will it hurt the fork shocks to..

[yamaha driver]

my fork shocks are leaking soo bad now i drive it around for about 5 min in our field and there is a river all the way down my shock on to my rim. i dont do jumps or anything really so leaving it like this for a while wont hurt anything will it??? since the only person around me to rebuild them is 75 bucks

[TheRadBaron]

I don't think that it will hurt anything. You might want to add some oil from time to time just to keep things lubed up, though. Forks really aren't tough to rebuild yourself. If the chrome on the fork tubes is in good shape you should be able to just change the seals. New seals are probably around $20 for both forks. Buy OEM seals, not some off brand from Ebay. It does make a difference in this case. If your chrome is pitted or gouged, even paying someone $75 for a rebuild won't help a bit. Just do some searching around and you'll find all the tips you need to change the seals yourself.

[Dirtcrasher]

Your bushings are already probably worn out, you can wear them out enough to ruin the forks so ride at your own risk.

Get a book, get some parts and help, and ask questions here :beer

[yamaha driver]

since most of my tools are junk i really dont want to attempt. where do i add oil and what kind?

[Yamaha_Rules69]

Hey man, I said I could do it for 55, and show you how its done if you cant do it. It really isnt hard at all. I know I am a way away from you, like a couple hours, but if you cant make it, maybe you could just try yourself? These forks are about the easiest to rebuild that you could ever attempt. Follow the manual, and you will be good to go. You can get the seals for about $15 from parts unlimited. I highly recommend the parts unlimited ones, those are all I use in anything I own. I dont get the pro moly leak proof ones, just the cheap ones, and they hold out great every time. I have problems with the other seals for some reason, and have never been able to get both forks to seal, always one seals, and one dosent. People on the boards including myself can also help walk you through the process, as long as you follow the manual to begin with. I swear, its a really easy job. ---- Jon.

[Yamaha_Rules69]

You add the oil from the top fork tube, remove the top. There is a specific amount and type. You need fork oil, or possibly ATF, if the manual states. READ THE MANUAL.

[JasonB]

I dont know if it will hurt the forks to have them pretty much drained like that or not, I would think that it would hurt the moving parts not having the correct amount of fluid in there. I need to rebuild mine too :D

[yamaha driver]

yea i had u in mind but i cant get down to ya lol. i found the parts unlimited ones from denniskirk for 7 bucks. i know its gonna be alot more worth of tools since mine have broke over the years and not been replaced. i might just add some oil then mabey have you rebuild them later lol. so how do you add the oil???

[yamaha driver]

lol posted at same time. it says ATF. and by top you mean unscrew the nut looking thing?? or take out the valve stem middle and pour it through a hose lol


Edit: how do you drain it so i can put the correct amount in?? the 10mm screw on the bottom? or

[travi]

i just rebuilt the forks on my 83 200x , easy as can be i even did all new bushings and parts unlimited seals , bushings are still avail from Honda , about 40 bucks for all 4 , and man for like 55 bucks and the experience , totally worth it just like brand new and like i said it was a great learning experience.

[travi]

also all you need for tools is everything to remove the forks , the wrench for the top or vice grips if necessary , and a 6mm Allen wrench

[yamaha driver]

dont you need a snap ring tool?? i MIGHT try to rebuild after i sell some parts. Does anyone know of a rear shock tool also?? mine is squishy and can be tightened but my yamaha street bike one is a bit 2 big.

[travi]

forgot about the snap ring tool , if you ultra cheap and have lots of old rusty pliers just go to town with a grinder and make some , or spend the 10 bucks on a set either way will work , hell i have used a couple small screw drivers to pick them out in the past , all you need is patience .

[yamaha driver]

ok. were the springs a trailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro or were they easy?? ive never had anytype of shock apart/ much less off. so any noob tips would help lol also thanks everyone for helping on this.

[travi]

springs just fall out loosten the 6mm allen bolt before anything and dont loose the copper washer from the bolts.
here is a guide . http://www.3wheeler.org/vb/showthread.php?15513-Fork-Seals-1983-85-200X&s=

[Yamaha_Rules69]

If the rear shock is bouncey, it needs rebuilt or replaced, tighting the spring wont help at all. Take the fork cap all the way off. You can probly use a crescent wrench if you dont have the right socket or wrench to fit it. I would first drain the oil from the bottom of the fork, then add the fresh oil in the top. If it leaks as bad as you said it does, it will likely leak out pretty fast, and the suspension action wont work like it was intended to.

[yamaha driver]

yea its squeaky and squishy. i mean when i sit on this trike it almost bottoms out. (im 180lbs) i doubt the rear will ever get rebuilt in my future unless it blows or something. it comes up all the way in the back with no weight on it. and the front shock is wierd sometimes it will leak really bad and sometimes not much. but thats problay cause there is little to no oil in it. and that 10mm screw on the bottom is the drain right??

[Yamaha_Rules69]

^ That is a very good write up. Never seen that one bofore. I also use a piece of pvc as a seal driver, and never had a problem. Thanks for putting that up Travi.

[yamaha driver]

o dang travi i didnt see your post thanks abunch for that thread

[travi]

no problem , it was my first time rebuilding forks and i followed that guide it was very simple , and my forks were filled with mud lol.

[yamaha driver]

my leaking fluid looks like yours lol. so i will problay put some atf in for the rest of the winter then rebuild them after it gets warm. since my garage is not heated and cold wrenches+damp hands= alot of trailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro pain. Im going to favorite that thread and use it for refference thanks agian everyone

[travi]

no problem , when you rebuild them it wont even feel like the same bike .

[yamaha driver]

i wish it seemed so easy for the rear shock also

[travi]

my leaking fluid looks like yours lol. so i will problay put some atf in for the rest of the winter then rebuild them after it gets warm. since my garage is not heated and cold wrenches+damp hands= alot of trailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailprotrailpro pain. Im going to favorite that thread and use it for refference thanks agian everyone

that is not me or my write up BTW i take no credit for it

[yamaha driver]

ordered a pair of parts unlimited fork seals today from dennis kirk for 6.95 :beer. will start the rebuild this friday:DD

[travi]

if your seals have been bad for a long time i also recommend some cleaner , i use brake cleaner , as there is probably water and all sorts of unknown things in there .

[Red Rider]

If you want your new fork seals to last, you really should install some new bushings as well. I can almost guarantee that they'll be worn out, which allows excessice play in the forks. If you only put in new seals, the excessive play will wear out your new seals in nothing flat, then you'll have to pop for new seals again, along with the bushings. When you open up the forks, if the bushings are bad, do yourself & your wallet a favor by doing the job right, and install some new bushings. I realize you want to get back to riding ASAP, and don't want to have to wait for additional parts, but having to do the job twice, to do it correctly, is a waste of time that could have been prevented.

[yamaha driver]

Where would I be able to buy these bearings

[Red Rider]

Where would I be able to buy these bearingsHere's another thread on the same subject, that contains some answers. http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php/140564-1983-200x-fork-bushings

[yamaha driver]

How do I tell if they are junko

[Red Rider]

How do I tell if they are junkoInspect all 4 bushings, and if any are scratched or scored, or if the teflon coating is worn off so that the copper base material is showing on approximately 3/4 of the total surface, the bushing needs to be replaced.

[yamaha driver]

ok sounds good

[travi]

Honda dealer , they are still available , i just did all 4 bushings and the seals at the same time , it was like 42 bucks cad for the bushings and you have to take them all out anyway , just buy em and they will last another 20 years.


guide bushing - 51414-447-731

side bushing - 51415-447-731

[Scootertrash]

Rear shock can be rebuilt for about 25 bucks at your local shock guy. At least that's what mine did it for. A guy working out of his garage, not a shop.