Front Fork Seal lo-tech Question

Greetings All:

I'm a long time Norton owner enjoying the third year of a cosmetic rebuild of my 1973 Interstate. I had great luck with this site sourcing a rebuilder for my Veglia speedo last year. Since I bought the machine in '74 I've never lost the passion, even after a near death crash & burn three years ago.

Back again looking for some opinions or facts on a tale I was told regarding the thin paper "washer" that is positioned between the top of the brass front fork tube guide and the bottom of the press fit fork seal.

It has been said that the paper should be coated with a non-hardening sealant before it is sandwiched between the brass guide and the fork seal. I don't see how this would prevent any leak-by. And if it did, it seems there is always fork oil present on both OD and ID sides of the paper. I guess I really don't understand the paper's function in the grand scheme of things.

Yes. I am the obsessive, engineering type with many more fixing hours than riding hours.

Thanks,
Dave

That bit of paper always bemused me as well.

Especially because I have seen so many seals of different height, different depth locking rings, different slider thread lenghts, etc so that at different times assembling all the bits covered the full range from letting the seal free float to compessed it so far the forks were locked solid.

Now I just adjust the distances so the lock ring nips up a few thou minimizing stiction as best I can.

Hi, Welcome. I've pondered the idea of the paper as well, and to allow rotational slippage when tightening the nut is all I could come up with. YMMV

concours said:

Hi, Welcome. I've pondered the idea of the paper as well, and to allow rotational slippage when tightening the nut is all I could come up with. YMMV

Click to expand...

I still wonder since the Norton Technical Manual describes the paper washer goes between the brass guide and the fork seal, right?

As I picture it in my head, the circular retaining nut is installed last over the fork seal.
Does it contact the top of the fork seal?

Thanks