Fork leaking

[cetan]

After short ride (50km) on termac (but very bumpy and full of holes) I found oil on left fork leg.

Did fiddle with fork comp and rebound couple times on the way. Now counting clicks I found rebound on left leg full off and on right almost in ( hard day ). It is possible that this is cause of the leak? Or this is demaged sealing?

 

[bmac]

No, you did not cause this. Fork seals go all the time, more often when there is a a lot of crap on the fork tube.

 

[trikepilot]

http://sealmate.net/

and

https://www.youtube.com/embed/8wlzfoVroSY

 

[snakebitten]

If it IS just some trapped debris and you can clear it, the good news is you haven't lost but a tiny measure.

 

[cetan]

thanx.. I try to clear it..
should I worry about oil level after apparently I lose some? and how do I recognize that clearing was successful?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Lutsie]

How many miles?

 

[cetan]

25000km cca 15500 miles

 

[Madhatter]

seal doctor worked wonders to stop my leak, had some crap in there, and it does not take much to cause a leak. when the leak stops you will know it worked.. work the seal doctor around the seal as instruction, wipe away any trash , pump the forks up and down , if it still leaks use seal doc again and repeat....you have to remove dust wiper before you can clean seal.. if after all of this it still leaks you may need new seals. as for how much oil needs to leak out before being harmful, by your pictures you are ok.... like blood a little seems like a lot... seal doctor alot cheaper than replacing fork seals, worth a shot... i was all freaked out about my seal leak till my buddy used his seal doctor, all happy now.

 

[RIVA]

http://sealmate.net/

and

https://www.youtube.com/embed/8wlzfoVroSY

::026::

 

[Lutsie]

Seems early for blown seals. Made it 50k in my last bike. Everyone is probably right gunk up in there.

Does the bike sit for long periods of time on the side stand? That can warp the seals. Just throwing ideas out incase the seal doctor doesn't work.

 

[Tony Down Under]

I made my own tool out of some old x-ray film......strange how it looks just like a seal mate tool. :-\.

One fork leg had a minor leak which finally resolved itself after cleaning it out 3 or 4 times with around 5 k miles on it. After most rides I usually clean the sliders with a damp cloth to try and stop grit and dried bugs getting past the dust seals. This seems to have prevented any more leaks but I wish the fork guards where more efficient at keeping the sliders clean.

 

[cetan]

I made tool like sealmate from 35mm film and tried to clean sealing.. after couple km it is still leaking but far less I think..
bike always on mainstand .. after winter parking time I rode 300km when fork starts leaking
called dealer service guy for help and he recomended to change seals for sure

turatech changed my fork springs and oil about month ago .. maybe this could be cause too... But why only left leg... do not know

thanx for help

 

[Lutsie]

How many miles did you put on before you parked it? Seal may have not seated if it was too soon after rebuild, stantion tube may have been nicked. If it is a blown seal it's only the left because while storing it I'm assuming it was on it's side stand putting more pressure on the left seal. ideally you never want to store a shock of any kind on it's side.

 

[summitboy]

If the bushings are majorly worn u can get some leakage past the seal. The seal would have to be worn as well. Sealmates are another name for business card, they work the same and free. If u need seals SKF make the best seals period. Stock Yammies are junk as are most other aftermarket seals. I do 10-14 sets of dirtbike forks a year and nothing lasts like SKF.

 

[shrekonwheels]

You just got some crud in it. Good practice to wipe off your forks every time you park, takes two seconds.

Dry seals are your worst enemy, parking a bike on its kickstand is not going to warp a seal.

 

[cetan]

good news everyone.. after cleaning with diy sealmate and 300km no leaking.. there was some oil but after week of riding and wiping fork.. no more

 

[carrot]

that's great i now keep a seal doctor on my bike at all times

 

[Expflier]

Thanks for the tip never heard of seal doctor something else to add to the toolkit