Review of Seal Doctor to fix leaking fork seal

[tonybluegoat]

My left fork was leaking badly.  I noticed it because my exhaust was smoking from fork oil being blown onto it while I was riding. My timing belt cover on that side was coated in oil.  There was standing oil on top of my brake caliper. And the fork itself was wet, wet, wet.

After being told I could clean it out... with 35 mm film (I will get some with my "wayback machine" that will take me back to the 90's)... or I can buy a piece of plastic online.  I bought the piece of plastic.  There are many variations.  I ordered a "Seal Doctor" from Amazon for $25.  I'm certain there are cheaper options. I just ordered the first thing that looked right.

https://www.amazon.com/Risk-Racing-00-121-millimeters-55-millimeters/dp/B0068G164E/ref=sr_1_8?crid=JJY37EAPA4EK&keywords=fork+doctor+large&qid=1574895302&sprefix=45mm+fork+%2Caps%2C263&sr=8-8

I had to take off my fender to get the fork guards out of the way.  I dropped the dust cover off the fork seal and used the tool as directed.  I did it 3-4 times. Then I cleaned all the old oil off the bike and rode it for an hour.

It pretty much fixed it.  That fork does still have a slight film of oil on it, where the other one is completely dry.  But it's 95% better and I can now replace the seal at my leisure  (Spring). I don't have to park the bike.  I can ride it all I want and not worry.

I give the Seal Doctor an "A."  If you live in Texas and want to use it just give me a holler.  We can meet.  It takes 10 minutes to pull the fender and run the tool around the fork.

Pics below.



That's the fender off.



That's the fork lower after an hour on the bike.  Before it would have been covered in oil with a pool around the lower ring.  It would have been very noticeable.  The dirt on the fork is because I live on a dirt road, I can't ride anywhere without stirring up dirt and dust. You can see that it is a little wet but it's a ton better than it was.

That's my take on it.

[Jess from VA]

I never took my fender off, just the fork guards.

Understand, if the leak is the result of general crud up in there, cleaning like this usually works pretty well (although repeats can be necessary), but if a chunk of the seal has come off, this cleaning won't stop the leak.

On the cleaning routine,  I don't know if the seal doctor instructions say this, but after cleaning you are supposed to get on the bike and bounce the forks the best you can a few times.  I always cleaned then bounced 2 or 3 times each cleaning.

I lived with cleaning the forks periodically for several years before a rebuild.  I always tried to remember to wipe everything down real well before each ride, and then to inspect closely after the ride (to see if the leak was returning).

[F6Dave]

I didn't remove anything.  The grips on the side of the tool let you clean the hidden areas thoroughly and evenly.  I did find that lots of lubrication makes it effortless to use the tool.  I used 'CLP', a foaming lube/cleaner with Teflon I found in the gun department at Walmart.  I sprayed it all around the seal before using the tool.

The Seal Doctor is a superior design because of the way it lets you clean evenly around the full circumference of the seal.  I've tried 35 mm film and feeler gauges and they don't work nearly as well.  This tool has completely eliminated several leaks that in the past would have been seal replacement jobs.

[Tfrank59]

I didn't remove anything.  The grips on the side of the tool let you clean the hidden areas thoroughly and evenly.  I did find that lots of lubrication makes it effortless to use the tool.  I used 'CLP', a foaming lube/cleaner with Teflon I found in the gun department at Walmart.  I sprayed it all around the seal before using the tool.

The Seal Doctor is a superior design because of the way it lets you clean evenly around the full circumference of the seal.  I've tried 35 mm film and feeler gauges and they don't work nearly as well.  This tool has completely eliminated several leaks that in the past would have been seal replacement jobs.

I got essentially the same results using Seal Mate and all I had to do is take off the fork guards. It's been several years now and no leaky

[F6Dave]

I didn't remove anything.  The grips on the side of the tool let you clean the hidden areas thoroughly and evenly.  I did find that lots of lubrication makes it effortless to use the tool.  I used 'CLP', a foaming lube/cleaner with Teflon I found in the gun department at Walmart.  I sprayed it all around the seal before using the tool.

The Seal Doctor is a superior design because of the way it lets you clean evenly around the full circumference of the seal.  I've tried 35 mm film and feeler gauges and they don't work nearly as well.  This tool has completely eliminated several leaks that in the past would have been seal replacement jobs.

I got essentially the same results using Seal Mate and all I had to do is take off the fork guards. It's been several years now and no leaky

That's great!  I've changed well over a dozen fork seals over the years and the job's no fun.  I wonder how many of those were unnecessary if I'd only known about cleaning the junk out of the seal.

It's really a simple process and any number of tools can get it done.  I've used feeler gauges and 35 mm film.  One member here described how he cut a seal mate clone out of an empty plastic bottle.

But the Seal Doctor really is a far better design.  I haven't heard anyone who's actually used one say otherwise.  It's not unlike power tools vs. simple hand tools.  Sure you can cut down a tree with an ax, but a chain saw makes the job a lot easier!

[0leman]

Three months ago I was starting to notice some fluid on the right fork.  Happened after a bad jolt from a pot hole hiding in the shadows.   Got the Seal Doctor, took a few days to get it.  Three rides later there was no more fluid on the forks.  Didn't get the chance to use the tool, but its sitting on the shelf waiting to be used.   Guess I scared the seal.   

[tonybluegoat]

[/quote]

  One member here described how he cut a seal mate clone out of an empty plastic bottle.

[/quote]

That seems like a great idea.  It's stiff, round and readily available. (That's what she...sorry)

[RonW]

If you're going to buy the Seal Doctor, I suggest that you buy the large size. The Valk's fork tubes are 45mm to my knowledge, but the Sm (35mm-45mm) tore my oil seals.  Both Seal Doctor sizes will fit the Valk's 45mm fork tubes, but I bought the Sm. size to also work on my Shadlow 600's forks. I don't have scientific proof the wrong size caused the Seal Doctor to tear the Valk oil seals. After all, the oil seals are 20 years old. The holder is a plus and protects the edges of the Seal Doctor as well as keeping it from being squashed in the tool box. The Seal Doctor clips securely on to the cylindrical holder. I took off the fork guards. [edit] I found a bunch of tiny rust spots on the tubes behind the fork guard.

[rug_burn]

  One member here described how he cut a seal mate clone out of an empty plastic bottle.

[/quote]

That seems like a great idea.  It's stiff, round and readily available. (That's what she...sorry)
[/quote]

Funny-