Fork Seals Leaking.

[hueco]

1998 Tourer. 59,000 miles. 15,000 miles when I purchased. I haven't changed fork oil. I don't think PO did either. Looking for recommendations for where to purchase quality seals. What brand of fork oil and weight? Wanting a softer ride. I have a quart of Amsoil medium #10 weight. Thanks. hueco.

[gordonv]

You'll get other advise on the shocks. But leaking, is usually caused by something in the seal, dirt, allowing oil to drip by. Remove the particle, and you stop your leak.

old 35mm film was the first, then there is the costly seal tools.

This post is just a little further down from yours.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,106787.0.html

Search and reading alot is your friend. Most things have happened before.

[hueco]

gordonv, thanks. I'll give the seal doctor a shot.

[Tfrank59]

yeah, do that, cuz mine was leaking (just one side) around 4 years ago, did the seal doctor thing (can't recall which brand it was--only 6 bucks though), and hasn't leaked a drop since.

[9Ball]

yeah, do that, cuz mine was leaking (just one side) around 4 years ago, did the seal doctor thing (can't recall which brand it was--only 6 bucks though), and hasn't leaked a drop since.

Hopefully all the oil hasn’t leaked out already....just kidding.

[Chrisj CMA]

yeah, do that, cuz mine was leaking (just one side) around 4 years ago, did the seal doctor thing (can't recall which brand it was--only 6 bucks though), and hasn't leaked a drop since.

Hopefully all the oil hasn’t leaked out already....just kidding.

That’s another way to stop the leak

[sandy]

Partzilla sells OEM parts. If you need to rebuild, get OEM seals, guide and slider bushings. Two quarts of fork oil. 10W is standard. K&L also sells these parts. If you've not done this before, find someone in your area to help. You need some special tools.

[hueco]

yeah, do that, cuz mine was leaking (just one side) around 4 years ago, did the seal doctor thing (can't recall which brand it was--only 6 bucks though), and hasn't leaked a drop since.

Hopefully all the oil hasn’t leaked out already....just kidding.

I guesstimate 1 to maybe 2 oz. have leaked out of right fork. Drain and replace fluid or just ride it?

[Jess from VA]

Just ride it. 

[Tfrank59]

yeah, do that, cuz mine was leaking (just one side) around 4 years ago, did the seal doctor thing (can't recall which brand it was--only 6 bucks though), and hasn't leaked a drop since.

Hopefully all the oil hasn’t leaked out already....just kidding.

No seriously I considered the possibility .  The only thing that reassured me is right up until I used the seal mate it was actually leaking and then probably would have kept leaking, at least for a while, if there were no more oil up in there. Not to mention my front shocks do work right 

[9Ball]

yeah, do that, cuz mine was leaking (just one side) around 4 years ago, did the seal doctor thing (can't recall which brand it was--only 6 bucks though), and hasn't leaked a drop since.

Hopefully all the oil hasn’t leaked out already....just kidding.

No seriously I considered the possibility .  The only thing that reassured me is right up until I used the seal mate it was actually leaking and then probably would have kept leaking, at least for a while, if there were no more oil up in there. Not to mention my front shocks do work right  

I rebuilt both forks with new seals, slider bushings, o-rings, and even some of the internal washers and springs last summer.  This was the first time I had the forks off the bike.  It really was an easy job if you follow the Honda service manual instructions.  I had replaced the fork oil once before when I installed the Progressive springs back in CY2001, but I did the job with the forks on the bike per the Laign Eton shortcut.  This won’t help with fork seals, only changing and adding oil.

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/forksprings.htm

The oil in my right hand fork tube was black with lots of particulate matter.  I used a lot of brake cleaner and a 12 gauge Tico tool I had laying around to scrub the inside of the tubes.  The left fork oil was as clean as when it went in 17 years earlier.  I took the opportunity to replace the steering head bearings while everything was apart.

What I’m getting to is it will be worthwhile to rebuild your forks with fresh seals and slider bushings and putting fresh oil in them.  The suspension sure feels a lot better following the rebuild.  It’s a weekend job at worst.

Good luck...

[F6Dave]

I'd definitely try cleaning the seal first.  It stops the leak most of the time.  The Seal Doctor works best, but there are other tools to use, even a thin feeler gauge.  If you decide you need to replace the seal there is a method to do it without special tools, that also takes less time.  I can post a link if needed.

[Valkorado]

The Seal Doctor folks actually recommend periodic cleaning of the seals as a preventative maintenance.   I'm not fully convinced.   I understand their logic of cleaning the seals,  but considering the small oil loss each time I wonder how many periodic cleanings it take before some handling issues arise.

[Jess from VA]

The Seal Doctor folks actually recommend periodic cleaning of the seals as a preventative maintenance.   I'm not fully convinced.   I understand their logic of cleaning the seals,  but considering the small oil loss each time I wonder how many periodic cleanings it take before some handling issues arise.

I had periodic small leaks (one side a bit worse than the other), and periodically cleaned both seals for over 5 years, and had no noticeable handling or performance issue.  Of course, small change over time can be hard to notice, and they may have softened up a little bit, but there was never a time they felt sloppy or sluggish, or lost height, and they never dived badly on hard braking.  I would end up with a fine mist of oil all over the timing cover, radiator cover and pods (after a long ride), but total loss was actually minimal.  I never once leaked enough for it to run down onto the brakes/pads, which you don't want. 

During that 5 years (and continuing) I swapped between 2 bikes, though the leaky one is my favorite and always got more miles.  But when Big BF finally arrived, I had the pro do them (not me). 

I would never periodically clean if there is no leak.  That's akin to poking a hornets nest, and asking for trouble.  You should keep the exposed forks and sliders clean of any corrosion or goop or buggies that might lead to leaks.   And I think wax a good idea too. 

[Tfrank59]

Dang I decided to take a look at that right fork seal closer and realized it is leaking a little now . Well maybe I'll get in there with the seal mate or maybe I won't just yet, because when I do clean the seal I'll lose a certain amount of fork oil doing it

[The emperor has no clothes]

Dang I decided to take a look at that right fork seal closer and realized it is leaking a little now . Well maybe I'll get in there with the seal mate or maybe I won't just yet, because when I do clean the seal I'll lose a certain amount of fork oil doing it

The amount you lose is minimal.

[Tfrank59]

Dang I decided to take a look at that right fork seal closer and realized it is leaking a little now . Well maybe I'll get in there with the seal mate or maybe I won't just yet, because when I do clean the seal I'll lose a certain amount of fork oil doing it

The amount you lose is minimal.

Yeah I know but maybe what's left in there is minimal

[hueco]

Got the Seal Doctor and used it. Either it worked. Or. All fluid had leaked out. Right side was leaking more than left. More fluid leaked out of left side than right when I used Seal Doctor. I went ahead and removed the front fender. Made it very easy to use the Doctor. Any way . No more leaky. Thanks for the heads up on the Seal Doctor. Had never heard of it. What would we do without the interweb?

[Tfrank59]

I'm glad it worked out for you. I've got to get in there again after a few years and do my right seal again, but I have the $6 Seal Mate brand-- worked perfectly last time. Minimal leakage at this point but I don't like it. I wonder why the right side always seems to leak more than the left on these bikes?

[Jess from VA]

I'm glad it worked out for you. I've got to get in there again after a few years and do my right seal again, but I have the $6 Seal Mate brand-- worked perfectly last time. Minimal leakage at this point but I don't like it. I wonder why the right side always seems to leak more than the left on these bikes?

Because the vast majority of us lean RIGHT?   



(Mine leaked on the right for several years, in-between Seal Mate cleanups.  The left leaked a little later on, and after cleaned out, never again.)

The forks are not identical, internally.

[Tfrank59]

Jess you're onto something I forgot about the forks being different internally. Too bad on the right side they didn't do the same thing as on the left, then perhaps there wouldn't be any leaking hardly maybe sort of

[txtriathlete]

Which size seal dr. did you get? I have to do mine.

[Tfrank59]

It was this one...
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F132789907476

[sixlow]

I recently got this seal doctor in 45 to 55 large size. It did the trick on some 88k mile seals, very happy with this purchase and much easier to use correctly than the seal mate.

https://www.amazon.com/Risk-Racing-00-121-Large-45mm/dp/B0068G164E/ref=sr_1_1?crid=A

[F6Dave]

I recently got this seal doctor in 45 to 55 large size. It did the trick on some 88k mile seals, very happy with this purchase and much easier to use correctly than the seal mate.

https://www.amazon.com/Risk-Racing-00-121-Large-45mm/dp/B0068G164E/ref=sr_1_1?crid=A

Yes, the ease of use makes it a better tool.  You can thoroughly clean the entire seal without removing the fork shields or fender.  I got the same one: