How much for Fork Seal replacement?
 

I was doing some unexpected work on my bike this weekend and found that my passenger side fork seal is leaking... I just don't have the time, patience nor energy to do this myself. I have already replaced the springs a while back, and that was enough fork work to last me a lifetime. :?

So how much should I expect to pay to have these done by a pro, and around here that is just the dealer, which I have 2 to choose from.


thanks!

Scott

(wow didn't realize this was my first post... I was a member of this group way back when it was just a mailing list, sheesh I am getting old)

What side is the passenger side???

Nothing usefull to add... just confused... never mind me...:D

I figured if I said passengner side evyerone would understand, not that it made any difference. I just figured if I said right side it would be confusing.

sheesh :rolleyes: :cool:

Scott

oh...

Is there an interesting back story to why right side would be called "passenger side" ???

I might have missed it entirely being that English isn't my native language...

I guess since I can't get a 'real' answer I will post what I was just quoted.

Both dealers were ~$270 for labor and ~$100 for parts.

Not sure if I really want to pay that much.

Scott

(and the passenger side thing comes from cars, I always use driver/passenger side when talking cars)

if you're only replacing the seals and not the springs you should not be paying $100 for parts. fork seals are dirt cheap, they're just mad expensive to install.

my last bike that i had fork seals done on was a kawi 600... it cost a total of $270. that i thought was a bit on the expensive side but i didn't have the energy to shop around

For 100$ you can buy a seal driver and a new seal plus oil and do the work yourself... And probably still have money left...

BTW replacing the seals isn't that much work once you have a driver... remove the top plastic ring, remove metal clip with a small plier (watch out, don't loose it...) Remove oil (once it's leaking you'll wan't to correct the amount anyway) compress the fork tube to expel the oil and also to make the seal move a bit up, grap it with a plier and tug it off...

Slide in the new seal and push it down with your fancy new tool and replace clip & plastic ring... Fill up the correct amount of oil and it's done...

Make your own seal driver out of PVC pipe. It's how I do it. I've found that the metal seal drivers can scratch the surface of the fork leg(s).

Shit I just replaced the springs (Race Tech) and the fork oil and the seals because they were blown at 25K miles and they blew on the first wheelie.?? that blows.

Bought the Pyramid Seals...I'm going with Honda OEM next time...

anybody ever hear of this happening? I'm serious..it was just a small wheelie to see how it comes down and bammo Fresh replaced fork seals now leak worse than before I replaced the other ones.

Is it the shitty Pyramid parts...????

With fork seals, I have never had any luck with after market parts. Always go with OEM, IMO. The extra cost is well worth the time saved doing the job twice, not to mention buying the new parts from the dealer the second time anyway.

I was quoted $280 for parts and labor here in GA. I found this clip and did it myself for about $60 for seals and fork oil.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=5A0p2OH6FmI

Scott...$280 for parts and labor is about right. Bring it to Suisun City (next to Fairfield)...Extreme Cyclez and talk to Frank. If you need more info...PM me. Let me know if you decide to do it and I'll let him know.

Gotcha...I'm getting the OEM seals....
what a waste of time ...if i had just bought the HONDA stuff first I wouldn't have to take it all apart again...

It would be $280 on the bike at my shop, which includes labor, oil & oem seal set.
Or $180 off the bike.

Wow I just paid $90 for labor for both forks and they're inverted, that was off the bike price.

I decided that I just can't see paying almost $400 to get my seals changed. So I decided to do it myself, and I have one question.

What fork oil should I use?



I was looking at Bike Bandit and found they stock a ton of different kinds:

1. PJ1 Gold Series SAE Fork Tuner Oil
2. PJ1 Gold Series SAE Heavy Fork Tuner Oil
3. PJ1 Gold Series SAE Lite Fork Tuner Oil
4. PJ1 Gold Series SAE Lite / Medium Fork Tuner Oil
5. PJ1 Gold Series SAE Medium Fork Tuner Oil
6. PJ1 Gold Series SAE X-Lite Fork Tuner Oil
7. Silkolene Fork Oil
8. Bel-Ray High Performance Fork Oil
9. Motorex Racing Blend Fork Oil
10. Silkolene Pro-RSF Racing Suspension Fluid
11. Bel-Ray HVI Racing Suspension Fluid
12. Silkolene Racing 02 Synthetic Fork Fluid
13. Silkolene Racing 05 Synthetic Fork Fluid
14. PJ1 Gold Series Cartridge Pro Fork Fluid

None listed say "Titanium" or "Carbon Fiber", so my usual selection criteria doesn't work. :woo:

I think I ran Bel-Ray last time when I upgraded the springs, but I am not sure.

Any ideas? I would liek to place the order for my parts today.

Thanks,

Scott

dang... with all this fork work being done no one has any recommendations ?

Scott

I use Silkolene when I can, and in a pinch, what ever brand I can find in the WT I need for the bike and rider I'm building for.

I had mine done a month ago at my local Honda dealer and it was $225 all told (parts, labor, fork oil).