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Help needed with fork seal removal

11 posts Started 17 Mar 2010 Last recovered post 17 Mar 2010 Wayback Machine snapshot 23 Mar 2010

#1
Hey all,

Am having a bit of a problem removing the fork seals out of mt CBR600F2 forks (these are going on my VF). the problem I am having is they appear to have rusted in the lower fork legs, Having no joy with the slide hammer techniqe, any one have any Ideas?

Thanks

Dougie
#2
Try to clean the slide area above the seals as well as possible, then soak with WD40 and let sit overnight and try again.
Heat will usually work after that if still needed.

Good Luck.

BR
#3

[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 17 March 2010 - 09:37 AM, said:

Try to clean the slide area above the seals as well as possible, then soak with WD40 and let sit overnight and try again.
Heat will usually work after that if still needed.

Good Luck.

BR

Make sure also to remove the rubber wiper boots on top of the seals first so the oil can get at the seals. What usually happens here is the little springs in the fork seals rust when water gets inside the boots and sits. The rust just keeps going like a cancer and expand like crazy in there, making them really tight and not wanting to come out. Penetrating oil needs a little bit of time, and sometimes a number of applications to really get in there and loosen up the rust.

Resist the urge to go digging in the seals for the rust with anything tougher than nylon toothbrush bristles because if the seal mating surface on the lower leg gets scratched (it's just aluminum and easy to scratch) the new seal might leak or fail early.

Also, if the seals are this bad it is a good idea to replace the nylon slider bushings inside the fork lowers as they are probably shot too from the rust getting in there and wearing on them like sandpaper. Putting new seals on loose floppy forks will result in a very short life for them as the seals have to then do the job of the nylon sliders as well and they are not up to that kind of abuse and won't last long. The nylon bushings are cheap usually anyhow and I like to replace them with the seals just because I don't want to have to go back and do the job again. They don't last forever.
#4
Just throw that junk away away and buy the F3 forks I have sitting here! LOL.

I've had some tough bushings before. Just gotta keep working at pulling the tube out.
#5

[image: View Post]Serenity_VFR, on 17 March 2010 - 09:49 AM, said:

Make sure also to remove the rubber wiper boots on top of the seals first

While your there be sure to pull the metal wire clips that hold the seals in the tubes! :rolleyes: :unsure:
#6

[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 17 March 2010 - 11:16 AM, said:

[image: View Post]Serenity_VFR, on 17 March 2010 - 09:49 AM, said:

Make sure also to remove the rubber wiper boots on top of the seals first

While your there be sure to pull the metal wire clips that hold the seals in the tubes! :rolleyes: :unsure:

And the bolt at the bottom of the fork! Everything should be out of the fork except the tube and the bushings!
#7

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 17 March 2010 - 10:18 AM, said:

[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 17 March 2010 - 11:16 AM, said:

[image: View Post]Serenity_VFR, on 17 March 2010 - 09:49 AM, said:

Make sure also to remove the rubber wiper boots on top of the seals first

While your there be sure to pull the metal wire clips that hold the seals in the tubes! :rolleyes: :unsure:

And the bolt at the bottom of the fork! Everything should be out of the fork except the tube and the bushings!

I see 16k today! :laugh:
Congrats! :woohoo:
#8

[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 17 March 2010 - 11:21 AM, said:

[image: View Post]SEBSPEED, on 17 March 2010 - 10:18 AM, said:

[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 17 March 2010 - 11:16 AM, said:

[image: View Post]Serenity_VFR, on 17 March 2010 - 09:49 AM, said:

Make sure also to remove the rubber wiper boots on top of the seals first

While your there be sure to pull the metal wire clips that hold the seals in the tubes! :rolleyes: :unsure:

And the bolt at the bottom of the fork! Everything should be out of the fork except the tube and the bushings!

I see 16k today! :laugh:
Congrats! :woohoo:

Don't pop the bubbly just yet...
#9
Thanks guys, will let them soak overnight :0 then get the heat gun out

And Seb I aint buying your forks, its all your fault I bought these ones :) (hmmm thinks, maybe i should put these into honda, and get the invoice sent to sent to Seb)

anyhooo hows it going Seb, your garage still full :)
#10

[image: View Post]BaileyRock, on 17 March 2010 - 10:16 AM, said:

[image: View Post]Serenity_VFR, on 17 March 2010 - 09:49 AM, said:

Make sure also to remove the rubber wiper boots on top of the seals first

While your there be sure to pull the metal wire clips that hold the seals in the tubes! :rolleyes: :unsure:

Um, yeah -THAT would make them pretty hard to remove... :laughing6-hehe:

If the wiper boots were overlooked then the clips would surely be missed too! heh. You got me there! :owned:

That is why I always look at the manual before doing any job, even one I've done many times in the past. My memory isn't as good as it used to be when I was a lad. Having the manual is half the job of doing many of the procedures that stump a lot of shadetree wrenches. If you have that exploded parts diagram in front of you it really shows you what you are up against.
#11

[image: View Post]dougie750, on 17 March 2010 - 11:24 AM, said:

anyhooo hows it going Seb, your garage still full :)

Good - busy, and I wouldn't have it any other way! :biggrin:
End of thread · 11 posts recovered Wayback Machine snapshot 23 Mar 2010