front fork 'how to'

[Dogsled]

Scott,
I was watching a You Tube on fork rebuilding for ones like ours and the guy did something you step by step doesn't address and I was wondering if you have any input.
He tapped in the guide bushing seperately so as to make installing the seal easier (his english accent was pretty heavy and it was difficult to understand why he did that.)
In your step by step, I am assuming you do it all at once. I know the washer goes in between and the bushing won't damage the seal but would require more hitting to seat both at once. I just found it an interesting detail he made a point of adding it as an installation step.
Any opinion or maybe merit in doing the steps individually?

[WingAdmin]

Scott,
I was watching a You Tube on fork rebuilding for ones like ours and the guy did something you step by step doesn't address and I was wondering if you have any input.
He tapped in the guide bushing seperately so as to make installing the seal easier (his english accent was pretty heavy and it was difficult to understand why he did that.)
In your step by step, I am assuming you do it all at once. I know the washer goes in between and the bushing won't damage the seal but would require more hitting to seat both at once. I just found it an interesting detail he made a point of adding it as an installation step.
Any opinion or maybe merit in doing the steps individually?

I'm not really sure how installing the guide bushing separately makes it easier to install the seal - perhaps because it will be nearer the fork top, and will hold the fork tube more in the center of the fork leg? Installing the seal is not that difficult, if it's been lubricated well, it just pops right in with a few bangs of your seal installer.

[Dogsled]

Yeah.....I was just curious after seeing the video. No explanation was given for the process pro or con. After messing with one of the several forks I have, I found both the used seal and bush went in fairly easy. I was just curious as to any thoughts of maybe, the lack of needing to drive the bush would put the seal in easier. There seems to be alot of emphasis on this seal being very delicate that every thing one could do to make that thing go in easier is a plus. I just cant believe the condition of these replacement forks being offered as 'clean'. Thanks for the reply though.
Al

[Dogsled]

tube differences between the 90 and 97

[Dogsled]

I hope to get some info from anyone that wants to take a minute. I'm trying to do a compatability test for switching interior parts on, in my case, the 1500. I have run across a few inconsistencies and am on the fence about safety. I've been in contact with Showa, who makes our front forks and we are going to try to find out what changes were done when and get some facts instead of theories on what will work.
I have 2 sets of forks i'm rebuilding at this time and on the lower leg is a tag with the name Showa and a model under it. If anyone feels like it and can give me the year of their bike and that model I am going to make a list before we meet in a few weeks. I have;

1997 MAN771
1990 MN5003

I know there's a possibility some of these numbers may not match the bikes if they were switched out because of damage but the more numbers I have the more they will have to compare too. The person I talked to said they are not sure if a record was kept by them or Honda, so i'm just driving blind here for a while, but he seemed helpful. I need to contact him with some more info next week but the serial/model numbers may be the key for us to identify that everything in our forks are right.

JUST A FUNNY NOTE;
Some guys like to kid their Harley buddies or get kidded about buying American. Showa, (a Japanese manufacturer) has made Harley forks and rear suspension for alot more years than there are Goldwings. They use them on all their big bikes.

Thanks, Al