- Posts: 37
- Thank you received: 1
REALLY stuck on fork seals.
- epiphalactic
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
Everything has come out okay, but the fork seals are basically bonded to the metal.
I tried heating I've tried chilling I've tried scraping pliers picks wire brushes xacto knives. I've replaced fork seals a couple times in my other bikes, but this is getting ridiculous.
The only thing I'm accomplishing is damaging the tube and seat. They aren't past the ability for some buffing and polishing and a new set of seals being enough, but I can NOT get these things off. They just break apart.
before I spend 8 hours per tube just picking them off molecule by molecule, or just saying screw it and buying a couple forks, wondered if anyone knows of a solvent that will dissolve them, or maybe a trick.
Also, the upper tube has a little pitting. Most of it is above where the tubes slide into eachother, but there is a little that goes into the lower tube when the forks are compressed. Spent some time with some copper brillo, and some fine steel wool, and got it in decent shape, but wondered if there was a fix for this. It mostly seems to be just through the chrome. I'm not big on the chrome, and planned to cover the upper tubes with a boot anyway, but wondered what people do in this case, and if I should expect some very minor pitting to effect anything? Maybe there is a paint that people use that will fill in these little pits that I can send smooth?
the other tube has a light dent in it, and it is within the travel, but for the most part sits inside of the tube probably below the seal, it does look like it was the seal seat that did it.
I guess I will need to put it on a straight edge and make sure the entire tube isn't bent, but. May have to replace that upper tube. Wondering if there is a fix for these things or if I should just get a better set? Maybe (dumb question probably) some sort of epoxy to cover the dent it's it's otherwise good?
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- 750 R1
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 1215
- Thank you received: 394
I would probably be looking for either another set of second hand forks or replace the tubes, I wouldn't use the dented one for sure.....
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- hardrockminer
- Offline
- Sustaining Member
- Posts: 3043
- Thank you received: 1093
Those fork tubes are trashed. Buy a new set from Z1E for $100 or thereabouts.
I have several restored bikes along with a 2006 Goldwing with a sidecar. My wife has a 2019 Suzuki DR 650 for on and off road.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- epiphalactic
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 37
- Thank you received: 1
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- epiphalactic
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 37
- Thank you received: 1
If I have to buy the tubes anyways, maybe I can get somebody on eBay to give me some really close up pictures of the tubes and go ahead and order a used set
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- epiphalactic
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 37
- Thank you received: 1
Pretty much any 77 KZ650 forks should work, correct?
What other years and do 750 or 900 etc work? I'd assume they'd be a little beefier, but just wanting to know what I need to look for.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- Mikaw
- Offline
- Sustaining Member
- Posts: 5007
- Thank you received: 1918
1976 KZ 900 A4 kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/613548-1976-kz-900-a4
1976 KZ 900 B1 LTD
1978 KZ 1000 B2 LTD
1980 KZ 750 E1
Kowledge Speaks, But Wisdom Listens.
Jimi Hendrix.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- hardrockminer
- Offline
- Sustaining Member
- Posts: 3043
- Thank you received: 1093
I have a set of 650 forks.
I have several restored bikes along with a 2006 Goldwing with a sidecar. My wife has a 2019 Suzuki DR 650 for on and off road.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- DOHC
- Offline
- Sustaining Member
- Those Doe-Hawks really go!
- Posts: 1286
- Thank you received: 549
epiphalactic post=861843
Everything has come out okay, but the fork seals are basically bonded to the metal.
I tried heating I've tried chilling I've tried scraping pliers picks wire brushes xacto knives. I've replaced fork seals a couple times in my other bikes, but this is getting ridiculous.
I had the same issue with my '79 KZ650. What I found was that the fork seals are made of rubber that is bonded to a steel ring, and that steel ring was really really stuck. The aftermarket seals were not made the same way. They were flexible with a spring inside.
In any case, if your seals are like the ones in my KZ650, just tugging on the rubber parts of the seal is never going to get that steel ring to move. You need a lot of force to move it.
I would give the seal puller tool that Mikaw mentioned a try. It is made for this purpose and could work.
However, if I were going to do that job today I would find a slide hammer style inner bearing puller with the right diameter attachment.
Something like this: www.amazon.com/OrionMotorTech-Bearing-Ex...emoval/dp/B07BNMB42N
I rented/borrowed a similar tool from Autozone. They loan stuff out for free (with a deposit). Other big auto parts chains may do something similar.
A note about KZ650 forks. The single-disk and double-disk models have different fork lowers. The location of the caliper mounting points are moved slightly lower on the double-disk models.
'78 Z1-R in blue , '78 Z1-R in black, '78 Z1-R in pieces
My dad's '74 Z1
'00 ZRX1100
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- epiphalactic
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 37
- Thank you received: 1
I tried that punch, and that worked. Good idea thank you.
The seals when I pulled them out a big chunk of It came out, which I thought had the metal ring in it but I did not realize that this ring was so big. On the other fork seals I've done it was not like that LOL.
So I thought this little metal ridge in here was part of the fork. So I was afraid to go ham on it but .
I got it out now
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- epiphalactic
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 37
- Thank you received: 1
I pulled a piece of the ring out at the beginning that I thought was the only metal inside of the ring. On other fork seals I had done there was not such a large metal part
So as I was pulling it out I was thinking that the metal ring that I was uncovering was actually part of the fork so I was afraid to go to Ham on it
Anyways I have a seal puller tool, which is what I used to get the rest of it out, at first, and I was just not getting a good purchase on it and was afraid I would damage the lip of the tubes with how hard I had to pry so I just used a punch like mikaw said. I just hammered on one side and moved in a little bit until I was able to get a bend in it then I grabbed it with some pliers and they popped right out. Problem solved.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- epiphalactic
- Topic Author
- Offline
- User
- Posts: 37
- Thank you received: 1
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.