fork seals

[laidbackjj]

quick question, im changin my fork seals and havin the hardest time ever drivin them in, jus how the heck do you get these things in, need to already get a new one from damage

[uk1.1s]

Getting the b*^%$$s in

Pain aren't they.

I'm a vetran from doing this on a lot of bikes I've owned, and for very special friends too (as I hate it almost as much as bleeding the brakes). Third on the list is the steering head bearings (maybe triple tree bearings in US?)

Officially you use a 'drift' of about the same diameter as the seals and hammer in. By drift, in this case, it would mean a cylinderical peice if tube (with a smooth end so you don't rip into the seal). Something that you don't mind hammering at from the other side. Place drift on bearing face, and tap in with a hammer from the top side.

A couple of weeks ago I used an old large socket from my toolbox, which was way too small - think it was a 30mm size. The way I tackled it was to tap the seal in at 4 places (top, bottom left right). Hammer the drift a few times at each location in turn and you should get gradual movement into place. This may take a while, and it looks like there's no movement sometimes, but it ensures that it goes in straight and doesn't 'lock' by getting too crooked in the fork slider.

As mentioned in another thread somewhere (looks like we're all doing our seals ready for the road) - I bought some pattern seals that we're too big. They looked like they could just about be driven in (took me a whole afternoon to convince myself they wouldn't fit). In the end I bought the Yamaha part and had no trouble with the method above.

[captjerry]

John, I havnt had to do it to the Yamaha yet however on
other bikes Ive had I always use a piece of pvc pipe generally
1 1/2" dia. If its too snug I cut it up the side the entire length for easier removal.

[fusionking]

Yup me too! PVC is the way to go. Garry

[fusionking]

Oh yeah also forgot to say by using PVC pipe you can drive your seals in after you have installed the tubes. I keep my bike at my welding shop and have both the Yamaha manual & the Clymer And I still end up downloading stuff from this site & using it instead. 20 years of whatever really does change the way we fix everything!!!!!!!!!!!!! Garry