seals for front forks

Production K Models

seals for front forks

Postby gabbyjon » Sun Jan 10, 2016 8:54 pm

Where can i buy the correct fork seals for a 1954 KH,I have ordered from V-twin and received seals to large on the O.D.I have gone to 2 different supply houses for seals and ordered what they said would fit twice and still received the wrong size.I also tried to have them made one off and they couldn't make them for this application,Help! its holding up my project,I have 1 set of seals that fits the I.D. and 80 thousands to large on the O.D. have considered having metal removed to make them fit but would rather not.Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
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Re: seals for front forks

Postby thefrenchowl » Mon Jan 11, 2016 3:43 am

Hi Gabbyjon,

Welcome here...

No rubber seals on theses early forks, just a round felt held by a cup washer that keeps (as it can...) water out of the sliders.

You can modify the later seals (69/72) by gently trimming their outside diameter in a lathe if you are that desperate to fit a seal there...

Patrick
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Re: seals for front forks

Postby gabbyjon » Mon Jan 11, 2016 9:27 am

Thanks for the response,where can I purchase the felt and cup washer?
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Re: seals for front forks

Postby gabbyjon » Mon Jan 11, 2016 9:35 am

Part#45852-52 fork slider seal 52-54 all K Model as stated in parts book,Is this seal available and where can it be purchased
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Re: seals for front forks

Postby EKHKHK56 » Mon Jan 11, 2016 12:55 pm

I don't know of any sources for those these days. Erik K
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Re: seals for front forks

Postby hennesse » Mon Jan 11, 2016 3:00 pm

gabbyjon,

I've got the same question as I'm getting together my re-chrome order for my 1954 KH. The parts books are not always correct, but here's how it looks to me from reading the parts books. Maybe some guys with more actual experience can respond.

Harley, in their infinite wisdom, throws a monkey wrench into the discussion by calling two things by the same name. "Fork slider tube" appears in the parts books to describe both what I'm calling "fork tubes" (the long skinny things that go through the triple trees), and what I'm calling "fork sliders" (the short fat things down by the front wheel). The 1963 parts book calls my "fork slider" simply as "slider"

The 1952-1953 Ks used the metal decorative covers rather than the fork boots. The fork sliders needed to stop any oil leaking out or water leaking in. For this, they used the 45852-52 oil seal and the 45850-52 felt washer and 45859-52 felt washer retainer.

In 1954, they introduced the rubber fork boots. They removed the felt washer and retainer, and added the 46008-54 boot retainer, lower. The felt washer retainer goes in the same place as the boot retainer, so the felt washer retainer had to go to make room. They left the 45852-52 oil seal in the slider.

In 1955, they discontinued the 45852-52 oil seal. I guess they felt it was un-necessary - and more important to Harley, an un-necessary expense! These do not appear again. They have been dropped from the 1963 and later catalogs completely.

The fork sliders stay the same until the late 1960s. The fork tubes changed in 1955, but I think that they were simply one inch shorter to go with the new frame geometry. The -55 fork tubes continued on the 56 KH and XLH up to the mid-1960s. The -52 fork tubes reappear for the 1958 and later XLCH, and also as a "special 1" more road clearance" for the XLH. I don't know of any other differences.

So it looks like the 45852-52 oil seal is "optional" for 1954. Harley hadn't quite figured out they didn't need really them. They are probably a good idea if you can find them - our fork tubes and bushings are probably a bit worn over the last 60 years. But I'm not going to kill myself looking for them. But please let us know if you can find a source - the 1952-1953 K owners do need them!

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Re: seals for front forks

Postby Mayday53 » Mon Jan 11, 2016 5:34 pm

I also heard (yes, the infamous "I heard") there was a way to keep the forks looking original but the insides have a progressive, oilless shock inside. Any truth or ideas for that? I am finishing my 53K this winter and we are about to work on finishing the forks.
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Re: seals for front forks

Postby gabbyjon » Mon Jan 11, 2016 5:48 pm

Im being told by a friend that the early vin # Kh model in 1954 used the fork tube covers so I believe I need the seals.
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Re: seals for front forks

Postby Tim The Grim » Thu Jan 21, 2016 5:39 pm

This is what I did with mine. I turned these in my home shop.
They do the job while not permenantly changing any original parts.
The flimsy little rolled over boot retainers were already trashed so they weren't an option anymore.
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Last edited by Tim The Grim on Fri Jun 14, 2019 11:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: seals for front forks

Postby EKHKHK56 » Thu Jan 21, 2016 6:53 pm

That's a neat idea. Do you have the size of the o-ring. Such as industry std number? Thanks Erik K
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