Fork seals leaking again!!

[ilknascar]

Ok, A while back I needed new tires so I decided to change my leaking fork seal while the tire was off. I ordered some new ones from e-bay and got them installed. I went on a couple of trips that were no more than a couple hundred miles each and the right side seal began leaking again :Awe: ...... So, I ordered some more seals and changed it again thinking maybe I messed it up while installing it. While I had it apart, I checked the rod for straightness and found it to straight as an arrow! I looked for any dents or dings or scratches or anything that would cause it to start leaking again and found nothing wrong. I put it all back together and rode it for about 2 weeks when the dang seal started leaking again!!!! :head bang: I got to thinking and I do not remember the seals feeling all that tight on the shaft as I was putting them on. I thought that when I pushed them into the seats in the tube that they would tighten up. I got them from a company called Peakmoto and they are K&S TECHNOLOGIES FORK OIL SEALS. Does anyone know why they are not sealing or when you have changed yours did you notice how tight they felt on the tube? Thanks for the input guys!

 

[slabghost]

Did you change bushings too?

 

[ilknascar]

Did you change bushings too?

I did not replace the bushings. I thought when I was reading the manual that it implied it was not nesasary....

 

[slabghost]

Might not be neccessary. But if they are worn they can allow too much fluid past. I'm just guessing here but maybe a slightly thicker oil would solve the issue. Maybe a fork oil for dirt bikes?

 

[Tory]

I am wacthing this thread closely.
I seem to have to replace one or the other every winter and have never figured it out.

 

[ilknascar]

Tory I hate to see someone else with the same problem but yet I am glad to know I am not the only one having the problem!

Slabghost....... I went ahead and ordered some bushings just for the hell of it! Maybe I will get the time to get them installed here soon. Its the rainy season here in Oregon and I am not going to be riding for a bit but the way it is now, it is leaking the fork oil all over the garage floor now so I think I will know before riding season is back! I think I will try your idea of the dirt bike fork oil also!

 

[mcgovern61]

I ordered my seals from Honda and they were real tight when I put them in. 3 years and 16k miles later they are still not leaking. I prefer the Honda OEM stuff for seals and O-rings. One of the things that can also pop your seals is too much air pressure in the front forks (no more than 12 PSI is recommended). If they were not tight going in, they will definately leak.

 

[ilknascar]

Well here is the deal. I bought the seals on e-bay from peakmoto-powersports. At the same time that I posted on this site I also wrote to them asking what they thought the problem might be. Lonnie Tran wrote back to me asking if I had used a seal driver or how I had installed them. I know I did it wrong because I didn’t use the seal driver nor did I make one out of pvc. I told him that and thanked them for the information. The next thing I know there is a new set of seals in my mail box from them at no charge! This is after I explained that I was at fault for not installing them properly to begin with. I think they are in business to make money for sure but they also want happy and satisfied customers. I would recommend them to anyone in the market for anything they sell. I will be ordering some new bushings and will install them at the same time as I do the seals. We will see how that works out. I am in no hurry since it is the rainy season and I am feeling kind of lazy!

 

[dan filipi]

Always nice to hear about good customer service and a trustworthy vendor.
Thanks for the update.

 

[AApple]

Installing seals like these really requires that they be installed perfectly square to the fork shaft. If they are cocked even a little, they won't seal for squat. Not much room for error here. That's the purpose of using a section of pipe(pvc or other) to install them...so they will go in perfectly straight.
Even with slightly worn bushings, the seals should still last longer than that, unless they have too much air in them, or the springs are so weak that they are bottoming often.
It's kewl that they did send you new seals, tho....hard to find merchants these days that will go the extra mile!! :good:

 

[sledge]

I got to do some fork seal work on mine while it's down too. and I would like to change to the fork springs that don't need Air.

 

[carl62cycles]

Have my left side fork leaking a bit again also after less than a year.It's not much though.My forks did bottom a couple of times.Begining to think if its the springs.....forks only have the long springs on but not the short ones that show in the Manual.Maybe thats the problem,should have measured the springs to know if they were within specs.If so I might need the short ones installed.If longer I suppose they could have been replaced with aftermarkets. :headscratch: .

 

[dan filipi]

The long one piece spring is a Progressive spring, aftermarket.

 

[carl62cycles]

The long one piece spring is a Progressive spring, aftermarket.

Hey Dan it could also be that the shorter ones weren't installed.Probably previous owner took off as they normally do also on harleys to lower the bike :headscratch: .Wont be sure until its out and measured.This time I'll get the bushings to go with it and see whats up. k:

 

[Omega Man]

Why not just change out the fluid replacing 1oz of whatever your using in the forks with 1oz of tranny stop leak...Mine were leaking badly 3 years ago and I haven't had a problem with them since.

~O~

 

[carl62cycles]

Why not just change out the fluid replacing 1oz of whatever your using in the forks with 1oz of tranny stop leak...Mine were leaking badly 3 years ago and I haven't had a problem with them since.

~O~

Do you remeber the brand you have used? since I rather go with the same brand considering the results you have mentioned.Sometimes products do differ from one another.Thanks for that great idea :clapping: :clapping: by the way :laptop: I have Honda oem seals installed :yes: .

 

[Winger 82]

Why not just change out the fluid replacing 1oz of whatever your using in the forks with 1oz of tranny stop leak...Mine were leaking badly 3 years ago and I haven't had a problem with them since.

~O~

Hey ~O~ did you top off with the stop leak or did you put it in first ??
Winger 82 :hi:

 

[carl62cycles]

Why not just change out the fluid replacing 1oz of whatever your using in the forks with 1oz of tranny stop leak...Mine were leaking badly 3 years ago and I haven't had a problem with them since.

~O~

Hey ~O~ did you top off with the stop leak or did you put it in first ??
Winger 82 :hi:

I dont think it will matter one way or the other since a couple of ups & down on the forks would mix everything in there...I guess :headscratch:

 

[dan filipi]

Why not just change out the fluid replacing 1oz of whatever your using in the forks with 1oz of tranny stop leak...Mine were leaking badly 3 years ago and I haven't had a problem with them since.

~O~

My left one is seeping slightly, this is what I plan on doing to fix it.

 

[carl62cycles]

Why not just change out the fluid replacing 1oz of whatever your using in the forks with 1oz of tranny stop leak...Mine were leaking badly 3 years ago and I haven't had a problem with them since.

~O~

My left one is seeping slightly, this is what I plan on doing to fix it.

Same here Dan left side And also seeping slightly :headscratch: I wonder if its coincidence or what :headscratch: