QWERTYMage
XS650 Addict
Thought I would throw this on the forum.
I was replacing my seals on my forks ('76 34mm) and trashed 2 sets with no luck. Tried everything (seals in freezer. BFH. Heated up lowers in boiling water. Grease.). No luck.
So I decided to make a long bearing press. It worked like a charm 1st try.
Ingredients: 3/8 long thread (about 20 inches precut.) Multipack of nuts and washers to fit thread. 2-3 large washers that match the OD of the seals closely. I lock washer( on the axle end of the long thread to keep the nuts from unthreading). 1 section of flat bar (1 inch wide. 1/4 inch thick.)
I drilled out three holes in the flatbar using the endcap as a template. holes drilled are 1/2 inch wide. This allows the flatbar to sit over the fork studs as shown. The otjer fork doesn't need the flatbar to work, but i left it on and it was fine.
Set it all up. Seals were in the freezer to help a little bit. a smear of red grease to make things slip.
easy peasy.
I would suggest gluing the big washers together to make it center a bit easier than loose (the way I did it.) The only complicationswas having to realign the washers after a few twists.
No more hammering that expensive fork lower again.
I was replacing my seals on my forks ('76 34mm) and trashed 2 sets with no luck. Tried everything (seals in freezer. BFH. Heated up lowers in boiling water. Grease.). No luck.
So I decided to make a long bearing press. It worked like a charm 1st try.
Ingredients: 3/8 long thread (about 20 inches precut.) Multipack of nuts and washers to fit thread. 2-3 large washers that match the OD of the seals closely. I lock washer( on the axle end of the long thread to keep the nuts from unthreading). 1 section of flat bar (1 inch wide. 1/4 inch thick.)
I drilled out three holes in the flatbar using the endcap as a template. holes drilled are 1/2 inch wide. This allows the flatbar to sit over the fork studs as shown. The otjer fork doesn't need the flatbar to work, but i left it on and it was fine.
Set it all up. Seals were in the freezer to help a little bit. a smear of red grease to make things slip.
easy peasy.
I would suggest gluing the big washers together to make it center a bit easier than loose (the way I did it.) The only complicationswas having to realign the washers after a few twists.
No more hammering that expensive fork lower again.