Front fork leaking

[zman68]

hello
with odometer 4500km and after completed 850km ride in a day mostly on tarmac..
my front fork seal rubber had give away .dealer agree to replaced it F.O.C.
anyone had experience and any advice with upside down fork
and a friends said that i will regularly had replaced this rubber seal.
those who had doing offroad with tenere had any of this problem??

thank you
safe ride

 

[joedec]

Keep em clean and the seals last longer. I clean my forks every time I ride. (Different bike but still a cartridge fork.)

... Jeff

 

[Buckeye56]

I will be installing fork gaiters as soon as I can to keep the crud away from the seals.

 

[HoebSTer]

is it the fact the female slider is exposed down below, or simple fact of inverted fork which may increase the odds of leakage? I wouldn't think it is different, as both principles are the same with an inner and outer seal sliding along the fork tube keeping contaminents off of it.

 

[dcstrom]

I've been counting - this in seal number FIVE that I've heard of with the Super Tenere. Seems to be a trend. It sees they probably need some help keeping clean - either some proper shields (there's an aftermarket opportunity) or some gaiters, like this Tiger - which also has a better shield.

these are the Kreiga protectors - http://www.blackdogcw.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BDCWI&Product_Code=KRGA_FORKSEAL&Category_Code=Kriega

 

[Combo]

dirt skins 8)
http://www.motorpsychosport.com/dirt-skins-fork-seal-skins.html

http://www.btosports.com/p/SEALSKINS

14.99

 

[hANNAbONE]

dirt skins 8)
http://www.motorpsychosport.com/dirt-skins-fork-seal-skins.html

me likey..!!

 

[Jakeboy]

I've got a set of Seal Savers on my DR. They work well for keeping the fork tubes clean.

Looks like these things will be in the S10's future.

 

[justbob]

Yes I've used SealSavers also. I installed them on my V-Strom when it was new, took the bike everywhere including Prudhoe Bay Alaska and the Copper Canyon in Mexico, sold the bike at 60,000 miles and the original fork seals were still doing fine.
I'll probably be installing them on the S-10 also.

 

[Mike Sisson]

dirt skins 8)
http://www.motorpsychosport.com/dirt-skins-fork-seal-skins.html

Looks like these might be the way to go.

 

[Swagger]

Touch wood .... I've never had a fork seal fail (apart from on competition bikes) and I do a lot of miles ... some on pretty rough stuff. I am fastidious when it comes to cleanliness of all components on the bikes. The sealskins look good.

 

[doctorj]

Here is something called Seal mate that is used to clean crud from holding the seal open. It is cheap so worth a try. I'm ordering a couple. $8 for two with shipping so not a big investment.

www.sealmate.net

doctorj

 

[SpeedStar]

I have one but have never used it. Great video on that site showing how easy it is to use. Thanks for posting it.

I also just ordered the Kriega Fork seal protector. I ordered direct from Kriega USA website as their shipping was less than the other retailer posted above.

 

[stevepsd]

I have used these on my KTM dirt bike since new and have never had a fork seal problem.

My Tiger has inverted forks also and I am getting ready to replace the seals for a second time in 3 years. I have not run protectors on it.

I just ordered Kriega's for the S-10 and the Tiger. The online Kriega store (www.kriega.us) has the best shipped price that I could find.

 

[s-flow]

After riding (nice and easy) the 40KM to work today both fork seals was leaking a small pool.
It was pretty cold today, about -3 celsius, and erlier in the winter I rode at -11 and the seals started to
leak in the same manner.. so it is about the cold temperatures.

After taking the bike in a varm garage and cleaning it up the problem disappears. I will contact the dealer ofc
but I wonder, is this a familiar problem? Will changing the seals to something else then Yamahas make it better?

Daniel

 

[Motowalt]

With less than 2,000 gentle miles on the bike and none of it offroad, both fork seals are seeping every so slightly...it started on one side at about 1500 miles and I wiped n the fork tubes frequently but now they both leak.

Will take it to the dealer in the next few days.

 

[Turk]

After riding (nice and easy) the 40KM to work today both fork seals was leaking a small pool.
It was pretty cold today, about -3 celsius, and erlier in the winter I rode at -11 and the seals started to
leak in the same manner.. so it is about the cold temperatures.

After taking the bike in a varm garage and cleaning it up the problem disappears. I will contact the dealer ofc
but I wonder, is this a familiar problem? Will changing the seals to something else then Yamahas make it better?

Daniel

it happened to me too in a very cold day ...it must be the cold temperatures but I dont know if that is normal?

 

[HoebSTer]

wasn't there some talk about the alignment of the forks during front wheel assembly having something to do with this on inverted forks? IN the manual it say during installation, before tightening axles shaft and pinch bolts, the front end needs to be compressed a few times to ensure alignment and take the stress off of the forks and seals.

 

[Firefight911]

wasn't there some talk about the alignment of the forks during front wheel assembly having something to do with this on inverted forks? IN the manual it say during installation, before tightening axles shaft and pinch bolts, the front end needs to be compressed a few times to ensure alignment and take the stress off of the forks and seals.

It is absolutely a contributor to this issue.

I got this....

http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0412

and sure enough, mine were off. I did not have a leaky seal but I did have excess fork stiction that was resolved by using this simple and effective tool. A little disassembly required to use it (front fender) but it works a charm. Motorcycle Consumer News reviewed it within the last couple months. Cheap tool at less than $30!

 

[HoebSTer]

Firefight, I too read that in the edition of the mag. Do you supose I am still off since I just instaled my front new tire? I had everything loose then compressed the forks heavily about ten times. Am I alright then? I know, I need to spring for the damn tool right???? ::002::