Topic: need help with changing my fork seals

[the technological J]

i got every thing off the front im trying to pull the seal it wont budge its almost as if it is glued in place..any tips from those who've changed these before i need help im trying not to scratch the outer seal wall but these things are rediculous.... and i have pulled the wire clip holding this in place.... thanks

[mlinder]

There's an actual seal puller tool, helps immensely with this job. They aren't expensive. Lemme see if I can find a link for you. Back in a few.

[mlinder]

Here ya go.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00970995000P?keyword=seal+puller

[Hush]

Get an old pot, fill it with water, put of stove top, place your lower fork legsinto the pot seal end first, bring to boil, remove and garb seal with long nose pliers or flick with an old blunt screw driver.
They will come out easy as, don't worry about the heat, the alloy can take it.

[Sporkfly]

Boiling the seal helps soften it up as well. Made the job a lot easier, came out with minimal prying.

D'oh, Hush beat me to it.

[Hush]

That's why we get up so early Sporkfly, we are the first country to see the new day.

[the technological J]

hey thought u might get a kick outta this so i posted it..... and the other pic... can u check this fork pic out and let me know if this is a problem.. there is a spot on the front of this fork and on the other about 1/3rd of the way around to the other side

[mlinder]

Hells yeah, boiled stanchions with a side of onion rings!

Can you point out the spot you are talking about? Circle it in ms paint or something.

[the technological J]

the spot is like a rub it looks like its through to next layer of metal.... any easy way to set these new seals in? can i gently tap them into place?

[mlinder]

Yes, but where?

As far as getting them in, I've used a rubber mallet and a socket of about the same size to tamp 'em in.

[Alan F.]

I usually set the new seal in place and set the old seal on top of it, then use a mallet or a chunk of 2x4 to encourage it into place.

The spots you're mentioning are all within the oil filled part of the fork lower and will never see daylight until the next time the forks are apart, it's probably just normal wear and tear for a set of vintage forks.

[TwoTired]

Too late now.  But, let me alert you to possible Zinc poisoning.  That bucket is zinc plated, open flame can turn the coating to vapor.  Not good to breathe that stuff in.

Learned about this during welding class.  Galvanize = bad to weld in enclosed spaces.

In the old days, people got sick from lead poisoning in a similar manner, as they heated food in the tin cans they came in over an open fire.

FYI

You only get one set of lungs in life.  Be careful what you put in them.

Cheers,

[Hush]

AlanF got it spot on, same way I do it, push new one in as far as it will go then put old one on top and encourage it in with a block of wood and a hammer.
Oh yeah and don't forget (like I did last time) to put the keeper ring in once the new seals are in place, it's a pita having to take the forks aprt just to put the keeper back in.

[cookindaddy]

I just did this job also and used a short length of 1-1/2" PVC or ABS plastic pipe which turns out to be exactly the same diameter to tap the seal into place. I used a short piece of wood on top of the plastic pipe and hit it gently with a mallet. The seal went right into position beautifully. I didn't have a socket of large enough diameter but this worked for me.

I didn't do the boiling thing to remove the old seal but I managed to pry the seal out with a long crowbar hooked under the seal and with care, didn't mark the bore, or dint the top edge at all. I surprised myself with that.

I test drove it today and what a difference! The bike used to twist slightly going over bumps, now it goes up and down, like it should.

[the technological J]

yeah about the galvanized bucket i asked my dad about four times if that bucket was ok because i have heard something like that and he said that the bucket wouldnt reach a temperature that would be harmful... thanks for all the help they new seals took a little convincing  and went in with the help of some kind of gas cap and a wrench hammer

[the technological J]

heres the wear a little singled out

[Hush]

Typical wear for a 30 year old bike mate, ignore and move on.