Fork seals - labour charge?

Craig321 · 19 Oct 2015 at 17:11

I keep meaning to take my forks off my Hornet to the shop to get the seals replaced as that's the only real thing that would currently make it fail MOT!

Anyone know how much labour I should be expecting to pay for this? I will take them loose to the shop (and will loosen the top cap for them before removed from the bike

).

Edit: might have asked his before in another thread, but is it worth doing the bushes while the forks are being worked on? It doubles (or more) the cost of parts, but I'll do it if it's worth doing. Something like this? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB6...542658?hash=item4198ddbc02:g:xBEAAOSwLVZVkdYY

Thanks.

wazza300 · 19 Oct 2015 at 17:25

at a rough guess an hour or two tops,labour charge

could ring a Honda dealer for the part numbers and ask them if the f4 models are the same size bush/seal for the 98-00 models?

if theres no side to side free play on the lower fork leg then just the seal will be fine to replace

it will take a long time for the copper bush to wear but upto you really,both my seals/bushes are still on originals

tom_e · 19 Oct 2015 at 17:27

I was quoted £120 to have my springs and oil changed on the sv and that was with the forks on the bike.

Craig321 · 19 Oct 2015 at 20:00

tom_e said:
I was quoted £120 to have my springs and oil changed on the sv and that was with the forks on the bike.

That's not too bad then, did that include parts?

So I should expect half that I reckon. Labour at the local shop is £40.

tom_e · 19 Oct 2015 at 20:36

That included fork oil but the springs were being supplied by me

wazza300 · 19 Oct 2015 at 20:41

£175 I was quoted at revs racing

That included k-tech springs/oil and any worn parts replaced

Craig321 · 19 Oct 2015 at 20:42

Ouch, that sounds a lot, or are k-tech springs/oil expensive? I wouldn't have thought something like seals would take more than 30 mins each fork, especially as they'll have the right tools.

wazza300 · 19 Oct 2015 at 20:48

I wouldn't have thoughtso

and yh they are fairly expensive,id only have em done as a last resort

tom_e · 19 Oct 2015 at 21:36

You'll probably be looking at a fair bit less if you're supplying loose forks as that's probably a good half an hour if not more getting them off and back on the bike.

ttaskmaster · 20 Oct 2015 at 13:22

Do them yourself?
Dunno how complicated the Hornet is, but from those I've seen it looks even simpler than mine. The only difficulty would be in popping the seals out, I'd think.

TallPaul_S · 20 Oct 2015 at 14:43

Got my fork seals done on my 125 varadero last year for £50 or £60 all in, forks still on the bike, oil replaced.

That was a little independent guy just around the corner from my work, he's moved now though

Craig321 · 20 Oct 2015 at 14:44

Nice, good price that. I keep meaning to go speak to the local guy here, also a small shop, but he's closed at lunch times so there's no good time really!

tom_e · 20 Oct 2015 at 14:48

That's a cracking price, I'm sure it was £50 an hour for labour alone the last time I had some work done on my YBR.

Craig321 · 20 Oct 2015 at 14:50

Then you get the dealers at £70+ an hour :rolleyes:

. Can't wait to get my Speed serviced...

tbh, I would kind of expect to only be charged around £50 thinking about it. From the videos I've seen, if you know what you're doing and have the tools then each leg doesn't take that long, 30 mins per leg would be generous surely, meaning £40 for the job at the local shop.

But yeh, TallPaul's price he paid is good, with them taking the forks off as well!

TallPaul_S · 20 Oct 2015 at 14:56

Shadow Motorcycles (they're on Facebook) was the guy I used, he used to be based in Tunbridge Wells but has now moved to south of Crowborough - if anyone wants a good, cheap independent.

I probably wouldn't get £8's woth of Ohlin equipped bike worked on there, but older/cheaper bikes no worries.