18,000 miles, questions about fork maintenance?

[211john]

So, my 2012 has a little over 18k miles on it now. Right fork is leaking pretty heavily. I'm going to try a seal wiper but I've been advised its probably a good idea at this mileage to replace the seals, change the oil etc. So here come the questions:

1. Should I stick with oem parts or are there better components out there? Seals, bushings etc. I figure if I'm taking it apart I'm doing the bushings too. Unless someone suggests otherwise.
2. Oil? Yep I said it. What oil do you recommend? OEM? Other brand? If so what weight?
3. Any other advice?

I recently went down and tweaked the forks in the clamps. I've read somewhere that misalignment might cause the fork leak. So let's say that I could clean the seal with a seal mate and get the forks lined up nicely and the leak would stop. Would this still be a good time to service the forks or is 18k too soon?

I should probably ask about wheel bearings too. I've never needed one at 18k, but when I do OEM or aftermarket?

Thanks

 

[avc8130]

1. OEM makes the best bushings. If you want the BEST seals and are willing to spend some coin, get the SKF. If you don't want to shell out that much, stick with OEM. Most aftermarket seals are crap.
2. Any high-quality 5W will suffice. I like Silkolene or Motul, but have run enough Maxima and Belray to know they are all good enough.
3 My standard response is that this is a great time to get the forks resprung/revalved. Pick a suspension shop of your choice and get those puppies setup for you professionally. Lots of guys happy with Nick at Stoltec Moto (www.stoltecmoto.com). If that is out of the budget, I still suggest you swap in some proper rate straight-rate springs.

If you can get the leak to stop, it is up to you. How much oil did you lose? 18k is a reasonable time to service the forks. It is sooner than Yamaha requires, but I have seen the insides of enough Tenere forks to know getting fresh oil in sooner than later is never a bad thing.

ac

 

[211john]

I'd like to get the forks resprung and revalved. But I don't have the money to do the rear also. Would I be better off waiting until I can get both ends done?

 

[Firefight911]

I'd like to get the forks resprung and revalved. But I don't have the money to do the rear also. Would I be better off waiting until I can get both ends done?

No. Do what you can now. The cost is in the labor and most of that is the tear down and rebuild. Go for it now and get it done! It's only going to cost you, maybe, an other $150 - $200 to do the forks with proper springs and the revalve so spring (pun intended) for it now.

I agree wholeheartedly with AC's comments as well.

 

[211john]

Here's my concern. I'm pretty heavy (265) so if I go to proper springs up front, what's going to happen to the back? Can I get away with a spring replacement on the rear shock?

 

[jimmy z]

Im the same weight with the same question.I was told stock shock will not support spring we need.Jim

 

[Combo]

John and Jim you guys are doing good and so far sounds like you have been happy with the way the Tenere has been working for you? Lots of miles and a good running machines.

If the seals are holding don't change, If they are leaking then try the clean and ride some more and see if it leaks. If not .....don't change ......if so then change. I did this on my racing dirt bikes for years. No different on this one. :-*

 

[EricV]

Here's my concern. I'm pretty heavy (265) so if I go to proper springs up front, what's going to happen to the back? Can I get away with a spring replacement on the rear shock?

I'm 260 and run a 4.8 gal fuel cell, a gallon of water and full panniers on the bike at all times. I had an 1100 lb spring put on and it's fine with the stock shock. Not ideal, but not anything scary or to worry about. And it only cost about $100 to re-spring the shock, plus some coin to the local tire shop to swap the spring. Talk to a suspension shop, give them some real numbers on what weight you carry and what you weigh in gear, then listen to what spring weight they suggest and go for it.

I have 82k on my original fork seals w/o leaks. But, I have used Kriega fork seal covers since new and park on the center stand when in the garage. I do suspect your "tweaking" may have contributed to your leaking seals.

What AC said - That's some good info. When I can find the time, I dump and flush the forks every 10k, (5 wt oil), but I'm not always johnny on the spot, so it's been known to go 40k sometimes.