Guys, I am no expert in this little bit of voodoo. I read about it here several times over the years, but don't ever remember anyone giving any particular instructions. The theory is the film negative is thin enough to cause no harm, stiff enough to do the job, and
may push any crud/debris that has gotten down under the seal (opening a leak) back up inside, letting the seal hold all the oil back again.
I used a piece of 35mm negative about 1 X 5" long, and shoved a narrow end up about 1 1/2". I'm not sure if using the side of the negative (about an inch) would even let you get far enough in to clear the seal, without losing it (but if you got an extra oil flow, then maybe you did). It took me awhile to get it far enough up to start an oil flow (tiny leak), and it is so tight it was difficult to saw it back and forth and work it around the fork. You can't just push it around, the negative will fold up. The extra leak made it easier. I bent one piece of neg, and had to get another.
I just did it on the ground/kickstand, no disassembly. Did this to both my forks; though the right was worse (the left barely wet, ever). When discovered, I had lost enough to run down to, but not on my brakes on the right only. After the voodoo, I still (minimally) leaked on the right, but less each ride (and I was getting off every hour to look, and avoiding bumpy roads) (and at first, I was wiping it down every time, but soon realized it was better to leave it alone to get an idea of day-long loss). About the 5th ride, it got to where I have moisture on each slider each ride, but never enough for a single drop to leave the slider down the fork, let alone get on the brakes (which you MUST pay attention to), and this is on all day rides and bad roads. About 15 months. I thought about doing it again to see if I could get a complete loss of fluid, but Mr Murphy said no.
I am reliably informed that I could have had, or may still have a more traumatic failure at some point, and be sorry I kept riding it... though I don't think all the fork oil is ever going to leak down all at once (unless a whole chunk of seal falls out). But you could end up trying to limp home with oil soaked front brake(s), depending on distance. I am also informed that the best thing to have on hand if it did happen would be an XXL Kotex pad and duct tape, to keep the oil off the brakes. LOL
With two bikes, this one was put away since last Nov, but I am riding it again full time. I have all the parts and should fix it (I pull the forks, and someone with the tools and who knows what he is doing will rebuild them for $100). In 15 months I have not lost enough to affect handling one iota, but I suppose I am pushing my luck. Certainly, the first time I notice any increase beyond damp sliders, I will get on it.
EDIT: So now everyone can add two XXL Kotex pads to their tool kits (the duct tape is already there).
(good for the forks or gunshot wounds)
