Honda-SOHC

SOHC.co.uk Forums => Other Bikes => Topic started by: AndyD on July 27, 2021, 04:12:49 PM

Title: Fork seal removal
Post by: AndyD on July 27, 2021, 04:12:49 PM
Almost got the CJ360 completely stripped down and just wrestling with the final few bits.
Footrests for some reason proved really hard to get apart as the pivot pins just wouldn't shift.
On the CJ there's an insert over the pins and these two bits just wouldn't separate until letting the 10 tonne press loose on them - all now safely apart!

Hopefully the very last battle is getting the old fork oil seals out. Normally quite an easy job on every bike I've worked on but for some reason proving a nightmare so far.
Have soaked in penetrating oil, used heat gun, soaked again, used more aggressive heat but they simply don't want to budge.
Even bought a special fork oil seal removal tool but that is no better and starts to bend before anything moves.
The seals are starting to come apart so where the rubber is coming loose I can see the steel rim around the outer edge in one area so I guess there's a thin bit of rubber between this and the fork leg inner face.
I don't want to ruin the legs if avoidable so would welcome any cunning plans to get the seals out.

Cheers,
Andy

Title: Re: Fork seal removal
Post by: 3scs on July 27, 2021, 09:05:58 PM
This is how I got mine out I drilled 3 pilot holes then screwed the self tapers in and used piece of flat bar to prise against with a pair of side cuts
Title: Re: Fork seal removal
Post by: AndyD on July 28, 2021, 05:10:07 PM
Thanks,
Had another go at them today determined to either get the seals out or launch the forks over the hedge!
Finally got them out but not without a real fight.
I think maybe they had been a pain previously and possibly some sealant or glue used to fix them in place as nothing would shift them and when I finally got them out they 'feel' a bit strange on the outside and didn't come out 'clean' at all.
Cleaned up the inside where the seals were and I think someone had used the screw approach previously but very hamfistedly or drilled down the edge of the seals as there are 3 'regular' gouges in one leg as photo.
[attach=1]
The other one had only a single smaller gouge but I did cause some extra damage with a pry bar instead!
[attach=2]
Both fork tops have quite a bit of minor damage where I guess all manner of screwdrivers / pry bars have been used (including mine!).
Hopefully someone can advise if these are still useable - I'm hoping that maybe cleaning up the inner face and using sealant or filler may be good enough to work with new seals but this may just be wishful thinking.
Cheers,
Andy
Title: Re: Fork seal removal
Post by: Kelly E on July 28, 2021, 06:34:32 PM
I think hamfisted is an understatement. ;D
I would try to find a new set and throw those on the shelf as a last resort backup.
Title: Re: Fork seal removal
Post by: Bryanj on July 28, 2021, 08:39:50 PM
OK, i have had success in the past by carefully removing sharp edges from all the marks then putting silicone in the grooves and immediately fitting the seal, not guaranteed to work but i have had a success rate of about 80% after having giving customer choice of atempt this or find sliders
Title: Re: Fork seal removal
Post by: AndyD on July 29, 2021, 09:38:19 AM
Thanks for replies
Kelly - agreed I'd rather use better ones but the only spare CJ front end I've got has been fitted with 400 stanchions and ones I see for sale often look pretty poor.
I guess the CJ wasn't exactly a much loved or treasured bike back in the day.
I also remember the way we treated our bikes back in the 80's when money was tight so I'm never surprised or annoyed at what I find now when restoring bikes.

Bryan - those odds sound good to me! Even allowing for a lower chance with my inexperienced hands I think it's worth a go.
I'll clean up as best I can then give sealant a go with the new seals.
Could be this was what someone had done previously as well explaining the seals being so hard to get loose.

Cheers,
Andy
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