leaky forks

Is there any special tool required to remove fork oil seals? My fork is leakin bad and its time to swap the old ones out. I've paid a mechanic in the past but I feel like giving it a shot this time. Anyone have any tips, lessons learned??? thanks

theres probably other threads about this topic, but my search function is giving me problems.

squints wrote:

...theres probably other threads about this topic, but my search function is giving me problems.

This might be the #3 discussed topic!
:laugh:
Anyway, I typed fork seals in the search and got 419 results. What search are you using? The one right above the threads, or the one over on the right?

Hey squints,

Please post your bike specs in your signature line. That way we know which bike you're planning to work on.

KZCSI

I just replaced the seals on my KZ750B3 and didn't check the manual before I did it (not smart). The seals come out with some persuasion from a screwdriver and to put the new ones in I just used a big washer with a bolt through it to give me even pressure and then tapped them in with a hammer. The big problem for me was disassembling the shocks. You're supposed to have a special tool to hold the inside part while you turn out the bolt in the bottom. I of course didn't have that tool so I took a 3/4" piece of steel rod and used an angle grinder to grind it into a point with four sides that would grip the inside part. I then clamped a visegrip on the other end and stood on it while I put pressure down on the bolt and turned it out. It worked pretty good. There is also an article in the filebase about using a piece of wood to do the same thing that would probably work better and there would be less risk of messing up the inside of the shock while you are doing it. I would just make sure to clean it out really well when your done to not get and wood particles in those little ports inside of it.