I completed the fork seal replacement, with the help of those who have gone before me. Major props to John O. for his tool kit and helpful advice along the way!
Some notes from my work:
- I took the Honda manual, a parts list that a fellow ST'er put together (sorry, I couldn't find that post again...maybe someone can provide that link) and bought the parts at my local cycle shop
- I upgraded the springs with Progressive Suspension ones (~$120 I think)
- I used synthetic fork oil (7.5W in the right, 10W in the left, per the advice of another ST'er)
- This post was super helpful along the way:
http://www.st-riders.net/index.php?topic=907.0
- These videos were super helpful as well:
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- I found that if I added the amount of fluid (volume-wise) per the manual it didn't match the recommended level when measuring down from the top of the fork tube. Not sure if anyone else encountered this as well? I went by the depth measurement (a little more than the rec. volume).
- As you may have read on this thread already, I seem to be the only schmuck that had a broken mystery seal of some sort in the bottom of the left fork case. Still a mystery as to what it is. Some argue if it's an original part; some wonder if it was even necessary...I still have no clue. Hopefully some one along the way will one day help solve this! I ended up making a mold out of polystyrene and shooting some RTV into it and made my own replacement part in the end since I couldn't find the right sized seal online.
- Holy cow, does this bike ride great now...it feels so much lighter and more responsive. Glad I did this job, and you will be too!
Many thanks again to those who did the job and posted about it; super helpful!