Thinking about draining left fork and driving it that way.

[syscrusher]

Thinking about draining left fork and driving it that way. There's a BMW with a single fork so precedent exists. My new fork seal on the left leaks BADLY. Oil is dripping or pouring from the brake components underneath the fork whenever I stop and I suppose I'm not helping my front tire traction. I don't know why it leaks so bad unless it was from all of the attempts to pound the seal in to begin with.

 

So what do you think? Do I really need both forks? I'll still have a spring in the left side, just no damping.

[Brake Pad]

I rode my bike almost 800 miles on a dead shock, for IR, the only thing I found, was the oil got on the brakes, and made it hard to stop ( blow a few intersections ) and the front tire stared to wear funny. get it fixed:clap2:

[Squidley]

I personally wouldn't recommend it, the forks are a balanced system and it will effect the handling and safety of the bike. I know money may be tight, but the front forks do a lot more than folks may thing. It's really not a terrible deal to change front fork seals and they can be done with the forks still in the triple tree on the bike.

[Marcarl]

I personally wouldn't recommend it, the forks are a balanced system and it will effect the handling and safety of the bike. I know money may be tight, but the front forks do a lot more than folks may thing. It's really not a terrible deal to change front fork seals and they can be done with the forks still in the triple tree on the bike.

100% agreed, I wouldn't go anywhere with a bum seal, or without oil, there is a reason for that stuff, and it's not there just to make it look pretty.

[bongobobny]

Yup! With two springs at different rates/characteristics your front end will tend to pull to the weaker side. Not the safest thing to do...

[dacheedah]

try slipping something very thin like a plastic film with a notch at the top to catch debris down the side of the seal and around the tube to see if their is crud along it. Agree time to rebuild.

[Flyinfool]

The BMW president that you speak of was designed to be a single shock, not just one side drained.

 

This is a safety issue, fix it right.

[frankd]

If cleaning the crud out of the seal doesn't stop the leak, you have a nick on your fork tube. Small nicks are hard to find, but they will cut a seal!! If you take it apart to replace the seal again, get somebody with good close eyesight to inspect the tube and find the nick. You can also take a small section of woman's panty house and move it over the tube to help you find the nick.

[Carbon_One]

All good info so far but literally "pounding" in the seal sure isn't conductive to a proper install. You either tear the seal by perhaps a unseen nick or rough spot or you've warped it while driving it in. Neither is conductive to getting it done right, thus the results of a badly leaking seal.

Larry

Edited August 21, 2013 by Carbon_One

[rickardracing]

If cleaning the crud out of the seal doesn't stop the leak, you have a nick on your fork tube. Small nicks are hard to find, but they will cut a seal!! If you take it apart to replace the seal again, get somebody with good close eyesight to inspect the tube and find the nick. You can also take a small section of woman's panty house and move it over the tube to help you find the nick.

 

 

Not necessarily. The seal could have just went bad. The spring broke on my wifes 750 shadow. Things do sometimes just fail without cause.

[syscrusher]

I had just put the seals in but had lots of trouble with that left one.

 

I like the panty hose trick for finding the rough spot, I'll try that.

 

I also saw someone suggesting to put a nitrile glove sans cuff over the bushing grooves before slipping the seal onto the fork and I'll do that.

 

I just had plans to do some traveling soon and was hoping to just be able to ride it before parts got here.

 

[Yammer Dan]

I'll have to agree with Larry. Not a good approach to replacing seal. If the metal part is bent or twisted any at all it is more than likely going to leak.

[Marcarl]

Usually we just put one layer of black vinyl tape over the groove when we install the seal, that groove will damage the seal, especially if it has a nick in it, and we never think to check there of course.

[MiCarl]

Usually we just put one layer of black vinyl tape over the groove when we install the seal, that groove will damage the seal, especially if it has a nick in it, and we never think to check there of course.

 

I agree. A strip of electrical tape does a better job than the glove.

[Donvito]

I have the original seals in my forks. I have the fork tube protectors mounted to the top of the forks. Also, years ago someone recommended spraying some silicone spray down into the top of the rubber boot so I do that also. You just cut the straw diagonally so it's pointy and it slips under the rubber boot and spray a small amount of silicone. Worked for me.

[friesman]

try this fix, I know some guys use an old style film negative instead of buying the tool. but the tool is cheap and it has worked for me once.

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USac5G4SI-U#t=13]How to fix leaking fork seals with SealMate - YouTube[/ame]

 

Brian

[syscrusher]

I bought the Seal Doctor and have tried it but my left seal was literally spewing out oil. I drained it today and pressure washed my lower and caliper, etc. My suspension sucks but it hasn't bucked me off or anything. A new seal is on order and I wonder what I will find when I examine this one.