Is This a Leaking Fork Seal?
 

Hola all,

I noticed that one of my fork gaitors looks like the bottom has been dipped in oil. Pulling it up, there's what looks like grease (black, viscous, lubricating) on top of the seal. I haven't noticed any drips or running oil, so I'm stumped. The forks were a bit twisted in a recent accident. Any ideas?

Gracias, James

Looks like leaking fork seal - can't be much else. Doesn't have to leak gallons. Bit of dirt, old oil, = black munge. When did you last change the fork oil?

NOTE: This should be posted in the appropriate bike tech forum. Since you didn't tell us what kind of bike, I can't move it appropriately.

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Thanks Grant. It's a KLR650 and it's on the original fork oil after one year / 25k miles. A chunk of metal fell out of the engine while draining the oil this morning, so now's a good opportunity to swap the seal & oil while that problem is investigated... By the way, someone I ran into a while back suggested that there is a way to fix leaky seals with a bit of 35mm film - any ideas what this trick is?

Thanks,

James

[This message has been edited by JamesCo (edited 28 May 2003).]

You've got me... can't imagine how.

NEW seals is the best cure. Replace any o-rings too if there are any.

25,000 is max on fork oil. If it's inconvenient to change the seal, sometimes a quality fork oil change will stop the leak. Good fork oils use "seal-swell" or some such and can stop leaks temporarily.

Moving this thread to KLR forum...

------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com