Fork Seals Blown?

[Ride Wild]

Hi Folks
Recently purchased a 1999 Tourer 24K miles on her. I have recently noticed that if I sit on the bike and rock backwards and forwards there is a clunking sound from the front forks. I can blow thru 3/4 of the travel by just rocking on her which seems odd. It seems to ride ok on the highway but I am no expert. I wondered if I am riding on air and springs and if the oil has leaked out via blown seals? There is no evidence of current oil leakage that I have seen... but could that be coz there is no oil left? Thanks for your help.

[hubcapsc]

If your front caliper's "floating pins" are clean and greasy, they'll clunk, and it is
a good clunk.

If done right, taking your forks apart and putting them back together with
the right amount of oil and progressive (brand) springs is, for most, a
good thing...

-Mike

[Daniel Meyer]

It's very unlikely that there is no oil left with no sign of leakage. There's durn near a quart in EACH fork. If ya leaked all that out the entire bike would be covered in it....many times over...and it would STILL be leaking out!

At 24k they probably have never leaked. They seem to last just about 50k (at least for me...I've changed 'em 4 times now!)

It's a heavy bike...not unusual to be able to consume a lot of the travel just rocking her...but I don't know about 3/4's.

A lot of us have changed to progressive springs, which reduces that dive a bit.

[Steel cowboy]

My interstate has quite a lot of travel too, but I can't notice while riding and braking, I'm not worried about it.

[MarcusS]

Both of my bikes had bad seals at around 20K. I think it is a rubber age thing.
Check to be sure the riser bolts from the under side are tight. I had a clunk fixed by tightening them up.

[da prez]

Go to the removing fork oil below so I won't have to go into detail. Read the post from John Schmit.
If you just check the level and adjust as needed.

         Da prev

[crash1980]

When I bought my black beauty, she has a leaking fork seal.  It was all over the wheel, break caliper, rotor, and fork.  I would have sworn it couldn't have been much left in there.  When I pulled the fork to replace the seal, I couldn't tell there was any missing, and I never noticed it leaking any after I did the initial clean up.  If I would have known this, I would have never pulled the fork for this change.  I would have cleaned it up and kept riding.  I guess peace of mind is worth a day of turning wrenches though.

[Hook#3287]

Ok maybe I am just being paranoid. I will change the oil next time I have her serviced...thanks.

Paranoid?  Not necessarily.  Anything that gives you pause should be explored.

If it were my bike, I'd rebuild the forks during down time (don't know if you get that in San Fran)

Possibly, the guides are worn and it's time to replace and new seals are cheap and won't hurt.

New fluid is a "for sure".

If you're up to the job, it's not difficult, following the service manual, but you will need a "special tool"

Someone in your area may have one you could borrow.  Some have made they're own.

Or, you could take the forks off the bike and to a mechanic for rebuild, saving some $$$.

As Daniel stated, progressive springs are an option.

Assuming the job is done correctly, your front suspension should be all set for a while.

Or you could just ride it.