Front Tire

[BigMacMT]

Need to replace a fork seal, figured might as well replace front tire while I'm at it. Cost is a factor at the moment. I've narrowed it down to a Shinko SE890 radial from Chapparal for $112 or a Dunlop 404 rear tire (reverse rotation???) from Jake Wilson for $89. Any opinions? Running D/S GYATT on back. Also do you have to remove the dust seal on the lower fork to do the film trick. If so how. Clymer manual not helpful at all. Thanks in advance, love the forum.

[Ricky-D]

"Also do you have to remove the dust seal on the lower fork to do the film trick"

Actually that is what they are referring to when discussing the "trick"  The dust seal!!!!

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[Cliff]

There is a small spring collar on the dust seal,, just pry/push it down and the slide the dust seal down.  

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[Chrisj CMA]

Need to replace a fork seal, figured might as well replace front tire while I'm at it. Cost is a factor at the moment. I've narrowed it down to a Shinko SE890 radial from Chapparal for $112 or a Dunlop 404 rear tire (reverse rotation???) from Jake Wilson for $89. Any opinions? Running D/S GYATT on back. Also do you have to remove the dust seal on the lower fork to do the film trick. If so how. Clymer manual not helpful at all. Thanks in advance, love the forum.

running the film under/around the dust seal (as you seem to know) wont do anything to stop a leak.....you can use anything with an edge that wont hurt the forks or the seal (like a plastic handle) to pry/tap the seal down and away so you can run the film under the actual oil seal.........the procedure can be done without pulling the dust seal down, you can get under the dust seal and oil seat at the same time.  However, you wont know if it worked for a couple days because a tiny bit of oil gets released when you work that film under the oil seal and it will get trapped by the dust seal and appear to keep leaking even if the procedure works.  Thats what happened to me .......I didnt thik it worked, but after two days or so the leaked stopped and didnt start again for over a year

[old2soon]

I have the Shinko SE 890 and at almost 4000 miles i like what i'm experienceing.  I can't tell you how it performs in the rain as it dries up here about as quick as it comes down.  Mounted with Dyna beads and have had it to 125 M P H indicated and all is good.  No surprises in the twistys.  So i guess i'm starting a longevity test on the Shinko.  Hope this helps you.  RIDE SAFE.

[BonS]

Go to SealMate.net and check out their instructions. There are also youtube's on using SealMate. Yes you can substitute other materials like film (who has film anymore?) But their tool really works well. I've now used it on 3 bikes and every leak has stopped.

[MarkT]

I have the predecessor to the Dunlop 404.  The K491 (Elite II Bias).  With about 20k on it, at the rate of wear it's going to last just over 50k.  Run backwards and use a dynamic balancer or you might get scalloping.  I use Ride-On.