How to: Honda CRF Showa Fork rebuild seals and oil change
  • danielp01
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    Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 1:03 am

    by danielp01 » Sat Apr 03, 2010 6:52 pm

    Blew 1 of my front fork seals yesterday, think it may have been from tying it down to hard on the trailer.

    Anyway i am going to attempt to follow this thread and replace the seal myself, and if it dosen't go to plan it will end up in the shop haha

    Bike is 09crf250r

    Cheers Daniel
  • danielp01
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    Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 1:03 am

    by danielp01 » Sat Apr 03, 2010 7:53 pm

    Quick update

    Have the seal out and suspension apart. The seal looks fine... do i put back in or do i replace it with a new 1.

    Need advice ASAP

    Cheers Daniel
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    crfsonly
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    by crfsonly » Sat Apr 03, 2010 7:56 pm

    definitely replace them while you have the forks apart. here's a link to the Honda OEM seals:

    http://www.crfsonly.com/catalog/product ... ts_id/3366

    ken
    OEM Parts for Honda - Yamaha - Suzuki - Kawasaki: http://yeltrik.com
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    CRF Parts and Accessories: http://crfsonly.com
  • danielp01
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    by danielp01 » Sat Apr 03, 2010 8:03 pm

    if your sitting on the bike its the right side leaking, shall i do the left side aswell just so i no they are both done??

    Ill have to order some from the local honda shop wea i live. thanx for the link.

    Cheers Daniel
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    crfsonly
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    by crfsonly » Sat Apr 03, 2010 8:05 pm

    yes, if one is leaking the other is not far behind.

    ken
    OEM Parts for Honda - Yamaha - Suzuki - Kawasaki: http://yeltrik.com
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    CRF Parts and Accessories: http://crfsonly.com
  • danielp01
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    by danielp01 » Sat Apr 03, 2010 8:08 pm

    awsome thankyou.

    daniel.
  • dcicrf
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    Re: How to: Showa Fork rebuild seals and oil change

    by dcicrf » Thu May 13, 2010 2:51 pm

    Great detail!!! THANK YOU!!

    I'm getting ready to do mine and found the following videos helpful (sorry if most are already privy, and if I'm doing something illegal by posting the link :? ).

    How to Change Fork Seals Part 1 (of 3) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXL_GNHzQ9s

    How to Change Fork Seals Part 2 (of 3) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O1ow73Ugvg

    How to Change Fork Seals Part 3 (of 3) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjGjSsWyMqA

    For any and all parts, tools, fluids etc go to CRF's Only Parts :D : http://www.crfsonly.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/26_131 (250x as an example)
  • crfryder69
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    Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2010 2:01 pm

    by crfryder69 » Wed Dec 08, 2010 1:40 pm

    Great topic, thanks!!
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    harshjay
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    by harshjay » Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:52 pm

    in addition; get the holding tool for the bottom, your face/teeth will appreciate it when you no longer have to dodge the wrench as it dislocates and tries to smash you.
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    harshjay
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    by harshjay » Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:53 pm

    oh, and if you live and ride anywhere muddy, get some neoprene fork covers. Rode for two years and no leaky seals, took the covers off for one ride, dirt got in, and f'd the seals that day!
  • gapfast
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    by gapfast » Mon Jan 30, 2012 4:00 pm

    I'm about to do this myseld. Great write up!! Also was wondering if there is some instruction on doing the inner tube as well?
    Thanks
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    crfsonly
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    by crfsonly » Mon Jan 30, 2012 8:20 pm

    here's a link to a discussion you might be helpful:

    http://www.crfsonly.com/forum/viewtopic ... r&start=15

    ken
    OEM Parts for Honda - Yamaha - Suzuki - Kawasaki: http://yeltrik.com
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    CRF Parts and Accessories: http://crfsonly.com
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    riddler9
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    by riddler9 » Tue Jan 31, 2012 5:52 pm

    For those of us that do this type of maintenance in a cold garage (anything below 65 is cold for draining fork oil), having a heat gun close by makes things quicker.

    Take the heat gun (or maybe even a blow drier?) and slowly warm the outside of the fork while it is draining. Don't be in a hurry and keep moving the heat. You don't want to get the fork so hot that you can't comfortable grab it. Also, don't try and blow hot air on the inside of the fork (would be hard to manage the temp you are placing on the inner cartridge).

    Doing this can turn a very slow drain job into about 5-10 minutes.
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  • gapfast
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    by gapfast » Wed Feb 01, 2012 8:47 am

    crfsonly wrote:here's a link to a discussion you might be helpful:

    http://www.crfsonly.com/forum/viewtopic ... r&start=15

    ken
    thanks ken. Didn't even know about that seal. Don't think I will tackle that this time. I was just wondering how to change the fluid on the inner tube?
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    lightflight
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    by lightflight » Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:52 am

    Image
    Once you have the fork dissasembled down to only the inner chamber you will be working with what is in the red box less the spring.

    1st. I usually put the inner chamber in a vice on the squared off portion to help me remove the assembly (#1 in image) from the inner chamber. To remove this you will loosen it all the way and the carefully pry it up little by little with a flat blade screw driver. Once you get your fingers on it work it out slowly so you don’t damage bushings or seals.

    2nd Once you have done that take it out of the vice. Flip it over to drain fluid and work the damper rod(#2 in image) in and out to pump the fluid out.

    3rd I put it back in the vice…fill with recommended oil level. Get all air bubbles out…they usually rest on the side and you can pop them or swish the fluid to remove bubbles.

    4th slowly work the inner assembly (#1 in image) back into the inner chamber. Gentle. Once that is in and tight. Slowly work the damper rod(#2 in image) little by little by compressing it a little at a time. Note: when you compress it …it should come back out on its own. So work it little by little building up to doing a final complete compression of the rod. A little fluid may come out of the seep holes towards the top of the tube. Be sure the rod pushes itself out. If it doesn’t you probably have air in the system or a bad seal or bushing.

    if the rod isn't coming out on its own then you can remove the fluid and and give it another go. basically start the process over again.

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