fork oil upper seal leaking

[bill v e]

front left fork is weeping fork oil from the upper seal.  read about the film trick but i couldn't make that work - didn't spend too much time at it because i wasn't sure what i was doing.  anyway, i don't think i want to go thru the learning process with this one - any advice before i deal with the stealer.  i did recently take in the pumkin to have the pinion cup removed and they only charged me $27 to take it off, put the new one on and get the shaft all ready for me to replace so i think they will be ok to deal with.  just want to solicit any advice before i deal w them on this.  have considered trying to remove fork and see if they can fix it that way, but the process for removing front left fork does not look easy to me and i've never done fork work and i'm getting too old for the aggrivation.  tia

[PAVALKER]

The film procedure is really just sliding a strip of film up under the seal and moving it around in a sawing motion to try and dislodge the suspected piece of dirt trapped up there.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't and it is always worth a try or even a few tries.

If you have any mechanical ability or tools, you could probably change out your own seals, by reviewing information on this message board or obtaining a copy of the Maintenance Manual, also available on line.   If you don't feel comfortable with doing it, you could just take the bike to the dealer and get er done....

[bill v e]

thanks for that.  i'll try the film trick again - i couldn't even get it slipped up in there the first time - seemed to tight for that, but i'll give it another go.  i've lost enough fork oil so that i probably need to figure out how to add a little bit.

[bill v e]

did the film trick - took a little 'working' it up in there but finally slipped it under the spring ring and was able to work it around and slide it back out.  did it three or four times, wipping clean each time.  who ever came up w that back in the day was pretty sharp.  anyway, will see if it still leaks and go from there.  will still have to figure out how to add a little fork oil if it works.  otherwise, the local honda shop told me that it would be less than $200 for them to pull it apart, replace the seal, clean everything all up, put it all back together and test it.  i would like to save $200 minus seal cost but this job may not be worth the time and frustration.

[asfltdncr]

I'm no motorcycle mechanic but the more I learn and can do on my own, the more I feel comfortable with my Valk.You also know if someone torqued what and you're going down the road.