Topic: front suspension service

[evinrude7]

planning to service the front suspension soon.  will i need to use new seals or will the old work if in good shape?  any other replaceable parts required during a general front suspension service? 

[HondaMan]

planning to service the front suspension soon.  will i need to use new seals or will the old work if in good shape?  any other replaceable parts required during a general front suspension service? 

If the fork seals are not leaking, all this should take is a change of the fork oil.

[evinrude7]

much obliged mr. mark. 

[BomberMann650]

If you do separate the legs.  Have new oil seals, a pair of damper rod "piston" rings, fork cap o-rings, and 4 copper crush washers handy.  All you'll need is one quart of fork oil and a measuring cup.

Should be about $80 in parts.  Worth the effort.

[evinrude7]

thanks bomber

[Bankerdanny]

I understand Mark's (Hondaman) reply, but if you don't know how old your seals are I would replace them. Fork seal failure isn't a catastrophic thing and if you are in the middle of a long ride you can wait until you get home to fix it, but since you are planning a service anyway consider doing them. It adds some work to the process, but they aren't expensive and are prone to failing with no real warning.

[Stev-o]

Check your springs while you have it disassembled, if they are 40+ years old, they may be out of spec.

[evinrude7]

great tips.

[Deltarider]

I haven't had to replace one seal yet (bike is 41 years old), probably due to the harmonica rubbers. I've changed the oil once a decade and even the last time I did this, oil came out clean. I don't understand why the Owner's Manual prescribes a more frequent servicing.

[Bankerdanny]

When I changed the fluid in my bike's forks last year it came out a milky red (it has ATF in it as per the manual, I replaced the seals and refilled with fork oil)), so heavily contaminated with water. My '77 K bike in 2011 blew out the seals almost immediately after I started riding it, but then it had sat for 25 years before I bought it.

I suspect that a bike that has been continuously ridden and decently maintained can see the seals last for a long time. But if the bike has sat for extended periods the rubber can dry out and the seals fail when you start using it again.

[evinrude7]

When I changed the fluid in my bike's forks last year it came out a milky red (it has ATF in it as per the manual, I replaced the seals and refilled with fork oil)), so heavily contaminated with water. My '77 K bike in 2011 blew out the seals almost immediately after I started riding it, but then it had sat for 25 years before I bought it.

I suspect that a bike that has been continuously ridden and decently maintained can see the seals last for a long time. But if the bike has sat for extended periods the rubber can dry out and the seals fail when you start using it again.

i picked up the bike in december.  po had it outside for almost 3 years rusting away.  bought a new set of gaitors.  i figure i should at least get a look at the fork oil while i have the front tire off and plan to polish the fork bottoms. 

[evinrude7]

when reassembling the front suspension if the fender is closer to one fork than the other are the forks not even in height?  should i raise the fork that has the fender closer to it?   

edit:
the answer is yes but only a slight bit.  forks are even now.  i had to do a little tugging and pushing on the fender to straighten it after it was off and put back on.