Fork seal emergency

plagrone

plagrone

Coast to Coast
Went to replace my fork seals, one came out no problem, on the other the rubber/plastic part has crumbled away, leaving the metal ring, which has (with desperate prying) flipped outwards.

I have no idea how to get this thing out. I've tried grabbing with needle nose vice grips, prying, etc. I'm so frustrated I'm considering just buying a new fork.

I've tried applying heat
 
Flipped out wards?
If you can grab it with vice grips get a good tight grip and then smack the vice grips with a hammer to knock it out.

Did you remove the circlip?
 
What bike are you working on? Also, can you put a picture of the offending part up? It sounds like you already removed the circlip and just need to separate the lower and tube.
 
Have you undone the damper rod bolt? Circlip out, bolt undone, pull the fork apart and the seal will (most likely) come out with the upper.
 
My $0.02 - I've always driven a screw into the old seal, and then reefed on it with pliers.

Don't get too enthusiastic with screwdrivers etc. You don't want to mar the seating surface of the fork where the seal sits. Gouges will allow fork oil to squeeze out between the seal and fork lower.

Pics will help and the bike model so we can see what you're up against.
 
I just did my fork seals and had issues, but with removing bottom bolt. There's a good how-to on YouTube by Delboys Garage.
 
IIRC, for most Honda forks you usually don't have to remove or even loosen the bolt on the bottom. Once the circlip is out you just compress the fork then pull the tube repeatedly until the seal pops out.
 
I like to wrap the "claw" end of a hammer with several layers of masking tape and pry them out.
 
The forks are fully disassembled, circlips and all. I tried vice grips but there just isn't enough material for them to get a grip on. I'll go see if I can find a seal puller at an auto store. If that doesn't work I'm going to reassemble, fill it with oil, put some tape on the jacked up seal and see if it can still get enough pressure to pop it out.
 
It's a CB360. Seriously, I've been at it. The plastic/rubber has mostly crumbled away, leaving exposed metal, which has consistently folded upwards as I've gone around prying with a screw driver. I'm seriously considering buying a new fork. This is IMPOSSIBLE. If I didn't care about marring the inside, this would be oh so simple.
pugapu5y.jpg
 
I had a 360 fork get stuck like that.
Try heating it with a propane torch.
If that doesn't work I ended up VERY carefully cutting through thee seal with a Dremel until i could break it with a screwdriver and then it pulled out.
 
As long as you hold it upside down so you don't get melted rubber into your fork, and you don't mind the smell
 
Again: leverage. Get a piece of steel pipe that's 3 feet or more long and just under the diameter of the inside of the busted seal. Sucker'll pop right out with a little back 'n' forth, and you won't risk banging up your fork.
 
BarnBurner said:
IIRC, for most Honda forks you usually don't have to remove or even loosen the bolt on the bottom. Once the circlip is out you just compress the fork then pull the tube repeatedly until the seal pops out.
Click to expand...

In retrospect, this probably would have worked, and is probably what I will try next time. I'll let y'all know if/when I get this thing
 
GOT THAT FUCKER.
e6a3uda6.jpg


I used a little bit of every method. I shaped the chisel on the bench grinder to fit the curve of the fork perfectly, then I dremeled a small slot into the seal to give it purchase. I then torched the thing until pretty much all the rubber had burned off and then I pounded that fucker out.

Rinsed out with water then gasoline, done for the day. Gotta take the lady out for v day
yseqyzem.jpg
 
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