Oil leak

[Bronxboy]

Came home to a few drops of oil under the brake caliper? Only the side that the kickstand is on. Dried it all up dont see where it would of come from.

[Highbinder]

Usually means you have a fork seal leaking, check it out.

[Bronxboy]

Your right, after further inspection i noticed the fork tubes have oil on them. I guess it leaked down to the brake caliper bottom nut and dripped from there.

Is this an easy fix? I have noticed my front end a little mussy but most Valks felt that way?

[hubcapsc]

Your right, after further inspection i noticed the fork tubes have oil on them. I guess it leaked down to the brake caliper bottom nut and dripped from there.

Is this an easy fix? I have noticed my front end a little mussy but most Valks felt that way?

There's several good ways to go about it... by-the-book is one way, you need special tools.

Also, there's the ingenuity way: http://valkyrienorway.com/forksprings.html

The above shows Dag also installing Progressive springs... they probably fix "mussy"  ...

-Mike

[Bronxboy]

Thanks for the Link !!

[Bronxboy]

Does anyone know off hand what the dealer charge for this is?

[Bronxboy]

Is there anyone in the Tampa Bay area that has done this before? I am willing to pay to learn I live in the New Port Richey area?

[hubcapsc]

Does anyone know off hand what the dealer charge for this is?

All kinds of prices and qualities... if you can find a dealer who will do it right, it
sure is easy to drop it off and pick it back up.

I did  a lot of work on my Valkyrie when I got it, it was pretty much a beater. Instead of
doing my forks myself,  I took the forks off, loosened the caps, and brought fork oil, progressive springs
and the forks to a local dealer. They charged me $300 and the forks leaked within a couple of months.

Another member took his forks to a dealer who beat the new seals in with a screw driver.

I know there are good dealers out there...

-Mike "I think..."

[Michvalk]

It's been 8 years since I had the forks done on mine. The dealer charged me 2 hours and parts, and they installed the new Progressive springs I had N/C. I took the forks off the bike and dropped the tubes at the dealer, and since it was in the winter, I left them for a couple of days. Easy/Peasy

[Bronxboy]

It's been 8 years since I had the forks done on mine. The dealer charged me 2 hours and parts, and they installed the new Progressive springs I had N/C. I took the forks off the bike and dropped the tubes at the dealer, and since it was in the winter, I left them for a couple of days. Easy/Peasy

Do the forks come off real easy? Do I need a special tool?

[Highbinder]

There are times that a dried bug or small amount of rust is what is causing the seal to leak....pull down the dust cover on the fork tube and under that is the seal, take a piece of 35mm negative, wrap it around the tube and slide it between the seal and the tube, then work it around and if there is dirt up in there it may clear it out for ya...put the dust cover back in place and take it for a ride...hopefully the leak will have stopped...

[PhredValk]

It took me less than an hour to remove my forks. No special tools needed, just sockets, screwdriver and Allen wrenches.
Fred.

[Bugslayer]

Came home to a few drops of oil under the brake caliper? Only the side that the kickstand is on. Dried it all up dont see where it would of come from.

I'll second what Highbinder suggested. Try cleaning the seal before taking everything apart. My seal was leaking BAD. The front of my bike was covered with fork oil. I already ordered new seals when I tried my Seal Mate. http://sealmate.net/  It took a few tries, but it saved me taking my forks apart. It's worth a try. 

[hubcapsc]

Two years ago, my left seal started leaking badly on the way to InZane. I talked to everyone
there and ended up with a jack  and tools and seals and fork oil and help and ... I spent
a day rebuilding the one fork in the parking lot.

Last year, my right seal started leaking badly on the way to InZane. Troute Dude and Mitch
fixed it with a SealMate while drinking a beer one afternoon. Follow the sealmate directions...
they want you to take the front fender off - this gets the chrome guard out of your way so
you can work the SealMate all the way around the seal. And they want you to pull the dust seal
out... the fork seal that is leaking is past the dust seal... it is pretty easy to pull the dust
seal out of its seat without messing it up.

-Mike

[Bronxboy]

Well I did the 35 mm negative cleaning. I pulled down the dust covers and got it in there real good. Lost a little bit of fluid as I went around the seal but nothing much. Then I cleaned it up and worked the shocks up & down a bit until the seals set again.

I wiped it all down put the dust covers back up and took a nice ride, so far so good. Thanks for all the replies, this is why I love to join forums for everything I own.

[lljjmm]

I also have used the Sealmate - like everybody else -  it does work

[IamGCW]

Search the forum for the Sealmate tool.  Look for the copy of the tool others made using a soda bottle.  The 35 MM trick looks great, but the tool looks better.  You can make one for later, if needed. 

I live in NPR near Trouble Creek/Rowan.

Gil (Yellow/Black Valk)

[Bronxboy]

Search the forum for the Sealmate tool.  Look for the copy of the tool others made using a soda bottle.  The 35 MM trick looks great, but the tool looks better.  You can make one for later, if needed. 

I live in NPR near Trouble Creek/Rowan.

Gil (Yellow/Black Valk)

10-4 Gil were neighbors

[Willow]

Well I did the 35 mm negative cleaning. I pulled down the dust covers and got it in there real good. Lost a little bit of fluid as I went around the seal but nothing much. Then I cleaned it up and worked the shocks up & down a bit until the seals set again.

I wiped it all down put the dust covers back up and took a nice ride, so far so good. Thanks for all the replies, this is why I love to join forums for everything I own. 

Good to hear.  More often than not the 35mm trick or the Sealmate reseats the seal and stops the leaking.  If it holds these boys saved you about $160 if you had found a good low priced mechanic.   

P.S.  You can find the tool at Sealmate.com and save your negatives for reprints.   

[1500Rider]

Another vote for the Seal Mate. Mile was leaking fairly bad and the Seal Mate did the trick. Very easy to use and saves quite a bit of time and money. Have a set of new seals and bushing ready to install but no need as long as the leak remains fixed. Worth a try.

[Tailgate Tommy]

I've never done the film trick, or used a Sealmate, but Seal Doctor seemed to work well for me and was very easy to use. I used it on the LF fork of my '03 which has been leaking for some time. Got it at the local Honda dealer. It's round and snaps around the slider and is easy to grip and spin around the slider. It also has one side to use on the dust seal and a thicker side for the seal itself. I just popped the dust seals out with a screw driver, carefully! Easy to see in the picture on their web site.
http://www.riskracing.com/pages/Seal_Doctor_Page.html#.UhEGe3Xna00
tkylli

[quexpress]

I've never done the film trick, or used a Sealmate, but Seal Doctor seemed to work well for me and was very easy to use. I used it on the LF fork of my '03 which has been leaking for some time. Got it at the local Honda dealer. It's round and snaps around the slider and is easy to grip and spin around the slider. It also has one side to use on the dust seal and a thicker side for the seal itself. I just popped the dust seals out with a screw driver, carefully! Easy to see in the picture on their web site.
http://www.riskracing.com/pages/Seal_Doctor_Page.html#.UhEGe3Xna00
tkylli

That fork seal doctor has rave reviews on the net!
Thanks for the link!