I watched the videos that have been mentioned in other posts about replacing the fork seals. Great videos and very useful.
I had real problems using the masking tape as suggested in the video. I ruined one seal where the lip folded in on itself. I tried packing case tape and also ptfe plumbers tape all without success. I used loads of lube and was ready to throw the towel in.
So I went and had a cold one and thought about the problem. What you really need is something like a funnel to stop the seal lip dropping into the slot for the bushing. I went in the rubbish bin and found an empty thick plastic bag that had had dried cat food in it. It had a shiny outside printed surface. So I cut a strip about 3 inches wide and long enough to wrap around the fork tube 1 1/4 times. Lubed the inside of a new seal wrapped the plastic around the fork tube with about 1/2" over the top of the tube with the shiny side next to the fork tube and the slightly rougher side to the seal. Slid the seal on about 1/2" and then slid the seal and plastic together down over the sharp angles then grabbed the plastic and continued to push the seal off the plastic to the bottom of the tube. It went so easy you wouldn't believe. I did it in less time than it takes to read this.
Too hot outside now to put them back on the bike so that is a job for first thing in the morning.
I hope that this trick helps someone else and saves you ruining a seal like I did.
