Fork Seal

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

If you've had a fork seal go bad was it the right of left ?
I've seen several on my rides and it seems the right side is the one that gives up the ghost 

[Duffy]

Right. 

[Stanley Steamer]

right side....

[Dino]

I'm replacing mine Right now! ,both but only right was leaking.

[Big IV]

always replace both. You might as well if you're that far in. Mine was the first season I owned the bike. I thought riding during the winter did it. My XS needed replacing most springs. But I've never had a problem since, so it must have just been age and time on the seal.

[gregc]

It was my right side fork also. Replaced springs at the same time, with Progressive.  If I remember correctly the internals are different, the valving for rebound control was different? Maybe that is a reason for the failure.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

It was my right side fork also. Replaced springs at the same time, with Progressive.  If I remember correctly the internals are different, the valving for rebound control was different? Maybe that is a reason for the failure.

Good observation I'd like to see others opinion . Thanks for the response.

[HayHauler]

Mine was the right side too.... messed up the brake on the right side too...  had to replace and clean the holes out in the rotor.

Hay 

[fudgie]

I'm the odd ball. Left for me. Found it on the way to Cheaha after we left Cullman. Made my brakes squeel and thats how we found it. Got home and did the film trick. Worked for a while then still leaked. Not alot just enough to leave a dirty film on the slides. Did 13,000 more miles on it till I replaced it this March. I replaced both of them.

[Black Pearl's Captain]

I've had both left and right go out on my bikes so no vote for me. Not on the same bike at the same time though. Keep the bugs off the forks and the seals last longer.

Raymond

[Gary]

Right side leaking worse, left barely visible, but also going.

[..]

Right. Right at 65,000 miles. Those miles included a fair amount of off road hauling my fat ass around.

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Blew or wrinkled both at once last year by causing the fork to compress more than normal. Fixed them a couple of weeks later by using the feeler gauge trick. Reset the oil levels and they are still not leaking although I keep expecting them to.

[BeeKeeper]

Left side

[6jugzz]

right side-@50k   

[RedValk]

right on mine years ago...left on Sherry's Valk just last year...actually left a puddle in the garage over night until i got it fixed a week or so later.........

[Strider]

RIght - First Inzane in Colorado.  I blew a seal, my petcock sprang a leak and I had a leaking rear tire - would lose about 10-12 psi per day.  Staying at my brothers and made some joke about his two Harleys (without thinking) and he says, "Okay, which bike is the one that is blowing dust around in my driveway from the leaking tire?  Yep, Honda.  Which bike is a fire hazard because of the gas dripping out of the petcock? Yep, Honda.  Which bike has marked it's spot with the puddle of fork oil?  Yep, Honda.......

After laughing, it was one of those, "Boy, I'll never live this one down!" 

[Dodis]

Funny you should ask....

Last July, rebuilt both forks to change to Progressive springs. February, trailering home from Del Rio, I cinched the straps down too much and blew out the right side seal (I saw the oil spray on the bike and trailer), I figure that was my fault and rebuilt the right side about 1 month ago, oh well.

Went out to the garage last night, and the #%^&@$^&* thing is leaking again!  I didn't see any scrathces, burrs, or anything on the inner portion that might mess up the new seal when I rebuilt. Covered the slider grooves so the edges don't cut the seals, etc.

I actually bought these forks to replace mine that had been badly marred by a fork bag that came on the bike, and the corrosion under the memphis shades clamps. They were not leaking before the rebuild, and did not leak for the 7 months in Del Rio. I guess I could take the lower from my original fork, and just keep the replacement upper, but I'll see when I pull it apart AGAIN... 

Mike

[NiteRiderF6]

My right one blew... or began leaking... I didn't even notice it until I got off of the bike and started seeing oil sprayed all over me, the tank and the whole right front area of the bike.... I did the film thing that we read about and then had both seals replaced  at the same time a few months later (Thanks again Punisher).

I tried to add some oil about a week later, but it was still full.... according to the tape.... so I guess instead of calling it a leak, I should call it a temporary flow or burst.... (like a burp).... or something...

I do a whole lot better job of keeping my polished surfaces clean since I saw the gunk that came off of my forks.... YIKES!

Good poll Joe, interesting results too.

[Scott in Ok]

Two valks, and on both, BOTH seals started leaking.  So no vote for me either.

-Scott