How do i spread the lower triple tree so i can install the fork? FLSTC

If the old tubes or new ones wont go back in, then either the tree is bent or the pinch bolts have been tightened with no tubes fitted and squeezed the clamp in. Get a lever and CAREFULLY open the clamp enough to insert the tube.

dont they have bolts on the lower clamps also ?? if you loosened all and spread slightly each section then spray easing oil around clamps , get a hard rubber mallet and hit tops of fork tubes ! get a mate to put rubber gloves on and twist fork tube at same time ! support the weight of bike some how , rope round the head stock up to a beam !

Well, yes. The fork seals are located at the top of the fork slider un the "slide tube cap". This makes me wonder exactly what did you replace when you say that you just replaced the "fork seals". To get to these oil seals, you have to disassemble the forks tubes. Remove the front wheel and fenders. Down where you took the axle out, look up into the end of the slider and you'll see a socket head bolt, 6mm. Loosen this bolt before you take the tube out of the triple tree. Remove and repair one tube at the time. When you get the slider off the top tube, you will see a retainer ring in the top of the slider. The seal is under this ring. The new oil seals must be replace squarely in the tube. When you reassemble the tube and put it back in the triple tree, there is a specific amount of fork oil that must be added to each tube to properly refill it. You must use the "dry" quantity when refilling the fork tube because you disassembled and completely drained the tube. I'm sorry but I don't have this quantity of fork oil for this late of a model bike. I work on the earlier model bikes only.

good luck
steve

Hi There.
There is no bearing in the forks. you are trying to take aparts the triple trees.
to remove the front forks
jack bike up
remove front wheel
remove fender
loosen the clamps that go around the forks.
there are 2 triple trees, upper and lower , the upper has the nut your taking off, of course the lower is the bottom. both have clamps that hold the forks in.
then just pull and twist in a downward motion to get the forks out.

reinstallation is reverse steps.
note how much fork is sticking up through the hole in the top triple prior to removal.

if you do want to remove the triple trees and replace your neck bearings, you will have to cut the bottom bearing off, i've never been able to remove those bearings without ruiing them.
that bearing is a very tight fit.

Hope this helps you out.
thumbs up to the do-it-yourselfers
Best regards
Big Al

You'll have to take each fork leg out of the front end to change the seals. I'm not positive what type front end is on FXDL but it it's a standard type (as opposed to an inverted front end), it's not too difficult.

First remove any sheet metal that might be covering the upper and lower triple trees. Lift the bike off the ground and remove the front fender and front wheel. Loosen the pinch bolt on the upper and lower triple trees. Do one tube at the time. Lubricate the portion of the top tube that is between the upper and lower triple tree. You must slide the fork assembly out of the triple trees. Loosen but don't remove the top caps.

With the fork assembly now out of the triple trees, remove the top cap and pull the spring out. Notice if the spring has a tapered end. Remember which way it came out so you can put it back in the same way. Invert the tube and pour out the oil and let it drain.

You'll see an 8mm bolt in the bottom. Sometimes this is a shallow piloted bolt. If so, you'll need at least a brand new hex key or allen wrench to loosen the bolt. Take the bolt out and slide the lower slider off the top tube. You now have access to the seal. Make sure you put the seal in faceing the correct way. Rince the slider out on the inside with clean mineral spirits and allow to dry. When you assemble the tube and install it on the bike, the amount of oil you put in it is the "dry" amount since you disassembled the tube and poured all the oil out. Put the sping back in the tube and install the top cap. Insert the tube into the triple trees and slide the tube upwards until the top of the top cap is 0.420" to 0.500" above the top of the upper triple tree (notice the height of the other tube that you haven't moved yet).

Good Luck
steve

Ok to get the front forks out, first you must take everything off the front of the bike such as fairing, headlight, windshield, nachelle, etc. Don't forget to disconnect the battery first. Then lift the bike off the ground and take the front wheel and the front fender off.

Look on the backside of the lower triple tree. There is a pinch bolt there. Loosen the bolt and spray some penetrating oil around the upper fork tube. Then take the large "nut" off the tube at the top triple tree. You may have to drive a chisel into the slot on the lower triple tree from the bottom side to spread it a bit. Then work the entire fork tube out of the steering head. Do the same with the other side.

Good Luck
Steve

To replace the front seals on your Heritage, you'll have to pull the windshield and the nachelle off the front of your bike. Lift the bike off the ground and remove the front wheel and fender. Then loosen the pinch bolt on the lower triple tree and take the top cap nut off at the upper triple tree. Then slide the entire fork assembly out of the steering head. Take the top plug out of the upper fork tube. There will be a large spring under this plug. When you take the spring out, there should be a tapered end on the sping. Look closely and make sure you put it back in the correct direction.

Underneath the lower fork slider where the axle goes, there is an 8mm socket head bolt. This bolt takes a special "piloted hex key" to remove it but I have gotten them out using a "brand new hex key socket" and an air wrench. The hex key socket must be brand new since the depth of the hex key socket is so shallow.

Once you have the bolt out, you can pull the fork tube out of the lower slider. The seal is in the top of the slider. Remove the snap ring and pry out the seal, Notice the direction the seal is facing. After you assemble the fork tube assembly, pour in the appropiate amount of the correct oil for a "dry" rebuild.

Reassemble that tube and do the next one. Only do one tube at the time. Don't forget to torque the pinch bolt on the lower triple tree. 25-30 foot pounds. Reinstall nachele and windshield.

Good Luck
Steve

If, notice I said "if", your bike has the standard 41mm wide glide front end, changing the fork seals is not that difficult.

Get the bike up off the ground on a stable lift. Safety is paramount.

Now take the front wheel and fender off. Take the large "Bolt" out of one of the fork tubes at the upper triple tree. There are special sockets made to do this with so that you won't scratch your chrome upper tree. Loosen the pinch bolt on the lower triple tree. Put some lubricant on the fork tube and work it down and out of the triple trees. You may have to spead the lower triple tree by driving a chisel into the slot from the bottom side.

Once you have one of the fork tubes out. Remove the plug at the top. There will be a large spring under the plug. Usually it doesn't have much pressure on it with the tube fully extended and if it's the stock spring. With the plug and the spring out, you can pour the oil out of the tube. Notice which direction the spring comes out of the tube. I must go back in with the tapered end down.

Look on the bottom of the tube where the axle goes through. You'll see an allen head or socket head bolt in there. It' should be an 8mm sized bolt but it takes a "piloted" hex key. Now, you can use a standard hex key but it must be in new condition since the bolt head is so shallow. I have found that a hex key socket used with an air wrench is best to get the screw out. With the screw, you can now seperate the upper fork tube from the lower slider.

Remove the retainer ring in the top of the slider and pry out the old seal. Install the new seal in the proper direction. Reassemble the fork assembly. Now, add the proper amount of oil to the tube before you install the upper plug. The forks take 10.2 to 11.2 ounces of oil each. The lower figure is for a "Wet" refill and the higher number is for a "Dry" refill. If you take your fork tube apart and pour out all the oil, use the "dry" figure of 11.2 ounces type "E" or 30 weight fork oil. If the forks are too stiff with this oil, drop back to 20 weight fork oil.

Good Luck
Steve

The headline of your post seems to have it correct, you have a fork seal leaking. To replace the seal, you must remove the fork slider, the lower part of the fork tube to replace the seal and then refill the fork with the proper amount of the proper oil. Here's how you do it on a conventional front fork. This is not for an "inverted fork" where the top part is larger than the bottom.

Remove the front wheel, the caliper if it's on this side or you decide to do both sides. Loosen the pinch bolt on the back side of the lower triple tree. Remove the large nut on the top side of the upper triple tree. Caution: there is a large spring under the nut. Usually, if the bike is completely off the ground, the sping is almost fully extended but it will still have some pressure on it. Remove the spring and work the fork tube out of the triple trees. Turn the thing upside down and pour the oil out of it. Notice in the very bottom of the lower slider where the axle goes through, there is an 8mm hex head bolt. Using a brand new hex key, remove this bolt. A hex key socket on an air wrench helps to remove this bolt. It takes a "piloted key" but you can get it out with a regular one as long as it new and not rounded. Once the bolt is out, pull the top tube out of the lower tube. You'll see the oil seal in the top of the lower slider. Pull the seal out and replace it with a new one. Reassemble the entire assembly and install back into the triple trees. Add the proper amount of the proper weight oil. This is what is commonly called a "dry" fill since you took everything off and wiped it down. Then insert the spring tapered end first and put the large nut back on the top.

Then do the other side if you wish. Only do one side at the time. The remaining tube that is put together helps hold the tube you're working on extended.

Good Luck
Steve

Start by lifting the bike off the ground and making sure it is steady and won't fall over. Remove the front wheel and front fender. Make sure you keep up with where each spacer goes.

Loosen the clamp bolt in the lower triple tree. Take the large "nut" off the top of the fork tube at the upper triple tree. At this point, the fork leg should start to slide downward out of the triple trees. But, most of the time they won't. Take a small chisel and locate the slot on the lower triple tree. Drive the chisel into the slot from beneath to spread the clamp. Make sure the clamp bolt is all the way out or at least very loose to allow the triple tree to expand. You can use a brass drift to help drive the fork leg down from the top. Use plenty of oil to help it slide.

Once you have the fork leg out, you can drain the fluid by either removing the drain plug on the lower slider and pumping the fluid out or simply take the top cap out of the tube. When you take the top cap out of the tube, the large sping in the tube will push the cap up. I don't think it will be too strong to get back in. On the earlier models, they weren't. With the top cap off, take the spring out and pour the old fluid out. Look at the lower slider where the axle goes through, you'll see a hex head bolt. Use an 8mm hex key to remove the bolt. This is a special piloted key. You can use a regular hex key but it must be in very good shape. I'd recommend using one with an air wrench. Once you get the bolt out, simply pull the upper tube out of the lower slider.

Replace the seal in the lower slider and reassemble in reverse order. Make sure you install the large spring with the tapered end down. Refill with the appropiate amount of fluid for a "dry" fork tube. I used 30 weight fluid in mine but that may be too stiff for you. If so, 20 weight is the next common. Honda may have a 25 weight fluid. Honda has some wierd fork oil weights.

Good Luck
Steve