fork seal blues

[Valkorado]

 Hi guys I am in Daggat Utah coming home from Grand Teton.  Noticed there that right fork seal has a leak tried seal mate no  avail about 400 miles from home  now OK to go on?  Will I need to change brake pads after replacing seal?

[vanagon40]

Try tying a small rag around the bottom of the fork to absorb the oil and keep the oil off the wheel and brake disk.  I used a strip of old bed sheet maybe an inch wide, about three wraps, and tied it off.  I'm still using it until I have have a chance to try out the Seal Mate.

[BonS]

Dang. I don't know how many times you coaxed the seal mate around the fork tube but I go around 3-5 times. You pulled down the dust seal before using the seal mate didn't you?

[hubcapsc]

Dang. I don't know how many times you coaxed the seal mate around the fork tube but I go around 3-5 times. You pulled down the dust seal before using the seal mate didn't you?

What BonS said... I had good luck with a seal mate at InZane last week. Trout Dude and Mitch did all the work
and I just watched. They followed all the directions, took off the fender (to get easy access all the
way around) and the dust seal. They ran the tool all the way around, had me bounce the forks,
and ran it around again...

Anywho... if you can't get it to stop, everything (except the mess) will probably be OK until you
get home to fix it for real...

-Mike

[Valkorado]

I'm an idiot    How do I pull down dust seal?

[hubcapsc]

I'm an idiot    How do I pull down dust seal?

Very carefully 

It is just mashed up in there. After the fender is off (it would be hard to get the sealmate
in there with the fender-mounted chrome fork guard in place) you can pry it
out with a  slot-head screwdriver or something... carefully, so you can press it
back up in there...

-Mike

[sandy]

As for the brake pad question, replacement depends on how much oil got on them. A little bit you can clean off with brake cleaner. If oil soaked into the pad, you better replace them.

[Daniel Meyer]

There is a LOT of oil in the fork. Tie a small rag around it and go on (small, because you don't want anything big enough to wrap in the wheel if it comes loose.

Or, just go on.



The OEM pads won't absorb oil. Hit 'em hard with brake cleaner after you fix it and don't worry it.

[R J]

Taking the seal down if ya use a screwdriver, DO NOT let the S-driver touch the actual fork tube.  It can and will nick it and then it is hard work sanding the burr off or replacing the tube.

[F6Dave]

For the dust seal, I just take one of the tools on my Swiss Army Knife and gently pry where the seal meets the lower fork.  I start in one place, then do it again 90 degrees or so around the fork, and it separates quite easily.

[trout dude]

ok first remove the fender then remove the spring holding dust seal then gently pry the dust seal down then carefully use break clean to remove all oil and grime built up then when you use the seal mate run it around twice you feel oil coming out do not be alarm this will happen pull out tool then clean again and bounce shocks 10 times hard and take it for test ride you my have to do it twice This is what my buddy mitcho has taught me We did mikes and mitchs with great results hope this helps
  Trout Dude

[Valkorado]

Many thanks for the replies.  I made it back home (great trip, BTW), I didn't have the time or tools in the motel parking lot to try the Seal-Mate again, I will try to do it right tomorrow.  vanagon40, I did tie a rag around the fork when I first noticed the leak after riding through Grand Teton National Park, but unfortunately that was after the fact and the brake rotor was already sticky with oil.  Daniel, is brake cleaner the way to get that off the rotor as well as the pads?  Almost certain the brake pads are OEM, I am very happy I won't have to buy new ones.  Hopefully I'll get the Seal Mate to work for me, I'll let you know.

[giff]

After you use the sealmate or 35mm film(which worked best for me),try pumping the shocks with your weight on the handle bars about 20 times and then wipe off any excess oil. I repeated the pumping 4-5 times and haven't had a leak in 2 years!

giff

[Valkorado]

Tried the Seal-Mate the right way today, removed fork cover and dust seal.  Pumped forks with the front brake engaged.  By Jove, I think it worked!   

[Mgbringo]

Just did mine and it worked.   I ran it through twice.  Very easy to do. 

Dust seal comes out easily if you go slow. I used a small straight screwdriver.

Thanks every one. You saved me over $275 at the dealer for new seals.  Interesting how they never tell anyone about this method. Would rather take our money for new seals.  They will get less of my money in the future because of it.

[Tailgate Tommy]

I just used a Seal Doctor on the LF fork of my '03 which has been leaking for some time. Got it at the local Honda dealer. The service manager is a good guy and he said it's saved a lot of seals. It's round and snaps around the slider and is easier to grip than the Seal Mate. It also has one side to use on the dust seal and a thicker side for the seal itself. Easy to see in the picture on their web site.
http://www.riskracing.com/pages/Seal_Doctor_Page.html#.UhEGe3Xna00
I zip tied a paper towel around the slider under the seal to see if I get much oil leakage after I ride it some. Not a lot of oil leaked out when I ran the tool around so might not be much oil left in the fork any more!
tkylli

[Art708]

  I just watched a youtube video of the Seal Doctor...man , that thing is way cooler than the Seal Mate. I think I'll order one....seems worth the extra price over the Seal Mate.

[Valkorado]

Yep, it appears to be an improvement on a good thing.  It looks like it would be lots less slippery to hold on to, that's for sure.