Winger 82":1yqkt4bj said:
Has anyone change them without taking the forks off the bike ? (was told it could be done) If so what kind of trouble might you have had and is there a video out there showing how it was done, been trying to find something on youtube but everything is off the bike there.
Winger 82 :hi:
I've done it both ways. I personally think it's easier with the forks off the bike, although removing the seal from the forks is easier with the forks on the bike.
The thing is when you're putting the new seal back in, I feel it's easier with the forks off the bike. Put the bushing and sleeve on, push the tube into the lower fork, reinstall the bolt on the bottom of the lower fork tube, then install the spacers and seal (I can't remember the order right now) To drive the seal in, I use a 4'-5' section of 1 1/2" PVC pipe. I let the weight of the pipe do the work. Pick it up about a foot or so, then let go. About 4-5 repetitions should do it...maybe a couple more. Install the dust cap, and put the fork back on the bike where you found it. Easy stuff.
If you leave the fork on the bike, you will have to split the pvc pipe in half, lengthwise, and clamp it on the upper fork tube. Then, you'll need to take all the spacers, bushings, and pvc pipe, then slide them onto the fork tube before you slide the lower fork onto the tube. At that point, you use the lower fork as a slide hammer to drive the seal in. After that, you have to remove the pvc pipe from the upper fork tube.
This isn't meant to be complete instructions, just an idea of what's involved. Like I said, I've done it both ways, and I think taking the forks off the bike to drive the seal is easier.
