fork seal spacer?

[garyajaz]

Hello All.
manual does not address it. also posts on rebuilds i have looked at dont mention it.
even a video of somebody rebuilding one does not tell..
the spacer between fork seal and bushing is a stamped part.
it has a sharp side and a rounded side.
which side goes toward seal?
thanks... gary

 

[konarider94]

im guessing it doesnt matter

 

[garyajaz]

thanks, but too much labor involved to guess.
my FXDX manual for adjustable showa (non inverted)
tells which way they want flat facing.
i have found buell manuals lacking in many ways.
oh well, thanks for playing

 

[konarider94]

i rebuilt my forks and i vaguely remember thinking the same thing and i just put it back together. i havent had any issues. the result of the shape difference is like you said from the mfg process, its just a spacer the way its put in does not matter.

fwiw i think i put the rounded side against the seal and the square side toward the bushing

 

[nilla]

not sure. i remember taking mine apart one at a time for stuff like this.

if the manual doesn't specify, it shouldn't matter if the stamped face side is up or down

 

[nilla]

good attention to detail, tho

 

[Rays]

Gary, this picture might help you. This was taken when I pulled my Uly fork seals out for the first time. This is in factory-fitted order and it looks like the spacer has the sharper edge towards the bush. I honestly can't remember which way I fitted it but I would have made sure it matched how it came apart.
The marks on the side of the spacer might help you?

 

[garyajaz]

sure does. thanks much.
mine was low milage 03. had stock red oil in it.
it came apart with rounded side toward bushing.
looking at the very small lip i thinking it gave away some support area.
that, and makes sence to put rounded end toward rubber.
it does my little heart good to have confirmation.
i put it together like yours shows. so it seems maybe the boys in japan/showa dont care either?
both had rounded towards bushing. maybe thats how they loaded that batch of spacers in the feeder maching. who knows.
and like others say it might not make a difference. just the more material seating on the thin lip in forks makes sense. its together, not leaking and being ridden for a few days. but now i can sleep better...

thanks again...oh, i did notice that color diff on rebuild site and it is how yours show.
dont think mine was apart cause when i bought it it had original wore out tires, wore out brakes and a 6 year old bat. only 15k mniles though. it was parked.. but if anyone wants to know in future from me i shall show him your pix...

would be cool if this thread is seen by somebody taking apart anouther one and looking for it and how its in...just to see if factory tossing them in..

 

[crxtasy169]

Sharper edges almost always go against the strongest force opposing it. The sharp edge will seal against an opposing force better than a rounded edge. I have found this to be true on almost all motorcycle seals (almost all).