Im having trouble installing fork tubes on my harley night train i cant get them to slide through the trees the original ones were just as hard to get out is there a trick to getting them in without a sledge hammer

Well, yes. The fork seals are located at the top of the fork slider un the "slide tube cap". This makes me wonder exactly what did you replace when you say that you just replaced the "fork seals". To get to these oil seals, you have to disassemble the forks tubes. Remove the front wheel and fenders. Down where you took the axle out, look up into the end of the slider and you'll see a socket head bolt, 6mm. Loosen this bolt before you take the tube out of the triple tree. Remove and repair one tube at the time. When you get the slider off the top tube, you will see a retainer ring in the top of the slider. The seal is under this ring. The new oil seals must be replace squarely in the tube. When you reassemble the tube and put it back in the triple tree, there is a specific amount of fork oil that must be added to each tube to properly refill it. You must use the "dry" quantity when refilling the fork tube because you disassembled and completely drained the tube. I'm sorry but I don't have this quantity of fork oil for this late of a model bike. I work on the earlier model bikes only.

good luck
steve

To take the forks apart, first get the fork tube out of the triple trees. You'll probably have to take the top cap and the large spring out to do this as the top cap probably holds the fork turn in the upper triple tree. Loosen the pinch bolt on the lower tree and slide the fork tube out. Empty the oil out of the top of the tube. Notice the spring as you take it out. It' probably has a tapered end on it. That should go to the bottom of the tube when you reinstall it. To get the tube seperated from the slider, look on bottom of the slider where the axle came out. You'll see a socket head bolt under there. It takes a 6mm allen wrench to get it out. Some of them use a "piloted hex key". This is a special allen wrench or hex key with a small point on the end of it to fit into a hole in the center of the bolt. As a result of this, the hex part of the bolt is very shallow. You can get the bolt out if you use a new wrench or one that has not been rounded on the edges. A hex key is pretty hard but you can file a used key off to get fresh points on it. The chrome cover over the rubber cover usually just pushes down over the original rubber boot on the top of the slider.

Good Luck
Steve

Refer to this site, www.bikebandit.com for an exploded view of the front forks. Basically you must have the seals in the slider (lower part) and the damper tube in the upper fork tube. Then slide the upper fork tube down into the lower and install the bolt in very end of the slider. Then install the spring and top plug or put it in the triple trees and intstall the top cap. You'll have to put the appropiate amount of the correct weight oil in the tubes. The amount depends on what kind of forks they are. Since they've been taken apart, use the "dry" (as compared to 'wet") amount of oil.

Good Luck
Steve

Jack the bike up off the ground. Remove the front wheel and front fender. Loosen the pinch bolt in the lower triple tree and take the nut off the top of the upper tube at the upper tree. The fork assembly should slide down and out of the triple trees. Invert the fork tube to pour out the oil and remove the spring. Look on the very end of the lower slider where there is an 8mm bolt. Take the bolt out and the lower slider comes off the upper tube. Reassembly is the reverse of disassembly. Add the correct amount of oil for a "dry" rebuild.

Good Luck
Steve

You'll have to take each fork leg out of the front end to change the seals. I'm not positive what type front end is on FXDL but it it's a standard type (as opposed to an inverted front end), it's not too difficult.

First remove any sheet metal that might be covering the upper and lower triple trees. Lift the bike off the ground and remove the front fender and front wheel. Loosen the pinch bolt on the upper and lower triple trees. Do one tube at the time. Lubricate the portion of the top tube that is between the upper and lower triple tree. You must slide the fork assembly out of the triple trees. Loosen but don't remove the top caps.

With the fork assembly now out of the triple trees, remove the top cap and pull the spring out. Notice if the spring has a tapered end. Remember which way it came out so you can put it back in the same way. Invert the tube and pour out the oil and let it drain.

You'll see an 8mm bolt in the bottom. Sometimes this is a shallow piloted bolt. If so, you'll need at least a brand new hex key or allen wrench to loosen the bolt. Take the bolt out and slide the lower slider off the top tube. You now have access to the seal. Make sure you put the seal in faceing the correct way. Rince the slider out on the inside with clean mineral spirits and allow to dry. When you assemble the tube and install it on the bike, the amount of oil you put in it is the "dry" amount since you disassembled the tube and poured all the oil out. Put the sping back in the tube and install the top cap. Insert the tube into the triple trees and slide the tube upwards until the top of the top cap is 0.420" to 0.500" above the top of the upper triple tree (notice the height of the other tube that you haven't moved yet).

Good Luck
steve

If, notice I said "if", your bike has the standard 41mm wide glide front end, changing the fork seals is not that difficult.

Get the bike up off the ground on a stable lift. Safety is paramount.

Now take the front wheel and fender off. Take the large "Bolt" out of one of the fork tubes at the upper triple tree. There are special sockets made to do this with so that you won't scratch your chrome upper tree. Loosen the pinch bolt on the lower triple tree. Put some lubricant on the fork tube and work it down and out of the triple trees. You may have to spead the lower triple tree by driving a chisel into the slot from the bottom side.

Once you have one of the fork tubes out. Remove the plug at the top. There will be a large spring under the plug. Usually it doesn't have much pressure on it with the tube fully extended and if it's the stock spring. With the plug and the spring out, you can pour the oil out of the tube. Notice which direction the spring comes out of the tube. I must go back in with the tapered end down.

Look on the bottom of the tube where the axle goes through. You'll see an allen head or socket head bolt in there. It' should be an 8mm sized bolt but it takes a "piloted" hex key. Now, you can use a standard hex key but it must be in new condition since the bolt head is so shallow. I have found that a hex key socket used with an air wrench is best to get the screw out. With the screw, you can now seperate the upper fork tube from the lower slider.

Remove the retainer ring in the top of the slider and pry out the old seal. Install the new seal in the proper direction. Reassemble the fork assembly. Now, add the proper amount of oil to the tube before you install the upper plug. The forks take 10.2 to 11.2 ounces of oil each. The lower figure is for a "Wet" refill and the higher number is for a "Dry" refill. If you take your fork tube apart and pour out all the oil, use the "dry" figure of 11.2 ounces type "E" or 30 weight fork oil. If the forks are too stiff with this oil, drop back to 20 weight fork oil.

Good Luck
Steve

you remove the axle 1st
the 2 large nuts on the top of triple tree next
on the lower portion of triple tree there is a bolt on each side remove it
the fork tubes should pull down and out
remove the top of triple trees
remove the cover in middle of triple tree under it you will find a loch nut and a special spannner nut remove both topp triple tree will come of
unlock triple tree twist lower tree it should slide out
reverse to install

What is your question?

You will need approx.8 to 9 ounces in each tube if they are still wet.If they are dry complete capacity is 10 ounces.I hope this helps.