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Putting new fork seals on with the tubes in place

J

jknappsax

Forum Mentor
Past Site Supporter
I am just finishing my fork cleanup and rebuild, and I've been planning on driving the new seals in place over the chromed inner fork tubes. Is this a bad idea? I'm also pulling the triple trees to check the steering-head bearings.
 
you need a 18" or so piece of PVC pipe and you can drive the seal in on top of the tube. Don't do it the other way; it wont work; ask me how I know.:o
 
Is there some other way to install them?

On 37mm forks, a length of 1.5" PVC pipe works perfectly. FOr OEM seals, I use a rubber mallet on the other end and gently -- very gently -- tap the seals in. Takes less force than you might think.

For Leak Proof Pro Moly seals, you have to gently work them in with your fingers -- if you drive them in they'll leak. DAMHIK.
 
If you're using "leak-proof" branded seals, you don't want to beat them in anyway. Others, as mentioned, will require a long enough piece of PVC.

If you're going to slide them all the way down over the uppers, make sure to smooth out any pits that could cut them on the way.
 
This could explain Baatfam's badly leaking freshly installed "leak proof" seals last year at the Slimey crud.... I wonder :)

I usually go stock & use the pipe.

:)
 
I ended up pulling the inner fork tubes again

I ended up pulling the inner fork tubes again

That way I could get a better look at the depth they were seating, and that all was square. I've searched for the order to torque the various bolts without any luck; can anybody point me to the tightening order?
 
I'll measure it in a minute; the PVC that I used fit over the tubes with plenty of room, and just fit inside the lower perfectly. Just right to seat the seal along it's outer edge where the metal inside it is. Anybody have any luck with the order of tightening the bolts? I know I read in a thread to start with the bolts in the lower triple, and I can't find the thread; I can't remember the exact terms I searched for.
 
It's 1 1/2" schedule 40, with an outside diameter of 1 15/16 " and an id of 1 1/2 ". It fits perfectly over the metal rings inside the the seal itself, just inside the fork lower.
 
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Tried this over the weekend and heat and air and even taking the forks to an auto shop with a BIG compressor had no chance of getting the seals off that way. Bought a piece of threaded rod and a few nuts and did it the original way and when I saw how much sludge we where able to clean out I am glad we did.
 
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