Seals for telescopic forks

Harley forks from the first Sager forks of the 1910s to the classic Springer fork work without seals. Grease was used and applied where necessary and excess grease was wiped off.

The hydraulic telescopic fork introduced the necessity to seal the fork tubes. These seals have two jobs. As the damping properties of the fork can only be controlled with a constant oil content, the seals are intended to keep the damper oil in the fork. And since the function of the fork can only be maintained with a clean interior, the seals should keep out dirt, water and other foreign matter. The most important seals, which should therefore be changed regularly, are the shaft seals of the fork tubes. Many also call them Simmer rings, in memory of the Austrian engineer who came up with the trick of supporting the function of a ring-shaped sealing lip with a spring. Other fork seals are, of course, the sealing washers for the drain plugs and filler plugs and the dust boots that protect the sealing rings from too much dust on the newer fork designs of Evo-Sportsters, Dynas, Softails and Tourers.

James seal kits for telescopic forks

Aged forks not only need new stanchions and/or bushes. Od course, the mechanic takes the opportunity to install a complete gasket set, even if one or two gaskets still look usable. Gasket sets from James offer the security of knowing that you have all the parts you need.