When did your fork seals go?

[Tenman]

I tried gaiters on my cr500 because of fork seal leaks. Took them off after one hard wet run through the woods. They were packed full of sand. The sand was starting to scratch the forks. Will never use them on inverted forks again.

 

[Mzee]

I finally decided to change my fork and dust seals. I did the entire front system: head bearings, longer brake and clutch cables, new Willber progressive springs, new disc rotors, new fork seals and dust covers and new Rox raisers. I hope the seals will last another 60000kms.

 

[snakebitten]

Big day Mzee!

 

[Christoforos T.Pilitsis]

I had one start weeping ~10k miles ago. I used the 35mm film trick and am at 21k now.

ac

35mm film trick.....do you mind explaining or showing me how that goes? Thank you...

 

[~TABASCO~]

I just replaced a set for a customer.. Make sure to check the guides... One of the guides was beginning to loose the coating and that is what accelerated the fork seal leaking. I don't think this bike has any particular guide issue but I would highly suggest just replacing all the guides when you replace the seal and wiper...

 

[dcstrom]

When did my fork seals go? Which time?

First, left at 24,000, replaced in Arizona under warranty.

Second, right at about 33,000, fixed with a Sealmate tool.

Third, left, in Buenos Aires, 57,000 miles, Sealmate has gone missing by now... fixed with a replica cut out of thin plastic sheet.

 

[martinh]

I just checked my fork seals and the left fork is leaking oil. I had a puddle under my fork. I only have a little over 6k on the bike. I hope my YES warranty will cover it.

 

[Combo]

I just checked my fork seals and the left fork is leaking oil. I had a puddle under my fork. I only have a little over 6k on the bike. I hope my YES warranty will cover it.

Purchase less than $!0.00 "Sealmate" and you should be good to go. ::008::
Seal Mate the Tool that Fixes Leaking Fork Seals

I use dirt skins on my bike since new and have never had a problem.

http://www.bikebandit.com/dirt-skins-seal-skins?b=2976139&utm_source=feed&utm_medium=merchantfeed&utm_campaign=pla&gclid=CKKImMnRr78CFabm7AodgEIA1A

I think Shock Sox may be better.

http://www.bikebandit.com/shock-sox-fork-seal-protectors

 

[redneckK20]

I have the Shock Sox and swear by them.

 

[Z06]

All four fork seals on my cousins and my Tenere's were leaking after riding off of the Dalton in the rain. 52000 miles on mine. Fixed all four with a home made sealmate.

 

[Rasher]

52000 miles on mine

Probably a bit over-cautious when I changed mine at 15k then, but the forks were apart for a service anyway, and the Yamaha seals are quite cheap so it seemed to make sense to swap them while the forks were apart.

 

[trikepilot]

[/img]

This fork seal blow-out was at around 10-12k and was "fixed" with a Sealmate session. However, I had to continue riding for another full day. It was my estimation that so much oil had been lost that it was worth a seal change - especially since I had no idea of how the PO had ridden the bike. So I bought the parts online and took them to an independent ADV garage here in town and they replaced everything for $125. As it turns out, the right front fork had a oil deficit of close to 40%. I now keep a Sealmate tool on both the Tenere and the WRR.

 

[summitboy]

Curious what you guys use to replace the Yamaha seals ? In the dirt bike world i only use SKF fork seals. They seem to be work better, less stiction, better reliability than stock units. I see they make a 43mm seal. They may be a much better replacement than the stock Yamaha seals. Just a thought.

 

[coastie]

Curious what you guys use to replace the Yamaha seals ? In the dirt bike world i only use SKF fork seals. They seem to be work better, less stiction, better reliability than stock units. I see they make a 43mm seal. They may be a much better replacement than the stock Yamaha seals. Just a thought.

This is not a common failure at all, especially if you cover them up with a sleeve. But most have just gotten the stock seals put back in. I know if mine go, ill be sending them off to Nick a Stoltec, to get the penske rebuild. But then I think he uses the stock seals, not sure.

 

[toompine]

[/img]

That looks like my forks after the 80 mile Top of the World Highway run from Tok to Dawson. It had rained and was muddy and then dried. When I got to the ferry at Dawson I looked down at the forks and had an oily mess.

Totally blew them out. I tried all the tricks but ended up finishing the trip with rags tapped to the forks to stem the flow of oil and keep it off the disc brakes. I now have fork skins and that keeps things clean. Expensive lesson

 

[eemsreno]

I'm still on original seals and don’t use a seal skin cover of any kind. 75,000 miles
I would never ride my bike hard though. No never.

 

[dcstrom]

That looks like my forks after the 80 mile Top of the World Highway run from Tok to Dawson. It had rained and was muddy and then dried. When I got to the ferry at Dawson I looked down at the forks and had an oily mess.

Totally blew them out. I tried all the tricks but ended up finishing the trip with rags tapped to the forks to stem the flow of oil and keep it off the disc brakes. I now have fork skins and that keeps things clean. Expensive lesson

Yep, I think that's what does it a lot of the time. Trick is, after riding a muddy section, to remember to stop and wipe the fork legs clean before the mud dries.

 

[Combo]

I'm still on original seals and don’t use a seal skin cover of any kind. 75,000 miles
I would never ride my bike hard though. No never.

And all this time I thought my skins were what were saving me from a leak on this Tenere with all the posts of leaking seals over the last few years.

Some do and some don't I guess. :-\ Or some just know how to treat their bikes right! ;D I know how you ride and you are one of those guys that don't care if you have shocks that work.............you will adapt and overcome. ::008::

Just kidding about the shocks that work.... But not much.
Its all ::022:: and you!

 

[Mzee]

A replaced mine at 60,000km. They still had a lot of life in them. I did so because I was refurbishing the entire front system from headbearings to fork oil.

 

[whisperquiet]

No leaks on my previously owned 2012 with 21,500 miles and no leaks on my 22,500 mile 2013.