cockercas Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 Right ive got a rmz450 front end on my garage floor and ive hit a problem. Ive got the forks apart but i cant separte the outer and inner tubes. I cant get the dust cover off to get to the clip behind it. Ive tride youtube for ideas but theres seems just to slide down the inner tube really easy. Mines stuck fast. Ideas? Quote
Stu Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 very small screwdriver to prise them out push it between the seal and where it meets the fork leg and work your way around a bit at a time Quote
cockercas Posted March 29, 2014 Author Posted March 29, 2014 I tride prising with a screw driver but no good. I even managed to get a small pair if grips on it bit it still wouldnt free. Quote
Joeman Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 Stanley knife.. You're replacing it anyway, so chop it out! Quote
megawatt Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 What Joe said. Don't scratch the chromed tube. Quote
Stu Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 you wont go near the chrome tube if you do it like I said unlike with a knife Quote
Mr Fro Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 you wont go near the chrome tube if you do it like I said unlike with a knife +1 on that.I'd use a flat bladed screwdriver under the lip and give it a bit of drift all the way round. Then see-saw lever it out. Quote
cockercas Posted March 30, 2014 Author Posted March 30, 2014 you wont go near the chrome tube if you do it like I said unlike with a knife Yer i see what you mean. I was tired lastnight lol. Screwdriver between were the seal seats into the outer tube. I taxed my bike!!!!! I couldnt wait. Quote
cockercas Posted March 31, 2014 Author Posted March 31, 2014 Fork seals done. Thanks guys.Top tip stu, worked a treat. Quote
ApolloMozart Posted April 2, 2014 Posted April 2, 2014 Gents, do you mind if I post another question here?So the right fork on my CBR is leaking. Didn't notice it last week when I was cleaning the bike, but yesterday, while waiting at the traffic lights I saw the seal covered in oil. Cleaned it all at home and made sure none of it got on the brake disk. This seems a fresh leak. I googled a little and people say that sometimes dust particles get trapped between fork and seal, so the oil starts leaking. I ordered a plastic £5 "seal mate" - sort of a scraper - which people say can clean the dirt under the seal.Did anyone use this "seal mate"? Are there good chances that it is some dirt there and the seals are actually ok?Thanks! Quote
Mr Fro Posted April 2, 2014 Posted April 2, 2014 To be fair, it would have to be a very determined bit of grit to get past the dust seal and wedge itself in the oil seal.For a fiver it's worth a punt but be prepared to whip the forks out and change the seals over. It's not a huge or expensive job, just takes a while first time round. Quote
cockercas Posted April 2, 2014 Author Posted April 2, 2014 The rubber seal you can see is a dust seal. I saw that stuff your on about but just how can it work? How will it seal something that moves? Quote
ApolloMozart Posted April 3, 2014 Posted April 3, 2014 (edited) the thing should arrive tomorrow and I will try to use it on saturday. Apparently you insert the tool in between the seal and the fork and move it around. in the process it grabs any dust and dirt... that's the theory at least.I also called a honda dealer and arranged for them to have a look when they do the recall service - need to change a [strikeout]bold[/strikeout] bolt of some sort. Edited April 4, 2014 by ApolloMozart Quote
cockercas Posted April 3, 2014 Author Posted April 3, 2014 Do you need to remove the fork then? Quote
Zipster Posted April 3, 2014 Posted April 3, 2014 I've a SealMate - great job for a temp fix but ultimately the seals will fail again and you'll need to do it again. Fine for a stop gap but not really a permanent repair. BTW don't expect to be able to do it as easy as the ad video shows! I can't get mine to move in the direction of the hooked edge but it works ok the other way!! Quote
ApolloMozart Posted April 28, 2014 Posted April 28, 2014 So the "seal mate" thing arrived some time ago and I managed to get a substantial amount of dirt from under the seal. At that point I thought this should have fixed the leak.It didn't!So I vent to HGB Moto in Ruislip and they had a look and they said the shiny part of the fork has a dent from a stone (probably) and that damaged the seal. If they change the seal it will get damaged again so no point in doing this. They took a pic a sent it to Honda HQ (or wherever) for a warranty replacement of the fork but they say it may not get approved and I have to pay for the new fork.Is it really necessary to replace the whole fork or only the "shiny" part can be replaced? I was not given a price for the fork replacement, but they guy said it can be as much as £300 ... Very sad! Anyone been through this and can share the experience? Quote
Mr Fro Posted April 28, 2014 Posted April 28, 2014 Can you bung up a pic of the dint?Crappy luck mind - might be able to find a pattern part or a second hander... Quote
cockercas Posted April 28, 2014 Author Posted April 28, 2014 The shiney part is s diffrent peice. Theres a inner and outer tube. Wouldnt of thorght you would get it on warrnty.Dose the dint pass the seal on compression? Quote
ApolloMozart Posted April 29, 2014 Posted April 29, 2014 the dent is quite small, an oval about 3x2 mm where metal is slightly pushed in but it has slightly rough edges. And it goes right by the seal when I sit on the bike. When the suspension compresses and rebounds, the dent moves past the seal every time.looks like a costly repair... will wait for Honda guys to get back to me. Quote
Joeman Posted April 29, 2014 Posted April 29, 2014 wonder if you could fill the dent? maybe some of that chemical metal stuff?worth a try - worst case you buy some forks off eBay. Quote
Mr Fro Posted April 29, 2014 Posted April 29, 2014 wonder if you could fill the dent? maybe some of that chemical metal stuff?That's what I was thinking as a temporary measure - used to use araldite back in the day and sand it back with wet and dry. Quote
Stu Posted April 29, 2014 Posted April 29, 2014 Talk to suspension specialist They can grind weld regrind and chrome for a lot less than 300 quid You will be able to get stantions from about 80 quid each too Quote
ApolloMozart Posted April 29, 2014 Posted April 29, 2014 Looked online and there are none (specialists) close enough to where I leave... Unless they are well hidden somewhere.Called HGB again and the chap said that they can replace the shiny tube on its own, but was unable to give me a price today. Hopefully they can get a reply from Honda tomorrow about the warranty claim.The problem I have with mechanics is time. I'm at work every weekday from 8 to 6, leaving me no time to go around and show the bike to mechanics. If I leave the bike to be looked at, I have to take the train, which costs per day as much as a week worth of fuel. Taking time off work also has financial implications...So it is a question of time/money balance...I may spend some of my thinking time to think about fork protectors now... Quote
Stu Posted April 29, 2014 Posted April 29, 2014 You will have to post it to someone to sort out Quote
Joeman Posted April 29, 2014 Posted April 29, 2014 The problem I have with mechanics is time. I'm at work every weekday from 8 to 6, leaving me no time to go around and show the bike to mechanics. If I leave the bike to be looked at, I have to take the train, which costs per day as much as a week worth of fuel. Taking time off work also has financial implications...So it is a question of time/money balance...I may spend some of my thinking time to think about fork protectors now... I know that feeling.. i ended up just buying a new pair of forks from eBay when my GSXR fork seals failed.fork swap was simpler than messing about with the seals and oil etc. also i got stiffer springs which was a great bonus!I was planning to sell my old forks, but so far, not got round to it... add that to my todo list Quote
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