Suspension woes

buz100 · 03-30-2019, 06:53 PM

Managed to blow my front fork lower oil seal on my caliper side today on my Hawk 250. Bike has around 150 miles. Noticed some leaking since I put it together and swapped out the oil to 10W, today it let loose after hitting a pot hole.

Anyone have any instructions on lower disassembly so I can replace the seal? Does anyone know the proper seal and spring retainer replacement sizes?

Also,

After the ride I noticed my ride height is sitting roughly 4" lower than before. I have checked everything- I believe my rear shock may be shot. Does anyone have any links for a replacement?

OneLeggedRider · 03-30-2019, 07:19 PM

Search the forums because Megadan knows every little thing about the forks and has posted alot about them. Also Amazon has really good fully adjustable nitrogen charged monoshocks for $75. Just type in pit bike monoshock and if you want to keep the stock height go with the 320mm. I got the 290mm to drop the rear 3", and it's way better than the stock POS.

psychprof · 03-30-2019, 07:46 PM

Just curious on how hard you were riding?

Bruces · 03-30-2019, 09:13 PM

What kind of bike is it ?

buz100 · 03-30-2019, 09:14 PM

Bike has not been ridden lightly... Lots of single track with downed logs and rough forest road cruising where I've hit some pretty bad potholes. For the price I suppose it comes with the territory.

buz100 · 03-30-2019, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruces

What kind of bike is it ?

Great question. Sorry- I always associate this forum with the Hawk 250. OP edited.

Red Hawk · 03-30-2019, 10:02 PM

Here's the sizes I used, you can search around some older Honda's used the same seal set.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Front-Fork-...item26075b62df

Bruces · 03-30-2019, 10:03 PM

I am sure somebody has done a write up on the hawk fork seals ,but essentially jack up the bike ,remove the front wheel ,take the top cap off the fork ,remove the spring from inside ,jam a broom handle inside ,remove the bolt at the bottom of the fork leg ,remove the lower leg ,carefully pry out the seals and reverse to install ,remember to refill the fork oil .

buz100 · 03-30-2019, 10:15 PM

Thank you Bruces & Red. Red- do you know if the retaining clips used are fairly common? Found the seals with the dimensions you sent- just trying to find the clip now.

Red Hawk · 03-30-2019, 10:36 PM

Do an eBay search for "fork seal retainer" if it's too long they can be trimmed. The local dirt bike shop should have something if you stop by.

You can also substitute an internal snap ring but I don't know what size.

pete · 03-31-2019, 04:52 AM

easy way... remove the retaining clip/snap ring..

remove the top cap and spring tip the oil out...
rap a rag around a air gun/dust gun
force it into the fork top... pump the fork with air..
at about 80psi the seal will pop out...

..

buz100 · 03-31-2019, 05:30 PM

Like an idiot, I scratched my stanchions when trying to get the mangled seal/retainer out. Any good methods to get this smoothed out? Is it worth worrying about? I feel like it will probably tear up the new seal.

OneLeggedRider · 03-31-2019, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buz100

Like an idiot, I scratched my stanchions when trying to get the mangled seal/retainer out. Any good methods to get this smoothed out? Is it worth worrying about? I feel like it will probably tear up the new seal.

You can polish that out with a milk wheel on a grinder, or something else that wont actually remove material but will smooth any rough edges.

Bruces · 03-31-2019, 06:30 PM

Crocus cloth depending on how deep the scratches are .

buz100 · 03-31-2019, 09:31 PM

Another stupid question... Does the dual rate spring go in with the shorter spaced springs up at the handle bars or down in fork lowers?

03-30-2019, 07:19 PM	#2
OneLeggedRider Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Stockport, Oh. Posts: 1,442	Search the forums because Megadan knows every little thing about the forks and has posted alot about them. Also Amazon has really good fully adjustable nitrogen charged monoshocks for $75. Just type in pit bike monoshock and if you want to keep the stock height go with the 320mm. I got the 290mm to drop the rear 3", and it's way better than the stock POS. Last edited by OneLeggedRider; 10-30-2019 at 01:59 AM.
	1

03-30-2019, 10:02 PM	#7
Red Hawk Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: NEPA Posts: 273	Seals Here's the sizes I used, you can search around some older Honda's used the same seal set. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Front-Fork-...item26075b62df __________________ 2018 Hawk P&P Decked .040 off the head. 17/43 D.I.D. 428, NGK Iridium plug, DeCat, Wrapped pipe, Custom S.S. Muffler core, Nibbi PE30 115/35, L.E.D. Lights, Digital Cluster, USB port, Cutting Bord skid plate, Oil cooler w/ custom CRF oil filter inline, 5Wt fork oil, Rear Shock, CNC Back Rack, 30mm FAT bars, Bark Busters, ProGrips, Adjustable levers, Shinko 700’s lots of Loctite!
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03-30-2019, 10:36 PM	#10
Red Hawk Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: NEPA Posts: 273	Do an eBay search for "fork seal retainer" if it's too long they can be trimmed. The local dirt bike shop should have something if you stop by. You can also substitute an internal snap ring but I don't know what size. __________________ 2018 Hawk P&P Decked .040 off the head. 17/43 D.I.D. 428, NGK Iridium plug, DeCat, Wrapped pipe, Custom S.S. Muffler core, Nibbi PE30 115/35, L.E.D. Lights, Digital Cluster, USB port, Cutting Bord skid plate, Oil cooler w/ custom CRF oil filter inline, 5Wt fork oil, Rear Shock, CNC Back Rack, 30mm FAT bars, Bark Busters, ProGrips, Adjustable levers, Shinko 700’s lots of Loctite!
	0

03-31-2019, 04:52 AM	#11
pete Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: ChCh , NZ Posts: 2,261	easy way... remove the retaining clip/snap ring.. remove the top cap and spring tip the oil out... rap a rag around a air gun/dust gun force it into the fork top... pump the fork with air.. at about 80psi the seal will pop out... .. __________________ 09 XT660R ... 06 TTR250 ... 80 Montesa H6 125 Enduro... 77 Montesa Cota 348 MRR "Malcom Rathnell Replica"... Current resto projects.. 81 Honda CT110... 80 Kawasaki KL250A1... 11 Husaburg TE125 enduro... "sold" along with another 31... Lifan 125 Pitbike.. "stolen" ... KIWI BIKER FORUM...... http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/content.php All the best offroad rides in NZ... http://www.remotemoto.com/ E-mail... xtpete1@gmail.com
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03-30-2019, 07:46 PM	#3
psychprof Join Date: Feb 2019 Posts: 38	Just curious on how hard you were riding?
	0

03-30-2019, 09:13 PM	#4
Bruces Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 1,572	What kind of bike is it ?
	0

03-30-2019, 09:14 PM	#5
buz100 Join Date: Feb 2019 Posts: 19	Bike has not been ridden lightly... Lots of single track with downed logs and rough forest road cruising where I've hit some pretty bad potholes. For the price I suppose it comes with the territory.
	0

03-30-2019, 10:03 PM	#8
Bruces Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 1,572	I am sure somebody has done a write up on the hawk fork seals ,but essentially jack up the bike ,remove the front wheel ,take the top cap off the fork ,remove the spring from inside ,jam a broom handle inside ,remove the bolt at the bottom of the fork leg ,remove the lower leg ,carefully pry out the seals and reverse to install ,remember to refill the fork oil .
	2

03-30-2019, 10:15 PM	#9
buz100 Join Date: Feb 2019 Posts: 19	Thank you Bruces & Red. Red- do you know if the retaining clips used are fairly common? Found the seals with the dimensions you sent- just trying to find the clip now.
	0

03-31-2019, 06:30 PM	#14
Bruces Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 1,572	Crocus cloth depending on how deep the scratches are .
	1

03-31-2019, 09:31 PM	#15
buz100 Join Date: Feb 2019 Posts: 19	Another stupid question... Does the dual rate spring go in with the shorter spaced springs up at the handle bars or down in fork lowers?
	0