Attempting my first lower leg service and after removing the old seals (which look the same as the new) I've soaked the new ones in oil and now I can't get them to sit in the recess, the seem to wide, is it normally tricky to get them back in? Any tips?
They do swell up a bit IME.
Just checked the ones that looked the same that I slung in the bin, turns out their not the same, the new ones are about double the thickness 🙁
Are the old ones properly knackered or just dirty? You can revive them by spraying them with isopropyl alcohol and gently massaging them with a rag to get the gunk out.
Be careful cleaning up the old ones as they stretch really (and I mean really) easily.
I find that the best way to clean them is to spray them with IPA and blot them onto kitchen roll, avoiding the temptation to wipe sideways. Soaked in oil, they are a bit of a bugger to fit, especially past seals that are already installed. The best way I have found involves a pick with a slightly bent end and my finger. Usually I can get them in, but it can take a few goes.
With new ones, if installing past an installed seal, I find it best to install them dry, then syringe oil onto them in situ. Do this delicately and they should stay put.
Very fiddly job. I think some servicers do kits that don’t have foam rings in at all (TF tuned are one, I think). They have some kind of custom seal that does the job in one piece, I think.
Good luck.
Thanks everyone. Unfortunately one of the old seals is snapped 🙁 looks like no riding tonight. There Sektors off a 2017 Trance (Silver, Solo Air). Everywhere I can see says they are 10mm and that’s what came in the kit (off eBay) but mine are more like 6mm.
Ok, so looks like I've pulled off and snapped the energiser spring from the underneath of one of the dust seals, both top energiser springs are still in place. Will this be a problem? Or should I go and order some new dust seals?
If it's 6mm depth you could probably cut them down reasonably well (sharp scissors or stanley knife) with a bit of care - bit of a faff but necessary.
I'd probably do that and order a new seal, fit the seal when it comes and you shouldn't have too many problems - look out for oil pissing out of the lowers though, I had some old open bath Z1s and put the oil seal (the lower one) in upside down, they were very smooth but even with their huge oil volume they were empty after about 5 rides (by which point I'd worked out what I'd done and ordered new seals)
Thanks Phil. I've ordered new dust seals and foam rings, might as well do it right. How hard is it to install the dust seals without the proper tool?
Thanks Phil. I’ve ordered new dust seals and foam rings, might as well do it right. How hard is it to install the dust seals without the proper tool?
Not sure, you might get lucky with a socket of the right size, but the boss on it does help a bit, and any damage on the socket could damage the seal (but then again so could other things during installation).