fork seals

Jeffery · Posted: May 26, 2008, 8:34 am Post subject: fork seals

Ok I hate to ask this silly question but here it goes. This is my first run at rebuilding a front fork but have sucessfully disassembled and cleaned the parts. I used to just take it to a shop and have it done. I found that making the tool to grab the dampner rod down inside the tube was half the battle. My question: Can the fork seals be put in before the fork tube is slid back in place or must the fork tube be put in place first then the seals installed.
Todd

5twins · Full Member Joined: Aug 05, 2006 Posts: 1616

Seals are usually installed with the lower removed from the tube. Tap them in with the proper sized socket.

xsjohn · Posted: May 26, 2008, 11:00 am Post subject: Re: fork seals

Changed my original seals last year with 35MM seals like I was supposed to and they leaked....dagnabit.......so I used some 34/46/10 on my 35MM tubes....super glued a 1/4"strip of bicycle tube on the outside of the seal to make up the 2MM difference and installed them with some silicone around the outside......the things sure don't leak now.........xsjohn

Retiredgentleman · Posted: May 26, 2008, 4:26 pm Post subject: Re: fork seals

Make sure you install them correctly................I installed mine upside down and had to re-install again. If unsure, let me know and I will reply.

Jeffery · Posted: May 26, 2008, 5:21 pm Post subject: Re: fork seals

Yea, I open to any tips you have. I haven't installed them yet but have the fork back together. I thought you could install them after the fork tubes were bolted back into the fork leg. I read where a guy used a piece of pvc pipe over the fork tube to hammer the seals home. If I understand it right the side with the deepest lip faces down. Right? Seals came from Mikes XS.
Todd

Retiredgentleman · Posted: May 26, 2008, 6:21 pm Post subject: Re: fork seals

When I do fork seals, I remove the lower fork leg from the fork tubes (stanchions) and leave the stanchions attached to the triple trees. You are correct, the side with the longer lips faces down towards the oil. That side also has the larger spring backing the lip. You need to find something the exact size of the seal in order to drive the seal in. I used some metal tubing that I had but a socket or pvc/abs tubing could be used.
Here is a link that gives you the rough idea. www.kichline.com/chuck...efault.htm

xsleo · Posted: May 27, 2008, 12:39 am Post subject: Re: fork seals

in some of the magazines i get , they have articles on all sorts of things .just recently they had a write up on how to install the emulators like mike's sells, they installed the seals after the forks were put together. in the clymer book it shows doing it with them apart. i guess it can be done either way. if you have the forks together i would oil the tubes and carefully slide the seals down the tubes. seat with a long piece of pvc. in some of the catalogs they sell seal installers that look like pvc tubes. just made to fit the seals.

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