Fork seal replacement

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  • gui_tarzan
    XSive
    • Sep 2010
    • 69
    • Mid-Michigan

    #31
    That's something I did not know, thanks! I will also check the tubes to see what kind of shape they're in.
    Jim...<><

    '78 XS1100E

    Previous bikes:
    Early 70s Honda 90 Enduro
    1998 Honda Shadow ACE
    2006 Honda VTX 1300R

    Dogs understand why people ride motorcycles

    Comment

    • Nubian
      XStremely XSive
      • Apr 2011
      • 467
      • The Big East

      #32
      Originally posted by bikerphil
      Couple hours at least, maybe more. You'll also need something to drive the new seals in without damaging them. I use a PVC adapter fitting from Home Depot with the OD ground down a bit. A socket of the correct size would work too.
      What size pvc?
      BAMN!

      '81 XS1100H "Brutus"

      Comment

      • Nubian
        XStremely XSive
        • Apr 2011
        • 467
        • The Big East

        #33
        Thursday is D-Day!
        Got my seals today!
        Got my progressive springs!
        Will build that tool, Thursdsay!
        Need to figure out best full synthetic oil to use in forks.
        One member uses silicone
        Will line up a seal puller to buy, if needed.
        EXCITED, i've been nose diving ever since I bought this baby in April.
        BAMN!

        '81 XS1100H "Brutus"

        Comment

        • cywelchjr
          XS-XJ Super Guru(Deceased)
          • Oct 2008
          • 4450
          • Sacramento, CA

          #34
          Be prepared for the nose diving to only partly go away. The problem is that the dampening is IIRC only on the rebound, and only at a specific rate. The new springs will help, but if you really want to get rid of the dive, you will need cartridge emulators, which will run a couple hundred $$, but I've heard they are well worth it (specials can use the cheaper MikesXS knockoffs, but they don't work on standards). Going to a heavier oil will help too, so 15wt silkolene will probably make things better (it did on mine, but I'm still running air pressure AND OEM springs). The heavier fork oil stiffens the suspension a bit more, and makes it not dive as much. You can ALSO add just a few CC's extra to stiffen it more, but you want to do just a little bit at a time, cause it can stiffen the ride really fast, you don't want to do too much, cause it stiffens the entire ride, not just the diving.
          Cy

          1980 XS1100G (Brutus) w/81H Engine
          Duplicolor Mirage Paint Job (Purple/Green)
          Vetter Windjammer IV
          Vetter hard bags & Trunk
          OEM Luggage Rack
          Jardine Spaghetti 4-2 exhaust system
          Spade Fuse Box
          Turn Signal Auto Cancel Mod
          750 FD Mod
          TC Spin on Oil Filter Adapter (temp removed)
          XJ1100 Front Footpegs
          XJ1100 Shocks

          I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one.

          Comment

          • bikerphil
            Master of XSology
            • Jan 2008
            • 8636
            • South Flori-DUH

            #35
            Originally posted by Nubian
            What size pvc?
            1 1/2" PVC adapter, you might have to grind a little off the outside for it to fit.
            2H7 (79) owned since '89
            3H3 owned since '06

            "If it ain't broke, modify it"

            Comment

            • gui_tarzan
              XSive
              • Sep 2010
              • 69
              • Mid-Michigan

              #36
              I took my forks apart today and the springs look nice and straight. They both measure 550mm which is 46.5mm longer than the minimum of 503.5mm that the Clymer book shows so I should be good there, right?
              Jim...<><

              '78 XS1100E

              Previous bikes:
              Early 70s Honda 90 Enduro
              1998 Honda Shadow ACE
              2006 Honda VTX 1300R

              Dogs understand why people ride motorcycles

              Comment

              • bikerphil
                Master of XSology
                • Jan 2008
                • 8636
                • South Flori-DUH

                #37
                Longer = ok
                Shorter = replace
                2H7 (79) owned since '89
                3H3 owned since '06

                "If it ain't broke, modify it"

                Comment

                • cywelchjr
                  XS-XJ Super Guru(Deceased)
                  • Oct 2008
                  • 4450
                  • Sacramento, CA

                  #38
                  Just make sure your using the right length as your comparison. There are two length specs, one for standards and another for specials, but the book refers to air and non-air which gets confusing causing those with 80+ standards to think their springs are below spec when they are fine as it's a mis-wording in the manual (or really that when written only specials had air so it was actually true at that time, but it's still confusing).
                  Cy

                  1980 XS1100G (Brutus) w/81H Engine
                  Duplicolor Mirage Paint Job (Purple/Green)
                  Vetter Windjammer IV
                  Vetter hard bags & Trunk
                  OEM Luggage Rack
                  Jardine Spaghetti 4-2 exhaust system
                  Spade Fuse Box
                  Turn Signal Auto Cancel Mod
                  750 FD Mod
                  TC Spin on Oil Filter Adapter (temp removed)
                  XJ1100 Front Footpegs
                  XJ1100 Shocks

                  I was always taught to respect my elders, but it keeps getting harder to find one.

                  Comment

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