Removing the forks cap on an air assisted damper

[DEEBS11]

Larry, I have seen those seal cleaners and have been buy curious. Might have to try that. Thanks.

BTW, to remove the cap - Jack up the front of the bike so the forks extend all the way out. Loosed the top pinch bolt closest to the fork threads, wrap a large adjustable wrench with black or duct tape and loosen the cap while you press down. The spring is not under a large amount of pressure.


Another trick I do with Harleys is to remove just the Schrader air valve and inject the oil into the lower drain screw. The air pressure from the syringe/oil will escape out the top. Then you just re-install the lower drain screw & Schrader valve.

[jetmechmarty]

I set my oil level by measuring it from the top with the spring out. Also, my springs are non-stock. I've done minor modifications. Changing the oil doesn't happen as often as it should.

[Larrym]

Might have to try that. Thanks.

Alrighty, then. (๑˘︶˘๑)

Then in a "know-before-you-go" kinda way here's some things that might be helpful-

1. I actually buy the official "Seal Mate" from their Amazon store but then RARELY use the store-bought ones on the seal(s). I use'em to trace onto a plastic 2 liter bottle and cut'em out (copies...) with good scissors. NOT the "workshop" ones I've cut sandpaper with... (-‿◦)

2. The store bought Seal mate is a wee-bit thinner than the "copies" so it's weaker and subject to "crinkling/bending"(which ruins it...) if you use too much force on it. (ノ﹏ヽ)

3. In video(s) put out by the makers themselves that show how to use them properly (a MUST watch...) they show the Seal Mate slipping into the seal and extending almost an Inch or two PAST the seal so only 1/2 or 3/4 of the Seal Mate still shows outside the fork/seal. (; ꒪ö꒪)

This amount of penetration PAST the seal is something that I, personally, have NOT been able to achieve on my 79 Special. (ʘᗩʘ’)

I do get the Seal Mate/Copies to slip down far enuf to get past the initial "lip" and into the fork-seal-to-fork-tube mating surface which is the area needing to be cleaned. (°◡°♡)

But then the Seal Mate bottoms out against something HARD (mebbe part 3H3-23146-00-00 in the fork exploded parts diagram...) and won't go any further. I've tried to go deeper but that's when I've BENT the tool which makes it unusable.... ¯\_(⊙_ʖ⊙)_/¯

But you got's a Standard, right? (O_o)

Fingers crossed that you'll get the tool to slip ALL the way down and past any hard stops. (^_^)

[bikerphil]

Some of us old school guys use 35mm film negatives as fork seal cleaners. The dirt bike guys use them too, that's who I learned it from.