• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Fork Seals

  • Thread starter Thread starter rickt
  • Start date Start date
R

rickt

Guest
I completely disassembled both front forks on the '78 GS750. The seals offered quite a bit of resistance, but I finally got them out with the help of my trusty heat gun. I purchase a pair of seals on Ebay and immediately noticed that they were slightly thinner. Actually, the old seals are ~13 mm thick and the new ones are ~11 mm. I was concerned and went to FlatOutMotorcycles and ordered a pair of OEM seals. Lo and behold they are also 11 mm thick. So, the question is - is this a big deal or should I just install them and not worry? There may be gap between the top of the seal and the wire spring retainer.

One other small detail - my Clymer manual says to intall the seals with the open end down. The old seals had an open and a closed end. The new seals are open and both top and bottom. Does it make a difference and if so how does one tell which side to insert first?

Thanks,
rickt
 
rickt said:
I completely disassembled both front forks on the '78 GS750. The seals offered quite a bit of resistance, but I finally got them out with the help of my trusty heat gun. I purchase a pair of seals on Ebay and immediately noticed that they were slightly thinner. Actually, the old seals are ~13 mm thick and the new ones are ~11 mm. I was concerned and went to FlatOutMotorcycles and ordered a pair of OEM seals. Lo and behold they are also 11 mm thick. So, the question is - is this a big deal or should I just install them and not worry? There may be gap between the top of the seal and the wire spring retainer.
Click to expand...

The OEM ones I have are also ~11mm. I don't think the retainer spring has to be right against the seal. Who knows what the previous owner put in there...

rickt said:
One other small detail - my Clymer manual says to intall the seals with the open end down. The old seals had an open and a closed end. The new seals are open and both top and bottom. Does it make a difference and if so how does one tell which side to insert first?
Click to expand...

On my OEM ones both sides have an open slot, but one has a much bigger gap. The one with the smaller gap has a thicker outside wall and that wall has some letters and numbers molded on it - AR2050G NOK 25. I'd leave that side up.

I'd also use the OEM seals - the advice around here seem to consistently recommend them over the aftermarket ones.
 
Hi Having just done my fork seals ,they are also 11mm thick but mine were only open at one end and tappered at the top does your seal have a spring inside one of the open ends? if so put that in facing down.Over here in New Zealand it is hard to get original parts so after market is sometimes our only option. The ones I put in mine are also compatible with most the early GS's from 79 to 83 and yamaha xj 900(83)xs 1100(78-81). As with most things now a days made in taiwan EMGO:part no:19-90140. They work a treat and at only $15 new.:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top