Removing stuck fork seals

[dcreel]

I have a fork seal stuck in my 85 tecate fork. I tried prying it out with a screwdriver going around the fork. Now I have a broken screwdriver. The fork seal hasn't moved but the rubber part is all tore up. Does anyone have any ideas? The snap ring has been removed. :-)
Pics


My broke screwdriver

[dcreel]

2 screwdrivers down...

[dcreel]

Thanks for all the help guys.. I got it out. With a pair of channellocks. So what does scrap aluminum go for these days?

[factoryX]

very little... thats the first time I have seen a stuck fork seal.

[dcreel]

I'm really hoping that this was a fluke.. luckily I have extra fork lowers.. I don't know how but it seems as though it was rusted/corroded in there. I watched videos watching people changing fork seals and they just seemed to pop out with very little prying. This thing however was locked up tight.

[MonroeMike]

I've never seen one stuck that bad either.

[JohnR.]

Its too late now but heating it up with a torch will usually free it up. You get the aluminum leg to expand more than the seal plus the heat loosens the rust up.

[dcreel]

Is it safe to pop them out with a screwdriver? Using a rag to protect the edge of course. I just put the tip of the screwdriver underneath the lip of the seal and pried. It just tore up the metal inside of the rubber lip. What do you guys do to get them out?

[200XMichigan]

I always just used a large screwdriver, going around the edge of the seal and tapping it lightly in 180 degree increments. Like going from north to south, then east west. Tapping gently, nothing on the screwdriver. Just letting them come up a fraction of a mm until they work loose.

I have used a pick set to basically pick the rubber away on a really stuck on till it had enough play to come out.

That one looked pretty bad though.

[Billy Golightly]

I either use a 90degree screw driver where you can reach around it and pull it out, or a hook-pick type and just really grab into it. Normally they come out that way.

[leviblue]

hey D are those the forks I sent you???? if so I'm sorry man....

[dcreel]

hey D are those the forks I sent you???? if so I'm sorry man....

No, those aren't the ones I got from you. I'm rebuilding all of them. These are off of my 85. The ones I got from you are next. They have to be easier.. they can't get any harder. :-)