Front Fork Seal Driver ?

Just wondering why the fork seal drivers that you purchase today are split
into two pieces ? What benefit is this over the solid one piece tube type ?
Thanks,
Iowa883

 

It allows you to change fork seals without removing the whole
fork from the bike.


Phil

 

Unless I'm missing something, it would be a major pain in the ass compared
with loosening the two pinch bolts. I even take the forks out to change the
oil on the Sportster.

 

I'd LOVE to see him put a new seal on mine without pulling
the fork legs. Or any motorcycle for that matter.


--
Nefarious Necrologist 42nd Degree
Some people ride, some just like to show off their butt
jewelry once in a while.
Dum vivimus, vivamus
<3 )3~ <3 )3~ <3 )~ <3 )~

 

To allow them to expand to cope with different size seals?

 

Nonsense

 

Leave the tubes in the trees and step away from the bike.

If you remove the legs with the tubes still in the trees, you don't have to deal with any clutter
around the trees. Less time and risk of damage for the professional wrench.

 

Well, the OP's email address seemed to point to him having a
Harley-Davidson. I inadvertently thought I was in the H-D newsgroup.

It can be done on the H-Ds (without pulling the whole fork off
the bike. Obviously, the fork legs have to be pulled from the tubes).
Trust me.


Phil

 

Why would I make it up?

Phil

 

Er...No. The radius of the installer has to match the fork.
That's why you can get split ones for 39mm, 41mm, etc, etc...


Phil

 

Strange, because my local dealer has a split one, with a sort of collar
round it, which tackles just about every diameter fork on the planet.
It's been used on my Ducati and my (then) Z200, and I doubt you could
get much more disparity between the two fork sizes there.

You wind the collar down on the split, as it were, for narrower
diameter, and wind it back for wider.

 

All right, I'll make it simpler. You could, I suppose, dig out the old
fork seal with the forks still in situ (hell of a risk of damaging the
fork, but still).

Please explain, though, how you will install the new seal *without*
dropping the fork leg from the yokes.

Upside-down forks might be a different matter. I'll admit I had RWU in
my mind.

 

I'm with Phil on this one. I've seen and done fork seal replacement on
several bikes without removing the forks from the triple clamps. The forks
on many bikes with right side up forks can be disassembled with the forks on
the bike. The biggest problem is dealing with the fork oil if there is not
a drain plug on the forks.

Carl

P.Tosh

 

<sniff, sniff>
Doesn't smell like a fed
<sniff>
Nor does he smell like a missionary...

Okay I'll take your word for Harley Davidson...so do you put
it up on the center stand to do this? ;^) Even on a lift you
have to remove the legs on a GL1000 like mine.


--
Nefarious Necrologist 42nd Degree
Some people ride, some just like to show off their butt
jewelry once in a while.
Dum vivimus, vivamus
<3 )3~ <3 )3~ <3 )~ <3 )~

 

So, in otherwords. My solid driver will work ? I will be using it on a yz85
with upside down forks.
And I just can't figure out how you would benefit from a split one when you
have to disassemble the fork to get the old seal removed and the new one on
anyhow.
Iowa883

BTW I do own a Sporty plus many other bikes Have any OEM red cables for
a Bultaco Sherpa T-350 ?

 

Am I writing in Swahili? You remove the fork seals the same
way as usual, but slide-hammering the fork sliders off the tube, but
you leave the tubes in the triple trees.

Then, to reinstall, you partially put the slider on, then put
the split fork seal installers on the tubes (no need to slide them
over the top since they are split), and slide hammer the seals back
in.

As did I. Never did it on upside-down forks.


Phil

 

Once again...You do have to remove the fork sliders from the
tubes, but you can leave the tubes in the triple trees.


Phil

 

!!! Are you on crack? No thanks...scratched fork tubes is
not a good thing.

You go right ahead on YOUR bike(s) I like seals that don't
leak and don't need replacement sooner than needed. That
technique is a receipe for disaster in my opinion.


--
Nefarious Necrologist 42nd Degree
Some people ride, some just like to show off their butt
jewelry once in a while.
Dum vivimus, vivamus
<3 )3~ <3 )3~ <3 )~ <3 )~

 

Er...How will disassembling the fork this way risk scratching
the fork tubes? How do you disassemble them? How does the manual
tell you to do it?

Keep in mind we are talking about conventional hydraulic (i.e.
non-cartridge) forks.

OK....I'll bite...How do you install fork seals?


Phil

 

Unless you can seat the seal before assembling the USD fork leg, I suspect a split driver is the
only way to get past the axle/brake carrier.