Fork Question

[Billinva]

Last summer I had just left on a 4000 mile trip when my left fork began leaking. After about 500 miles, I Did the 35 mm film trick on the seal due to advice from VRCC members. Thanks to hubcapsc. I was able to finish the trip of 3500 smiles with no fork leaks.

This past summer I put about 5000 more miles on the Valk with no seal leaks. The front end seems normal to me, but I have never ridden another Valk, and am not sure what normal really is.

 I am planning a 6000 mile trip for next summer. The bike has 54,000 mikes. The bike had 21,000 miles on it when I bought it. I think the previous owner installed progressive shocks in the forks because progressive shocks are on the rear of the bike.

Now the question. Should I replace the seals and bushings before my next trip or not worry about it.

Thanks,

           Bill

[Jack B]

I would.

[hubcapsc]

I (by "I", I mean Trout Dude and Mitch  ) fixed my leak with
the film trick two inzanes ago on the road in Wisconsin.

I do look for the day when I "really" fix it (change the seals and bushings),
but it remains quite fixed after many more miles after the application of
the film trick.

Progressive springs are a great improvement (I think) so you
might want to make sure that's what's in there whenever you
go to the trouble of replacing the seals...

-Mike

[R J]

I did the film trick on the way back from Alaska 10 years ago.

The seal still doesn't leak, so no leakie, me no muckie with it.

I came from the generation, if it isn't broke, ride it and quit worrying about anything.

Enjoy your ride and your trip.

[matt]

Well it is good for piece of  mind to do it.  Not a very hard job  if you are some what mechanicly inclined. Did mine around 50 thousand did have some wear on bushing.  Watch video on how to do on bike save me lots of time on second valk I did

[Gryphon Rider]

I wouldn't change seals that aren't leaking.  Assuming the PO replaced the seals when (if) he put new springs in, the seals have already been replaced once.  I've only replaced my seals once in the 60,000-70,000 miles I've put on mine.  Change them when they leak and the film trick or equivalent doesn't work.

[98valk]

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,67822.0.html

[Chrisj CMA]

Just because there are after markets on the back in no way increases the chances of new springs up front.  The only way to know is from the PO or take it apart and see.

[matt]

Well I should have read first thread all the way. My 97 that I bought in 07 has progressive on the back , I saw marks of a wrench on shock cap (fork) and figured progressives up front. Nope have OEM springs up front . So you won't know till you pull it apart and match them up .  Good luck with what ever you decide to do

[jdp]

Replace the seals and fluid, it's cheap and doesn't take long,easy if you know how to wrench

[Bighead]

Replace the seals and fluid, it's cheap and doesn't take long,easy if you know how to wrench

And useless if they aren't leaking.

[jdp]

Not really I replaced mine and the right tube was bone dry, got the bike used, it's nice to do the work so you know it's done, know what I mean?, happy riding buddy

[Bighead]

Understood but if your fork was dry you should have been able to detect something wrong in the handling.
Was only one dry? If so it should have been even more obvious that something was amiss.

So I will stick by my original statement useless if not leaking.

[Willow]

Now the question. Should I replace the seals and bushings before my next trip or not worry about it.

If the film trick fixed the leak then you very likely had no damage to the seal, but a grain of something the film trick pulled out.  If your seals were damaged the film trick would not stop the leak.

My seals were first replaced at a little over 90,000 miles on my Standard.  I've replaced seals on my Interstate which has only 40,000 miles. 

Do what puts you at ease.

[Billinva]

Thanks for your comments on whether or not to rebuild the forks or forget about it. About half recommended a rebuild and half said to leave it alone.

I mentioned to my wife that I couldn't decide what to about a problem that I had with the bike and had been spending time on the internet getting advice from the Valkyrie guys.

My wife is not a motorcycle person. She has never sat on or touched one of my bikes. She says it's because of her time in the emergency room as a nurse. However, she is OK with the many trips that I have taken on the bike.

So, she said that I had better  get the bike fixed before heading out to California on another trip. Maybe I should consider her comments. I do want to go on more bike trips.

[uturn]

if it aint broke, dont fix it

[da prez]

 The oil level can be checked by measurement with a ruler of some type. In my Clymer manual on page 404 it lists liquid measure as well as using a ruler.
  The last set I did , I used both methods to double check myself.  If they are not leaking , I would not do them.
                              GL1500c,Gl11500CT
                           
                            Right leg 135mm or 5.3 in
                            Left leg   142mm or 5.6 on

                                GL1500CF

                            Right leg  136mm or 5.4 in
                            Left leg    148mm or 5.8 in   

                                       da prez