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Woohoo!! Circlips out But what about Seals?

bccap

bccap

Forum Sage
Past Site Supporter
Finally got the circlips out, now on to the seals. Tried using the slide hammer method to no avail. Cannot use the air method as there is no air valve on the tube. So that leaves heat and any suggestions you may have. I have a nice little soldering blow torch to use. But I don't quite grasp the concept. How much are you supposed to heat, and then how do you get it out ? Also I notice the spring is more compressed on one end than the other. Does that mean my springs are shot ?
 
Guess I'm a little slow but what are you working on? Forks? What bike?
 
Sorry, It's a 1983 GS 750E. I put it in my signature but don't know how to get it to display,on my threads. I am also trying to do it the Basscliff method without disassembling the lower fork.
circlip.jpg
 
Hi,

You can just dig the old seals out, be very careful not to scratch the fork tubes. Many have used long wood screws. Screw 2 or 3 into the seal and pull it out.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
I was thinking about that. Do you think it would help to soften the seal with a torch? I have to admit I am concerned about scratching the tube. Does the heat method involve prying them out as well ?
 
Just pull the forks apart. Why monkey around?
 
Don't muck about trying to pry the seals out - 99% chance you'll booger the stanchions. Plus I bet you'll need to replace the teflon rings as well as the seals (dunno if they're real Teflon - Suzuki call 'em anti-friction, but Teflon is easier :)).

The slide hammer technique does work. On some of these old forks you've just got to keep giving it a blo*dy good whack. They'll give in eventually. And when they do pour yourself a beer 'cos chances are you'll be cream crackered
 
bccap said:
Finally got the circlips out, now on to the seals. Tried using the slide hammer method to no avail. Cannot use the air method as there is no air valve on the tube. So that leaves heat and any suggestions you may have. I have a nice little soldering blow torch to use. But I don't quite grasp the concept. How much are you supposed to heat, and then how do you get it out ? Also I notice the spring is more compressed on one end than the other. Does that mean my springs are shot ?
Click to expand...

The correct and least risky method for removing fork seals is to remove the 8mm bolt with an impact gun in the bottom of the fork leg. Once you get that bolt out, you compress the fork tube, then abruptly slam outward the tube and the internal bushing will force the seal out. Keep in mind, the best method to install fork seals is to use a specialty seal driver. FYI do not use a "punch" to drive the seal ! you will warp the seal lip and you've got leaky fork seals again...
 
Also if you tear them down completely you will be amazed at how much sludge and crap has built up inside the fork leg. oil will be black and nasty. If your going to do a job do it right it generally don't take that much more time to do it right. And in some cases takes longer to only do half the job.
 
All of these suggestions assume that you have the bolt out of the bottom of the forks.

Do you? :-k

.
 
Thanx guys its been a frustrating experience. My original intention was to follow bikecliffs tutorial. But my setup is nothing like his. Then someone mentioned slidehammer. So day 1 spent several hours, slidehammering with no success. but 1 sore shoulder. Day 2, tried to put in a wood screw. Even with my 280 pounds, I couldn't even get it started. Didn't want to mess with that too long, for fear of damaging the fork. So grabbed my propane torch and off to the alley, so as not to stink up the underground parking lot. 2 hours later and I am not even half way through. So back up to the apartment, and crack a beer. PM to Hampshirehog, who was kind enough to send me a detailed set of instructions. And no I had not removed the allen bolt. Once I did this, one gentle slide and out popped the seal. What I was wondering was, and I don't know if it can be done is; to establish a link between bikecliff's tutorials and members individual bike experiences for different models ? It would be nice but I think it be complicated to set up.
 
bccap said:
And no I had not removed the allen bolt. Once I did this, one gentle slide and out popped the seal.
Click to expand...
Yes if you don't remove the allen bolt you will get nowhere.Read through this thread and was asking myself "did he take the bottom screw out?".Got it done in the end,all that really matters.
 
Last edited:
bccap said:
Thanx guys its been a frustrating experience. My original intention was to follow bikecliffs tutorial. But my setup is nothing like his. Then someone mentioned slidehammer. So day 1 spent several hours, slidehammering with no success. but 1 sore shoulder. Day 2, tried to put in a wood screw. Even with my 280 pounds, I couldn't even get it started. Didn't want to mess with that too long, for fear of damaging the fork. So grabbed my propane torch and off to the alley, so as not to stink up the underground parking lot. 2 hours later and I am not even half way through. So back up to the apartment, and crack a beer. PM to Hampshirehog, who was kind enough to send me a detailed set of instructions. And no I had not removed the allen bolt. Once I did this, one gentle slide and out popped the seal. What I was wondering was, and I don't know if it can be done is; to establish a link between bikecliff's tutorials and members individual bike experiences for different models ? It would be nice but I think it be complicated to set up.
Click to expand...


I've never read any credible sucess stories removing and installing fork seals while the tubes remain assembled. Read this tip as well :

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=139760&highlight=fork+seals
 
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