1985 GL1200 Interstate Fork Seals...

[Dad3Sons]

Forum Gods -

Recently both fork seals on my GL1200 Interstate began leaking profusely, spilling fluid onto the brake calipers. OK - time to replace seals and clean everything up. After disassembling both forks, the parts in my forks do not exactly match the exploded parts diagram in the Clymer manual. The fork seals I took out measure 41mm x 54mm x 8mm. There is an additional flat washer/spacer on my bike between the top of the seal and the retainer circlip/snap ring, which is about 2.5mm thick. When shopping for parts, the "correct" dimensions of the new seals for this year and model are 41mm x 54mm x 11mm. I'm puzzled as to which is correct? Has anyone found this issue with the GL1200 series models? Or, in my case, has an old mechanic installed some on-hand seals and made due with the additional spacer/washer? It appears that if I bought the 11mm thick seals, and omitted the upper spacer/washer, it would fit under the retainer circlip.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance!!

Joe from NorCal

[joecoolsuncle]

41x54x11 is proper size. bike master, k&l, vesrah are all great. stay away from leak proof, imho.
https://www.bikebandit.com/oem-parts/19 ... 27sch22978

[LAB3]

It's rather interesting that the Honda parts fische is rather ambiguous on the parts involved not naming everything which often helps determine what you need. Either way, here's another picture to look at that might help you figure it out.

https://www.babbittsonline.com/oemparts ... front-fork

[Dad3Sons]

Thanks Guys -

I figured the 41x54x11 were correct. I went to the local Honda Dealer today figuring fork seals might maybe still be stocked. When I told the kid behind the parts counter what I wanted, he said, "Oh, Jeez, we don't stock many parts for street bikes... especially that old. I'd have to order that seal kit, and, oh, by the way, it's back-ordered from my supplier." So, I went to the local H-D dealer and they had some.... I live in a very rural area and the Honda/Kawasaki/Yamaha/Suzuki dealer mostly sells ATV's, UTV's, mules, and dirt bikes. I live in a VERY rural area....

[joecoolsuncle]

Thanks Guys -

I figured the 41x54x11 were correct. I went to the local Honda Dealer today figuring fork seals might maybe still be stocked. When I told the kid behind the parts counter what I wanted, he said, "Oh, Jeez, we don't stock many parts for street bikes... especially that old. I'd have to order that seal kit, and, oh, by the way, it's back-ordered from my supplier." So, I went to the local H-D dealer and they had some.... I live in a very rural area and the Honda/Kawasaki/Yamaha/Suzuki dealer mostly sells ATV's, UTV's, mules, and dirt bikes. I live in a VERY rural area....

same here, and most other areas as well. independant motorcycle shops are closing because insurance companies have raised their rates by a huge amount, and the goto fun toy is the side by side atv. a very large and old motorcycle salvage yard was about 30 miles from me. they gave up trying to make a profit and sold all the motorcycle stuff as scrap. they now only sell parts for, and repair atv, utv and appear to be on a fast down slope to closing permanently. do you see a moped (electric) in your future?
BTW, did you know the same company has built forks for HD and honda, and many other japanese bikes for decades?

[LAB3]

There's no shortage of online sources for parts and USPS still delivers rain or shine. Over the course of the last nine years I've spent the majority of my time in Ameristan, that part of the U.S. that begins as you leave the "Blue" cities, Walmarts begin to appear and everything on the internet is true. The only times I've ever had a problem getting parts is when I'm broken down too far from a Post Office to pick something up via general delivery.

[Dad3Sons]

Yesterday afternoon I installed the H-D fork seals and they went in fine. I omitted the additional thin washer/spacer above the seal as it wouldn’t let the snap ring engage in its track. I took it for a 5 mile or so ride and so far no leaks or weeping. I’m calling it a success…

[joecoolsuncle]

lots of folks would not admit you fixed your honda with HD parts. in reality, you fixed your honda with honda parts that HD uses also! aint it fun?

[Dad3Sons]

JCU -

If you looked up "irony" in the motorcyclist's Dictionary, is this what you'd find as the definition??

Cheers!!

Joe from NorCal

[LAB3]

JCU -

If you looked up "irony" in the motorcyclist's Dictionary...

Seems to me the propaganda going around in '83 was telling us that the Goldwing used more American sourced parts and labor than H-D did. I'm not sure if that's true or not but I'm quite confident that the '83 Lowrider I bought straight off the showroom floor has been melted down and turned into something else by now, guess It took close to 40 years to correct my purchase mistake!

[joecoolsuncle]

i believe, iirc, 1985 goldwings were 100 percent American made with American labor. 1971 was last year of all American made HD. AMF saved them in the eighties..

[LAB3]

i believe, iirc, 1985 goldwings were 100 percent American made with American labor. 1971 was last year of all American made HD. AMF saved them in the eighties..

Pretty much ANYONE knowledgeable will tell you that it was AMF that killed H-D's reputation, not the other way around.

[joecoolsuncle]

i believe, iirc, 1985 goldwings were 100 percent American made with American labor. 1971 was last year of all American made HD. AMF saved them in the eighties..

Pretty much ANYONE knowledgeable will tell you that it was AMF that killed H-D's reputation, not the other way around.

yep, killed their reputation for building and managing the worlds worse motorcycle ever. hd was gone, out of money, parts, tooling. amf brought them back to life, hence the very long waiting list after purchase to take delivery of your new 1984.5 hd. after amf recovered the failed company, willie g and his circus found enough foreign investors to buy back the company. in 2002, they hired a chinese engineer to move their drive trains into the next era. that is exactly where hd started to slide downhill again. no that i am anyone knowledgeable about the business i was in for a very long time.