fork removal

hi all,
I read the pictorial about doing the seal replacement and it mentions removing front fender. My left front seal is leaking a little but it looks like i could just loosen the nuts holding the fork in place w/out removing the fender. Am I wrong?

Also'
installed my air flow today and what a difference!

thanks,
john

Sure, you can probably remove a suspension fork tube w/o removing the fender. But the fender is attached to the fork tube, and removing the fork tube under any circumstance is a bit of a PITA. So why make the job more difficult?

Hay John this is your brother John D Just kidding. .
I must agree. The front finder is easier to remove (if your have the tools) but alignment of the finder is time consuming and a pain in the butt if the finder has been disconnected from the tape holding the finder to the heavy steel frame that you will have to align.
(If it has, buy some 3M tape) or two sided quality tape, and re-attach the two, will need also need to an alignment tool to stick in, one of the 4 holes, and that is where the tape can be of help. Trust me here. Attach the two parts before doing anything else.

I looked again and it sure looks like to me it would be easy to remove 1 tube w/out removing the fender. the fender may be attached to the head, but not anywhere else. Unless there's something that won't allow me to pull the tube out after loosening the 2 bolts. Or, get it properly placed after it's removed, it looks to be a simple way to do it. Though there's usually always some little hickie.
john. m

If one of your seals is leaking, why on earth would you replace just one side? If you are half way into the job any way get the whole job done.
Just my opinion as an x car mechanic.

I suppose it's perception. If it was something serious I would. Seeing how it isn't leaking, and may never leak, the way I'm suggesting appears to be simple enough that doing the other side later, if need be, is no big deal.
So if anyone else has done it w/out removing the fender I'd like to hear about it.
thanks

jm