losing fork oil

**winne** · #1 27 Dec 2005

Hi all,
I am using oil from the left tube of my fork. (BMW F650 ´99) Wouldn´t be a problem if I could refill, which I can´t since the screw is screwed (talking about the small side screw that secures the main one), i.e. had been fixed too hard by the mechanic and I destroyed it on trying to release it. So now I have to go from Ushuaia to Santiago de Chile (there´s a BMW dealer) to get it done there. Can I do that? Will I have problems when the oil level gets very low? What will happen? Any ideas what to do? Any reliable mechanics on the way? (Ushuaia - Rio Gallegos Ruta 3 - Perito MOreno town - Chile - Cohaique - Puerto Montt...) Many thanks in advance for your advice!!
Best regards
Winfried

**Lars** · #2 27 Dec 2005

Hi Winne,

went several thousand km with leaking fork seals through russia and Korea and lost quite a lot of forkoil of my R 100 GS (Could not exchange the seals, since I had no spare ones)

What happened to me:
- At one point on a very bumpy road, oil got on the breakdisk on bumpy roads. I cleaned it with petrol and the breakpads with a kaercher.
- after losing a lot of oil, I heard screetching sounds
- the front suspension was very soft in the end, giving funny response in fast curves
- the front tire weared out in a funny way so I had to change it earlier than expected.

I do not think that you will have any major problems when riding to the next mechanic if you ride carefully

Regards

Lars

[This message has been edited by Lars (edited 27 December 2005).]

**Smellybiker** · #3 27 Dec 2005

The BMW dealer in Santiago is'nt very good - its a car shop.

I tried to score some spare parts from there & started emailing them a month in advance - they never got the message.

Try phoning them in advance to make sure they have the parts you need, then take the parts to a bike shop that has a good reputation & get them to fix it.

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Last seen in S.America, missing presumed fed.
http://www.smellybiker.com

**winne** · #4 29 Dec 2005

Hey you two, thanks heaps for the interesting and very helpful information!!!
Best regards
Winne

**amcwillie** · #5 29 Dec 2005

In Punta Arenas, Chile There is a dirt bike shop called Motoescar F/Fax 221245 I forgot his name, but he installed a fork seal in my 03 Dakar in late January this year. I had the seal and he called Santiago to get the info he needed. Those guys made love to my bike and make me go get fork covers from a bike parts store so I would not have any more trouble. Fabulous guys and very very helpful. He knows everyone in town and got a KTM rear spocket machined to fit my buddys regular F650 gs. WOW

Hope this helps

Curtis

**winne** · #6 2 Jan 2006

Hi Curtis,
thanks heaps - but I am already too far north of Punta Arenas. I have copied your advice to the repair shops forum.
Best regards
Winfried

**Smellybiker** · #7 2 Jan 2006

Just a thought....the fork seals from the Honda Africa Twin fit the F650GS Dakar & will be easier to find.

Good luck.

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Last seen in S.America, missing presumed fed.
http://www.smellybiker.com

**gbarnard** · #8 3 Jan 2006

I had a leaking fork seal on my 05, BMW told me I would do no damage riding with it leaking or with no oil, just that it may handle badly, also be careful of oil on your disk

Here is the email of BMW rep for Motorrad Latin America, he can get contacts and translate for you if necessary
Gustavo Fernandez Johnson (BMWlatinamerica) gfernandez ((aT)) impsat.net.co

And the service manager in Chile
Paul Touzard (BMWsantiago)
ptouzard ((aT)) inchcape.cl

Both speak English.

Cheers Geoff

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In Panama and heading to Tierra Del Fuego until Feb 06

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never put EXACT email in a post - always obfuscate it a little at least to stop the spambots. Grant

[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 09 January 2006).]