USD forkseal replacement....Ball-ache.

jjdugen · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jun 2011 Karma :

First of all, if you've never done this job, you probably won't know what the hell I'm talking about, if you have.........

OK. Wrestled the leaky USD fork leg out. Looked at the tutorials, got myself a ratchet strap, made up a collar, set too doing the job.
Fair enough, once you have all the bits its a bit of a strain, but it all came apart easily enough.
Except.... I can see NO reason on earth for the job to be such a ball-ache!
All you are doing with your straps and collars is compressing a spring to gain access so you can release a none to tight locking nut on the bottom of the spring/damping rod adjuster top slug. Trouble is, its covered by the preload spacer so you need to compress the spring to see it. Now, the manufacturer thinks nothing of drilling holes at the top and bottom of the spacer for mounting the collar, so why the F don't they just drill one opposite the nut!?!?!?
This is exactly what I did once I could see where the hole needs to be. It allows a locking bar to be inserted, holding the nut as you tighten it up with the fork top. No straps, no collars, job done in five minutes, as will any future need to strip forks for seals or bushes.
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

Pigeon · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Karma :

I've had 1 set of USD's apart twice, so limited experience.

But when you refer to a locking bar, what tool is this?

I ask, because from memory, the hole needed for the size of nut would have been significant. I'm not sure I'd want such a large hole in a plastic spacer that's under tension from the spring.

That said, my SV has a metal spacer, so I was unpleasantly surprised to see my Triumph had a plastic one.

Props for titting around with straps and such. I bought a fork compressor as figured it would pay for itself pretty quickly.

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

I took my GSXR forks apart in no time. I'm not even that good with spanners...

I found no issues with doing do, no special tools either. Laughing

Pigeon · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Karma :

jjdugen · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jun 2011 Karma :

M8 hole, flat head screwdriver.
____________________
The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

P.addy · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

750Y

Blown seals after shit wheelies.