Buggered up fork seal removal...

[tbrand69]

Okay, so I totally screwed this one up. Yes, it's because of my lack of familiarity with suspension.

So I figured I'd pry out the seals while I wait for the new ones to get here. Oh boy. At first I figured they'd come out pretty easily so I tried to pull 'em out with pliers. That didn't work too well, so tried prying them with a screwdriver. I'm sure you see where this is going.

After that failed, I read on here that I could try heating them a little bit, or trying to burn them out. Well, I may have gotten a little overzealous with the torch in my frustration...

After the I realized the tube had changed color I stopped heating and began cursing. Then I went to O'Reilly's and bought a seal puller. That worked much better.

Unfortunately, dug too deep with the tool the first try and snagged the wall of the slider.

Will that gouge be a problem for the seal? Can I file it down with a Dremel and then smooth it with some JB Weld? Or should I be looking for a new slider?

Any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Tommy

 

[7981GS]

Can I file it down with a Dremel and then smooth it with some JB Weld? Or should I be looking for a new slider?

Any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Tommy

Yes. It will be fine after you clean it up.
You can get by with grinding down the burr and applying ultra-black to the outside edge of the seal when installing.

Eric

 

[tbrand69]

Yes. It will be fine after you clean it up.
You can get by with grinding down the burr and applying ultra-black to the outside edge of the seal when installing.

Eric

Phew, good to know. Just to clarify, I rub a bead of the ultrablack on the seal itself, not the tube, right?

What about the golden slider? Any way I can make it look normal again?

Tommy

 

[Steve]

What about the golden slider? Any way I can make it look normal again?

You probably just scorched the clear coat. You can try some brake cleaner or carb cleaner spray (or some other solvent), or some very fine sandpaper to clean it off.

Of course, you take some of it off, it's going to make the rest of it look tacky, so you just might end up doing the entire length of both forks.

.

 

[GateKeeper]

you might the golden color out by using a wire wheel on a drill and see if it will remove the discoloration or some sanding with a fine grit paper, be aware you might need to do the entire fork tube, as well as the other one, to make them look the same...

if your worried about that....

Steve beat me to it.....

.

 

[chuck hahn]

You can polish the tubes. take all the clear off both of them and polish away. Next time, just heat it all the way around untill you start to see a little "bubbling" around the seal and the tube mating surfaces. Then use a big stiff flat tip and get just under the edge of the seal and pry it out using the edge of the tube as your fulcrum. Those seal pullers with that curved face force it in and down and you get what happened there. Apply the RTV to both the fork and the seal when applying the new ones. The little bit that squishes out the bottom is wiped off with a rag.

 

[tbrand69]

Perfect. Thank you for the advice, gentlemen. Looks like I've got some polishing to do tonight. I'll just wire wheel the sliders and then hit them with the buffing wheel if I need to.

Tommy

 

[GateKeeper]

using a wire wheel this will give you a satin/matte finish, if you use a buffing wheel after you will then get a polished finish...

.

 

[tbrand69]

using a wire wheel this will give you a satin/matte finish, if you use a buffing wheel after you will then get a polished finish...

.

Satin does sound nice, but isn't it more susceptible to stains soaking in, rust, ect.?

 

[GateKeeper]

no rusting on aluminum....

it will still be smooth, just not a mirror finish, so you can treat it with some metal buffing compound to protect it, or spray some clear coat on them (I don't like to do that)

all my parts were either polished to mirror finish, or satin finish, none were clear coated, but all were rubbed down with metal polish, and you then just have to do periodic maintenance.

exposed aluminum will oxidize, so you will have to do some upkeep

satin finish

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showpost.php?p=1567617&postcount=405

polished

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showpost.php?p=1569416&postcount=426

 

[bonanzadave]

Dont the seals normally pop out when you pull the top tube (slider) out of the fork ?

 

[spyug]

Dont the seals normally pop out when you pull the top tube (slider) out of the fork ?

Yup they do, but oddly most folks don't seem to know that. The downside to that method, however, is that some time you need to put a little force into it and parts have been known to go flying, especially if you don't put the cap back on

Other than that way, the next easiest method I find is to cut one side of the seal with a dremel tool, distort the seal and pull it with pliers.

It can be a tough and frustrating job when you first try it but once you get the knack its not so difficult. Just avoid flame

cheers,
Spyug

 

[tbrand69]

Dont the seals normally pop out when you pull the top tube (slider) out of the fork ?

The tubes slid out nice and clean like when i took them apart. The seals didn't budge at all. When I took the retaining clip out, they still refused to move. Even with the seal puller, they took quite a bit of force to finally pop out. My guess is that they were very, very old.

 

[hampshirehog]

Dont the seals normally pop out when you pull the top tube (slider) out of the fork ?

Depends on the model / design of the forks. Some forks you put the seals in first before putting the tubes back in and others you put the tubes in and fit the seals afterwards. The controlling factor is the bushes - if they are there and if so how they fit.

 

[chuck hahn]

Ive slammmmmmmed many a set and the easiest way ive found is the heat then and screwdriver pry method. After 30 years or so that seal is almost made itself part of the metal. The heat softens the rubber and expands the tube..both good for removing them. But to each their own i say. Bes sure the retainer clips are put before slamming away though.

 

[GS750cafe]

Instead of polishing your entire fork sleeve, you might try some ultra fine steel wool to remove the discoloration. I too discolored my forks when heating, but it was the only way those 35 year old seals were coming out! I little steel wool and they look great!

 

[tbrand69]

*Update*

*Update*

So I threw the slider on the bench grinder with a wire wheel and the discoloration came right off.

You can't really see the contrast, but the sldiers definitely look different from each other.

I just have to go back over it to remove any splotches or spots I missed. I think I'll throw a little buffing compound on them for protection and a little gloss.

Tommy