I'm replacing seals in 78 gs550

[fitz87]

There is a "special tool" required which you can make.. Theres a video on YouTube on how to change the fork seals on an 89.. He uses a 5/8 threaded rod with 2 nuts on either end..
Does anyone know if this is the same size for the 78?

 

[hillsy]

What seals are you talking about?

 

[fitz87]

Sorry, edited that.. The front fork seals.

 

[hillsy]

You're talking about holding the damper rod still so you can undo the bottom bolt, yes?

Easiest way is to keep the forks assembled (IE: springs in and caps on) and use an air rattle gun to undo the allen bolt (it's 6mm).

Or grab an old broom stick and hammer the end of it into the top of the damper rod so it stays still.

 

[fitz87]

Yes, holding the damper rod still to undo the bottom bolt.

Awesome, a buddy of mine works in a metal shop and said he can get me the threaded rod.. If not I'll try the broom stick

 

[hillsy]

Have you tried to undo the bolt with the springs still in? 9 times out of 10 they will undo.

 

[SONICJK]

I've only ever had 1 that wouldn't come apart with a 20v impact gun and a little pb blaster.

 

[fitz87]

I haven't tried yet, just trying to get everything in order before I do. Will try it with them in first.

 

[Big R]

Have you tried to undo the bolt with the springs still in? 9 times out of 10 they will undo.

+1 to this. I wouldn't just try a threaded rod with nuts welded together unless I knew that's what would work. Don't want to just be jamming metal down inside forks tubes according to a video on YouTube.

Speaking of which.....Fritz, the video you mentioned. You said it was an 89 in the video - was it BaltimoreGS working on a GS500?

 

[sav0r]

On forks of a different model I had to make a tool as described with all-thread and a few nuts. It wasn't even a 5 minute project to assemble the tool once I had the pieces. It worked fairly well. No need to weld the nuts, just jam two together at each end. The entire thing ends up a little cumbersome so I eventually cut the rod in half and that made it better. I also ground the "crown" off the nut that was acted on the damper rod and that gave it a little better bite. It's now on my shelf has special tool #45643. The one advantage this tool has over an impact gun is that the it costs about $7, my impact gun is a cheapo electric variety and it was $100.

 

[fitz87]

Wasn't going to weld them in, just use two, one to lock the other in place like sav0r said.. just didn't know which size nuts would work.


Yes big rich that's the video

 

[fitz87]

I didn't realize you could get them apart without a tool to keep the damper rod from spinning too... But then again i don't really know anything about this s it's my first time trying

 

[fitz87]

So I got the 5/8 all thread and nits to lock on either end .. Turns out I didn't need it. But I do need a tool to remove the oil seal

 

[hillsy]

 

[fitz87]

really don't want to risk scratching the surface the seal sits on

 

[xb33bsa]

you wont unless very careless,the seal is a "can seal" with metal casing

even better then a screwdriver is the cupped end of a tire spoon, i usually use a flat piece of soft aluminum instead of the rag
getting it near smoking hot will also help a whole bunch if it is a very stubborn pne

 

[fitz87]

The seals I got from bike bandit don't look exactly like the originals.. They're the bikemaster O.E. fork oil seals.. They seem like they're the same size but won't know exactly until I get the old one out.

 

[Bert Jan]

tire spoon always does the trick for me..