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Author Topic: easy way to remove fork seals  (Read 10521 times)

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Offline GroovieGhoulie

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easy way to remove fork seals
« on: July 19, 2006, 12:39:44 PM »
I've been fighting with them all day.  There HAS to be an easy way to get them out of the fork lower.  I've been prying so much on one that it's nearly destroyed, but it still won't budge.


HELP!!!!
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Offline dusterdude

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2006, 12:42:09 PM »
blow torch
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Offline GroovieGhoulie

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #2 on: July 19, 2006, 12:44:48 PM »
Just burn 'em out?

What about the metal part?
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littlebronco

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #3 on: July 19, 2006, 12:48:01 PM »
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Offline dusterdude

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #4 on: July 19, 2006, 01:39:22 PM »
kiddin bro,try broncos suggestion
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mark
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Offline clarkjh

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #5 on: July 19, 2006, 01:39:49 PM »
You remembered to remove the snap ring right.  I used a Big honken screw driver, popped em right out.

James
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Offline Gordon

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #6 on: July 19, 2006, 02:26:02 PM »
Quote from: clarkjh on July 19, 2006, 01:39:49 PM
You remembered to remove the snap ring right.  I used a Big honken screw driver, popped em right out.

James

Same here!
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Offline jtb

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #7 on: July 19, 2006, 02:40:32 PM »
Soak em in hot water, then pry out.  Don't remember where I read that, might have been here. ;D
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Offline Dunstall_74

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #8 on: July 19, 2006, 02:49:33 PM »
I had the same trouble you are having.  I ended up completely disassembling the forks, soaking the fork bootoms in kroil (penatrating oil/solvent) with the seals completely emersed for about 1/2 hour.  After that I just took a 10" long pry bar with a flat, slightly angled head and pryed evenly around the seal until it finally gave way.  The trick is to make sure you pry around the seals evenly, as thety are pressed in and will wedge themselves in even tighter if you pry one side more than the other. 
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supersport_CB400F

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #9 on: July 19, 2006, 02:50:13 PM »
I knocked mine out with a thin steel bar that I poked through the plug hole in the lower part of the tubes if you have them off the wheel it’s easy…no time at all...don't use a blow torch ...F***ING  not a good idea, may work on a 750 but not on a 400  ;D
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Offline angeldeville

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #10 on: July 19, 2006, 02:54:09 PM »
Tire irons work wonders, and you don't even need to remove the snapring prior.

J/k about the ring but a tire iron does work.
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Offline 78_SaltLick

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #11 on: July 19, 2006, 03:39:49 PM »
Quote from: _biffta_ on July 19, 2006, 02:50:13 PM
I knocked mine out with a thin steel bar that I poked through the plug hole in the lower part of the tubes if you have them off the wheel it’s easy…no time at all...don't use a blow torch ...F***ING  not a good idea, may work on a 750 but not on a 400  ;D

same way i did it, i struggled with them trying to knock them out with a block of wood and a rubber mallet before i put a bar in the holes across ways then gave it one smack and out it came.
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Offline GroovieGhoulie

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #12 on: July 19, 2006, 03:41:34 PM »
Well there's a Sears near here so I popped over and spent 7 bucks on the seal pulling tool.

Amazing.  After fiddling with the damn things for 5 hours, they were out in 30 seconds.

But then I had to run to the hardware store to get the proper length of PVC pipe to reinstall the new ones.  The pipe I had was thin-wall and broke.

More proof that having the right tool makes the job easy.
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Offline bryanj

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #13 on: July 20, 2006, 09:33:19 AM »
OK best answer is CAREFULLY, Over the years I have seen lots in the workshop where the owner sez--" I recently changed the seal(s) and they are useless" to find that when he changed them he gouged the slider prying them out so that oil came round the outside of the seal via the gouge!
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Offline GroovieGhoulie

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #14 on: July 20, 2006, 09:35:54 AM »
I was very careful since I didn't want to damage the very soft(!) fork legs.

I was shocked at how soft it was, even for being aluminum.

Anyway, typical of a learning process, the first fork took 12 hours, not including sleep, the second took less than 10 minutes.

The right tools make all the difference.
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eldar

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #15 on: July 20, 2006, 11:11:55 AM »
Jeez people. I changed my fork seals and had no manual and no idea what I was doing and the hardest time I had was putting the top caps back on cause the springs were a pain! Fork seals went out and back in in probably 5 minutes. I have developed a slight leak but that was from sitting for about 4 years then suddenly being ridden like nuts! Fork oil is probably somewhat bad too after that time in storage.
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Offline dusterdude

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #16 on: July 20, 2006, 01:08:54 PM »
gee eldar,tell us how you really feel.
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mark
1972 k1 750
1949 fl panhead
1 1/2 gl1100 goldwings
1998 cbr600 f3

Offline clarkjh

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #17 on: July 20, 2006, 01:18:36 PM »
Quote from: dusterdude on July 20, 2006, 01:08:54 PM
gee eldar,tell us how you really feel.

 :D :D
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eldar

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Re: easy way to remove fork seals
« Reply #18 on: July 20, 2006, 01:45:00 PM »
I thought I just did? Ok it was like putting a harley on the trailer to go to sturgis then trying to get it started to ride it the last 5 miles in! ;D
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