my work and was ready to ride.&nbsp\\; So, I ended up duplicating some of the work in order to tighten the pinch bolts.&nbsp\\;
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All in all, the fork service, CB antenna installation, etc. went well.&nbsp\\; I do this work at Pirateeye's home garage, use his tools, and enjoy his friendship/banterso it was&nbsp\\;a good Friday evening/Saturday working on and talking Harleys with a good friend.&nbsp\\; More good reasons to do my own workwithin my limited skills at least.

 

Glad you could do the work yourself.&nbsp\\;
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I know HD recommends this service at 50k miles, but am curious from the perspective that the forks are a sealed system, and should not get the oil contaminated unless there is a leaking seal.&nbsp\\; Oil does not degrade in a sealed environment, so the question is - what is gained by changing the fork oil at 50k if all appears to be good?&nbsp\\;&nbsp\\; Do the chambers/valves that the oil passes through and provides the dampening go bad?&nbsp\\;&nbsp\\; Shocks on cars do go bad after a period of time, but in almost all cases, worn out shocks are also leaking and indicating that somethin is wrong.&nbsp\\; &nbsp\\;I have asked this of my dealer and of a few local wrenches and have not really gotten a good answer.&nbsp\\; I am not saying not to do it, but wonder what the rational is to do it.

 

some good info thanks guys