Fork Rebuild 98 Standard

[us385south]

Okay... so that is indeed fork oil leaking out of my right hand shock.

So any advice or suggestions out there... maybe a online tutorial... a PDF manual... a parts list?  I need to replace the head bearings while I am at it... there is a notch in the steering that feels similar to changing lanes while they are repaving a Louisiana interstate.

Any help would be surely appreciated.

[YoungPUP]

Look up VTX fork rebuild on youtube.  Use an 1 1/2"  PVC pipe coupler split in half length wise with the center rib ground out as a seal driver. Use a rubber mallet if any hammering is needed.

[Red Diamond]

If you are going to install new head bearings, the fork tubes will already be removed, good thing. Get the new dust and oil seals and maybe new slider bushings depending on the mileage on your bike. I won't go into detail on the procedure, but there are several tutorials on this in past threads,, search fork seals. Don't forget to loosen the fork tube caps before you remove the tubes. Loosen the pinch bolt at the cap, then loosen the cap on each tube. I like to turn the tubes upside down to drain all the oil out, especially the left tube. No speacial tools are needed if you are not going to change the springs. Good luck.

[Dodis]

Here is a thread with both the parts list, and my sketch of a simple press to reinstall the seals without all the hammering. fianlly resolved my leaks even after the previous two rebuilds.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,29980.0.html

Mike "Dodis"

[Jess from VA]

Try this first.  It works for many.

http://sealmate.net/?utm_expid=41761297-0&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3D%26esrc%3Ds%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D1%26ved%3D0CCAQFjAA%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fsealmate.net%252F%26ei%3DO-Q7UJ3jAoHv0gHj0oH4Dg%26usg%3DAFQjCNFoL-8A8KgpHhk6yyfzRMseYoFZXw

http://www.sealmate.net/instructions.html

[SideCar]

Like Jess suggested, make sure they are clean first before tearing down.  You can use a number of kinds of plastic pieces in place of that tool. Just make sure they are smooth.

[bigguy]

You can also try  using a piece of film, cut with a point.
http://www.texarkanagazette.com/Bikers-Blog/2012/07/10/the-film-trick/

[lucky_1_chris]

If you can get the parts together by this weekend or next I could ride down and give you a hand. I've replaced the stem bearings on several VTX's, which is virtually the same front end as the Valk, and the procedure is the same except for differences in preload on the bearings. I've only done fork seals twice on these types of forks (Valk and VTX 1800), but it's not a difficult job at all. I'm not sure what tools you have, but I could bring all the necessary tools, except for the jack, and I'd be happy to ride down and help.

[bigguy]

Hey 385:

What's the status on your leaking fork seals? Did you get them repaired? Seems like I saw a post where somebody found a shop to do it for about $200. The quotes I get here in Texarkana were close to $500. If anybody has info on that, I'd be interested. I'll let a pro do it for $200. My film trick repair is leaking again, and I'm sure I just need to get the seals replaced.

[Valker]

First things first-that is your LEFT fork tube. ;-)

[us385south]

Thanks all for the replies... I am reading and digesting all the cool doo-dah folks posted.

Chris... really man... thanks for the offer but things just do not move that fast in my world, especially now that school has started. (I am a high school teacher.)  Besides I have bigger fish to fry... I need to pull and replace the final drive on the goldwing and I have a full re-model of my primary bathroom underway.

BigGuy... I am just starting to order parts and I need to clear off the lift.  But that film idea seems to make sense and if I can squeeze a bit more time out of it I'd be thrilled.

Valker... it is the left fork.  Hey dude where are you in the panhandle... I seem to come that way a lot in the summers. I know it's weird... but I like alll the "empty" up there.

http://www.culleynet.com/gallery/index.php/The-Road/2012/Summer-Tour/Azteca-Milling-07_10_12-X1920WTX

[Valker]

I live in Pampa. On another note, I just retired from teaching after 34 years in public schools. I will be working for a couple of weeks in October in San Marcos. I train MSF RiderCoaches and will be doing that there. Not sure if I'll be on the Valkyrie or not.
....and I LOVE the empty up here. When I get bored, I can be riding the Rockies in 5 hours.

[us385south]

Valker:

Bummer dood... I spent the night in Pampa this last second week of July!  Stayed at the Western Motel... an oddly nice place considering the location.  Well worth $45. I like any motel where I can see the TV from the toilet.  But this place had 32 inch flat screens with data inputs and blazingly fast internet.  It rained pissers all evening.  I barely made it out to buy a burger just down the street some country cookin' cafe.  It was a great burger!  Talked to a guy there that owned an older 1200 gold wing.  It wasn't you was it?

Sorry I missed you...  I took out the following morning, met a friend from NM out on the interstate and rode like hell to Eureka Springs. (NASSIR... a Goldwing event... I didn't make it to Inzane.  I was in Corpus Christi by then.)

I am gonna try the film trick... I need to squeeze a few more miles out of the Valk before I yank the front end.  But when I do it... I wanna do it right!  But the Hill Country ride in is close at hand.

T

[us385south]

You can also try  using a piece of film, cut with a point.
http://www.texarkanagazette.com/Bikers-Blog/2012/07/10/the-film-trick/

Well... I'll will be the older brother of a chimpanzee's father.

It appears that little trick worked.  I rode it about 50 miles to day and no leaking so far.

If I can just make it till November all the fall rides will be done with.

T

[bigguy]

Well... I'll will be the older brother of a chimpanzee's father.

A Great Ape's uncle?

[us385south]

I live in Pampa. On another note, I just retired from teaching after 34 years in public schools. I will be working for a couple of weeks in October in San Marcos. I train MSF RiderCoaches and will be doing that there. Not sure if I'll be on the Valkyrie or not.
....and I LOVE the empty up here. When I get bored, I can be riding the Rockies in 5 hours.

Valker... rode by the San Marcos airport today at about 7:30 AM headed to Uhland to deliver donuts in payment of a personal debt.  I saw all the trainer bikes out there... line up... ready for them newbies to skin their knees.

Thought of you...

[bigguy]

I just got a quote on labor to replace my fork seals of $150.00 from Swifty's Motorcycle in Fort Worth. That's if I just drop the bike off. He said considerably less if I just drop off the tubes. Price on seals from Honda are $66.01. (Honda place in Texarkana wanted $300 for the labor)
Sounds like a no brainer to me. I'll pull the tubes next time my son is home and let him haul them down there for me.