fork dust seals

[druidsam]

the cat fork seals are starting to look like they wont last much longer, how easy/difficult is it going to be to change them, will i need any special tools. and is there anything i should know before i start.............cheers




................Sam

[Reborn]

Are you doing just the dust seals or the oil seals as well?

The dust seals are easy but if you are doing the oil seals they can be a bit trickier. Read up in a Haynes manual before you start. If there is a bolt up through the bottom of the fork legs it is best loosened before the legs come out. You may need a broom stick to completely dismantle them. The old seals may come up and out with a slide hammer but may need cutting with an air saw.
The last set I did, one spring got stuck and when it came out it showered me and half the driveway in oil so drain them first if you can.
Good Luck.

[druidsam]

its just the dust seals, they look like they could fall apart at any second



....................Sam

[FirestormMike]

Should be a doddle then, as long as your bike is well supported as you drop the fork legs.

[druidsam]

Originally Posted by FirestormMike

as you drop the fork legs.

this is the part that bothers me, i will attempt just about anything on a car , but the bike is different, i will have to find a way of lifting the front of the bike, is it safe to put a trolley jack under the downpipes as i cant see anywhere else to but it?



........................Sam

[FirestormMike]

does your bike have a centrestand ? if so, a trolly jack raised just enough to keep the back wheel touching the ground should be ok as long as you are not swinging off the bolts, gorilla style.

Top tip if you are worried some bolts might be too tight.
Before you go jacking bike up etc, go round the big bolts that might require a bit of persuasion. slacken them, and tighten them back up one at a time, so you know you are not going to be stuck having to deal with a siezed bolt, with your bike resting on jacks / briezeblocks / bits of wood (we've all done it)
Saves on weeping and grinding of teeth later.

[Crash1982]

If you're planning on doing this yourslef again then i would try and get hold of a headstock paddock stand i got one from an e- bay shop for about 50 quid. Might sound a little extravigant, but having invested in one myself it has payed for itself several times over. The only thing you'll need to do is remove the horn surround on the 'Cat as this blocks the hole you'll need to use for the spigot on the stand.

[Spree]

The last time I did my forks I used the centre stand like Mike said. I then used the front paddock stand to lift the front and placed wooden blocks under the sump until the back wheel rests on the floor. That was stable enough for me