QuestionHow do you replace the oil seals on the front forks? Do I have to take the piston (part#51442-273-010) off? And if so how do you take it off. One more question, is there a way to find the original frame color from the serial number? Thanks for your time and knowledge.
AnswerNate, I will assume that your bike is late enough to have the Type 2 forks on it, based on your reference to the piston part number.
Actually, these forks are really easy to change fork seals on, as they are similar to many Honda forks from the later 1960s thru the 1980s. Once you have the fork drained and all the outer stuff off, look down inside the recess at the top of the housing and you will see a snap ring. Best to use proper snap ring pliers to remove the ring, then you can use the "slide hammer" effect by pulling on the fork tubes, while holding the lower legs in a vise or by hand. The impact should pop the seals out of the lower fork slider and everything else should follow behind it all.
In some cases, there may be a ring to unscrew, instead of a snap ring, above the fork seal. Once that is out of the way, the seal will pop out when you pull the forks apart, as before.
200cc (6.8oz) of fork oil or ATF to refill drained and cleaned fork assemblies.
Honda did not code colors into the serial numbers of their bikes. They just ran batches of whatever was the color of the day... red, blue or black.
I have restoration guides on CD available for Scramblers. Check my site for details.
Bill Silver
www.vintagehonda.com
