Need help with Fork Seals

[Yosemite Sam]

Please help,

I have a GL1200 with leaky seals. I'm trying to replace seals without removing forks, and I'm stuck. I got the bottom fork off, but can't figure out how to get the seal past the back-up ring and the outer and inner tube bushings. See pic...can someone help me?

Thanks
Sam

[WingAdmin]

I assume you're replacing the bushings (well you should, based on how they look)? Have you removed the old bushings? You can do this, but it leaves sharp, machined edges, which can very easily slide delicate new seals:



Honestly, I'd spend the extra 20 minutes and pull the fork tubes out of the triple tree, and pull the old seals off the top and put the new ones on the same way. Lots of lubrication first!

[Yosemite Sam]

I wasn't planning on replacing the bushings, do they look really bad (inner or outer?)

If I don't have the bushings and don't replace them, what risk do I run?

Thanks
Sam

[The Wolf]

Hi Sam, I just replaced mine on my 83 Interstate, like Wing admin shows in the picture just open the bottom bushing and slide it off the bottom-then the other bushings and seal will slide off too. Clean everything up then put dust seal on then the c-clip and then the seal..make sure the seal goes on the right way. Mine had marking on it that went to the top..oil it up good and carefully slide it. If you view the DIY on 1100 there a picture showing how to seat the seal with a 1-1/2 PVC pipe.. On mine I used about a 3 in length and cut it half, that way it fit around the top fork and could push the seal down into place. I had to tap it with a racket handle so be careful not to nick up the top fork section. Hope that helps!

ken in Maryland

[WingAdmin]

Your guide bushing is quite worn. Here's the one I took out of my bike - note the where the ring of copper is worn off the guide bushing:



Here's my new replacement guide bushing (on the right):



Note that the new replacement is completely coated in copper. Your guide bushing has only a smattering of copper remaining. It needs to be replaced. And if your guide bushing is in that condition, I suspect the teflon coating in your slider bushing will be in similar sad shape.