| Author | Message | ||
     Firewhirl |
I need to replace my fork seals on my 2003 XB9R. How hard is it to do? I do not have the fork compression tool but read in the XB section that it can be done without. I am very mechanically inclined and have the manual and am willing to it myself. Should I replace the fork oil with the recommended or replace it with higher performance oil? I plan to do some track events soon and not just street riding. I've read the stock springs are good enough, no need to upgrade. But these bikes sure do love to nose dive during hard braking, especially with a passenger. | ||
| Bbstacker |
Good questions, all. I'm gettin' ready to do my 10K service and I would like to know also. BTW I think the short wheelbase is why there is front brake dive. I'm used to it. I just run a touch more pre-load. | ||
| Buelltroll |
echo.....echo..... | ||
| Aka_dark_lord |
I just did mine due to the fact I am short legged and had to put in shortened springs. If you don't have the service manual I would recommend it as it takes you through step by step. I had to make my own spring compression device, and I don't see how you could do it with out. Also you will need the seal installation tool. I did not have one and I am surprised that my seals don't leak, and I screwed up two trying to install them. But other than that it took me 5 hours to tear apart the whole fork assembly, install the new parts and get er' back together. If your mechanically inclined then I would say go for it. | ||
| Santacruzmtman |
You can also find good info by searching. On a side not...is the failure of the front fork seals a problem or normal for inverted forks? I've only got 4000 miles and mine are gone. It just seems to be a bit early to me, but then again I don't know sh*t. | ||
| Santacruzmtman |
Bump...Good ????'s does anyone have an answer | ||
| M1combat |
Hmmm.... 15K miles and mine seem to still be sealed pretty well (no discernable leaks at all as a matter of fact)... I ride in all weather conditions, but I do keep the suspension pretty clean. /Off topic - Why is it saying that "discernable" is mis-spelled? | ||
| Firewhirl |
"You can also find good info by searching." Oh trust me, I'm doing allot of searching when I have time. I'm really surprised my one question on oil has not even been answered. My thinking has been that there are allot of buell knowledgeable people on this site. Am I wrong? Or is this site really really slow and not a really active site? Only been here for a short while. Thanks to those that have answered so far.  (Message edited by firewhirl on July 12, 2005) | ||
| Roc |
I used another brand of the same oil weight, I see no reason to mess with it. The fork oil change is no problem, I needed the tools for the XB but not for the S1 or S2, If I remember right. Fork seal longevity seems to be based on how clean you keep the lower forks, nothing good about an abrasive scrubbing in there. I did not change my oil seals. I have been told that the best install tool for fork seals is fork oil and the bag they come in. Search from this board yielded - I just did mine a couple months ago. I bought some tools from Traxxion Dynamics, suspension specialists, and did it in my garage. It was quite a bit easier than I had anticipated. First time, probably 3-4 hours, after that cut it in half. The parts I bought from Traxxion came to something like $75 (You really only need the compression kit, but I bought the level gauge as well) - WAY better than the labor I'd be charged at a stealership, not to mention the worrying over whether or not they put my front end back together right. Oh, you'll need a 32mm wrench as well, or a really big crescent, as well as something to grip the fork tubes while you open/drain/reassemble them (rubber-jawed vise is recommended - I used my bike rack, which has rubber clamps meant to hold bike frames, turned sideways in the trailer hitch). - I copied the info but not the poster. Sorry I did} not give you credit | ||
| Firewhirl |
Well, I got all my questions answered and have everything I need including fork oil and seals from Traxxis. Thanks for the help guys. |
