Replacing the seals in one of my '96 3rd Gen bikes. Discovered why they were leaking -- they were installed with a screwdriver. Worse yet, on one of them there are two parts missing!
Referring to shop manual, the part listed as "11 - oil lock" -- fits into the piston. And (not quite so crucial) "4 - spring seat" goes between the spring and the spacer -- actually, a washer. If you have these parts, or they exist in a scrap fork (bent, whatever, I don't care) you will part with, I will pay you a reasonable price and the shipping. I don't have a garage, so my bike is in the carport, on a lift, with parts spread out waiting...
Thanks,
Lawrence
Lawrence -
Parts should still be available from Honda..
IF you call you local Honda dealer and IF they order the parts today (before 1PM) they should have the parts Friday or Monday..
This LINK (http://www.ronayers.com/oemparts/a/hon/506cbba5f870023420a420f0/front-fork) should give you an idea of the cost.
Lawrence,
Looking at the diagram in the service manual on pages 12-8 and 12-9 #18 is the "Oil Lock Piece" which is metal. But #11 is the "Fork Piston Ring" that snaps into the piston. Is that what you need? You may also need the seals (#14) and the dust cover (#6).
Those items can be had for pretty cheap from ronayers.com or hondaparts-direct.com. A local dealership is probably going to have to order them anyway and you will have to pay full price but no shipping.
I have some used Fork Piston Rings (#18) that I can mail you. But if you need seals and dust covers I would suggest the "All Balls" kit, part #56-132. There is a seller on Ebay that is the cheapest around and they mail them out pretty fast. (I just bought a set.)
Jesse, you are right about the parts identification numbers in the manual... Interesting that on Page 12-8, the "oil lock piece" is item 18, while on page 12-10, the same "Oil lock piece" is item 4! If, however, you look at the link you reference above, the "Oil lock piece" on the Parts List diagram (same picture, just different reference numbers) is Item 11. No matter how it is numbered, the "Oil lock piece" is what I need most. The second part, listed on the Parts diagram as Item 4 "Spring seat", is simply a washer of proper dimensions that fits between the spring and the spacer.
Your help is appreciated, and your offer is generous, as always. I have ordered the parts, catalogued all the parts in a box, put a cover over the bike, and await their arrival -- supposedly sometime between 1/26, and 1/28. I have also ordered, while at it, some new brake pads, unpolluted with fork oil.
On another note, I recall posting, some years ago, when installing Progressive springs, that the oil level listed on page 1-10 of the manual must have been measured from the top of the tube, not the bottom. When reassembling the other strut, starting with no fork oil at all, when the recommended 17.62 oz (U.S.) of fork oil is poured into the strut just before capping it, that the oil level comes nowhere near the 4.8 inches from the top that I supposed before was what they were talking about. I am at a loss to understand, on page 1-10, the meaning of "Fork oil level". I am proceeding using the recommended 17.6 oz of oil in each strut, and ignoring the "Fork oil level" bit. I probably had too much oil in the struts! Perhaps contributed to the leak, I don't know. How one would measure this level completely escapes me!
Greg's write-up on the main Mootmag page tells how to change the seals without dismounting the struts from the triple tree. (I am not sure I would have noticed the missing "oil lock piece" had I not disassembled the whole thing.) He tells how to seat the seals with 2" PVC pipe, sawed in half lengthwise to allow it to be placed around the strut. I used 2" PVC whole, since I could simply place it over the open tube end. It will not completely seat the seal, as it will not fit into the cast piece where the seal resides. I used the old seal, turned over so the tapered end went in first, to seat the new seal, using the pipe as a driver against the old seal, with my rubber mallet driving the PVC pipe. Worked quite nicely on the one I have already assembled.
Hi Lawrence,
You measure the fork oil level without the springs and spacers in and with tubes fully compressed into the fork lowers. Pour in your oil and then measure from the top.
So your fork was actually missing the lock piece? That is bizarre!
I actually bought the Motion Pro fork oil level tool, which is pretty handy for this. I will likely be heading through your neck of the woods on February 1st, after you get your parts. Should we have a wrench session?
I never really understood the whole measure from the top concept (on why they would use this method)..
My wife's VIC is the same way...
On some bikes it's with springs, some without, some compressed, some not..
Within a reasonable tolerance, aren't all of the Magna forks the same dimensions?
SO, Couldn't a standard "add" amount be established (which is I guess what Greg suggested).. Yeah, you probably won't drain 100% of the fluid out, but I don't think a 1/10 of an ounce either way is going to make THAT much difference anyways.. (am I wrong?)
I can't believe the factory measures this on every fork. In the factory, they must just add a prescribed amount of oil and cap the leg off (don't you think?)
When I change the fork oil on the VIC, (It has NO fork leaks at this time), My plan is to measure how much fluid comes out (of each fork, to see if there is much of a difference) (I bought a painters mix cup for this purpose), then ADD the same amount as came out when ready to add fluid. It may not be perfect, but believe it will be close enough. (any thoughts on this method, so long as there is no leaks?)
Thanx guys for the discussion as always..
Jesse, I am glad to see you any time you come through the area. My hope is that by Feb 1, I can have the whole thing back together, but who knows? I will send you an e-mail with update status, and if it is all good, we can meet for lunch.
Hi Lawrence,
Lunch sounds like a good idea. I will have at least one family member with me so I don't want to make them sit through a wrenching session anyway. ;-)
Quote from: MagnaMan on January 26, 2016, 04:00:33 PM
Hi Lawrence,
Lunch sounds like a good idea. I will have at least one family member with me so I don't want to make them sit through a wrenching session anyway. ;-)
Hey guys, can I crash your lunch party?
- Jeff
Sure!
Of course now you're putting the pressure on me to make sure I actually leave town "on time" so I can hit y'all's neck of the woods at lunch or earlier. ;-)
Quote from: MagnaMan on January 27, 2016, 12:05:55 PM
Sure!
Of course now you're putting the pressure on me to make sure I actually leave town "on time" so I can hit y'all's neck of the woods at lunch or earlier. ;-)
Motivation. Glad to be of service. :D
The parts arrived today. I have the forks assembled, and have installed new brake pads. All that remains is to reassemble the struts in the triple tree, mound the tire and fender, etc.
As it turns out, the "oil lock" piece was not actually missing. It had been installed wrong, upside down, at the bottom of the cast housing! Glad I bought a new one, as this one had a few scratches and wear on it.
So, if anyone needs one, I have an extra "oil lock" piece. The old one will clean up just fine, and where it rides, minor scratches will not be an issue.
I should be in business by Monday. Jesse, if you like Cajun, we can eat at Evangeline's. Jeff and I have been hoping for such a lunch for some time -- like last summer. Amazing how it takes a friend from out of town to inspire us to get on with it!
I remember you talking about the restaurant at MootMAG. Sounds good.
I looked it up on the map and I'm assuming you mean Evangeline's on Brodie Lane. I can swing that. I'm going to say, 11:30?
Cool! You are correct, it is on Brodie Lane. See you there at 11:30.
You too, Jeff!
I'll be there!
No pics?
This is the only one I took. It was embedded in the table we were sitting at.
(http://i471.photobucket.com/albums/rr80/MOOT-Photos/V4_Jeff/5499ABEE-0B87-4D61-B5D3-C489E74E4F75.jpg) (http://s471.photobucket.com/user/MOOT-Photos/media/V4_Jeff/5499ABEE-0B87-4D61-B5D3-C489E74E4F75.jpg.html)
Cool... I like Abita Beer!
Enjoyed the lunch, greatly. Looking forward to the next MootMAG.
It was great fun to visit with these guys -- who conveniently came to my "neighborhood" -- and one of my favorite restaurants. I, too, am looking forward to the Colorado ride -- not sure I can swing it, but hoping...
Evangeline looks good, I need to make a visit on my way down sometime.
By all means, Terry, let us know when you are coming. Would enjoy eating lunch or dinner with you there.