Thumbs Up for Seal Mate!

[pastmast95]

I just wanted to report that the Seal Mate film tool to clean the crud under the fork seal worked great for me! I had a on again off again slight leak on my right fork tube, used the Seal Mate on it and now no more leak, best six bucks I've spent on the Valk. Those of you with leaky fork seals may want to try this product first before going to the expense of replacing your fork seals!

[Valkorado]

Great product, saved my arse last summer as well.  Had it in my bag and wrinkled it up.  Found this one, a little more spendy but rigid plastic -- better design, easier to use just pull down dust cover insert and twist.  You can toss this one in your saddlebag and not worry about it.

http://www.riskracing.com/pages/Seal_Doctor_Page.html

[F6Dave]

I agree, the Seal Doctor is awesome.  It's a far better design, as it lets you clean the entire circumference without removing any parts other than the dust seal.

I had a pretty serious leak, with some oil getting on the brake caliper.  Last Friday I cleaned it thoroughly with the Seal Doctor.  I rode about 400 miles over the weekend and now there's no visible leakage at all.

[jblvalk]

Wanted to offer my 2 cents and not to be a downer but share the fact that sealmate did not work for me.  Didn't know the Seal Dr. existed but probably would not  have helped anyway.  Used the Sealmate well I lost count and my left seal just kept a leaking.  Had to pay the piper.

[nogrey]

My $.01 here. I take a pair of pinking sheers and cut a 2" x 4" piece out of any plastic bottle I have laying around (IE, water bottle, or in my case, Tonic water bottle, not sure why I have so many of those laying around, but I digress). I cut it so that it is more oval shaped than square and comes to a point on one end. The pinking sheers give it a nice set of saw-blade like teeth that really help the tool get up and into the oil seal. I usually carry a couple with me cuz I end up giving them away. So far, it has worked every time for me.
I've had to change oil seals too. Nothing will work if the oil seal is damaged, but these little guys have gotten the debris causing a leak out for me on a couple of occasions now. They are worth their weight in....well, Tonic water. Speaking of tonic water, I think I'm running low on home-made "seal mates". I better go work on emptying another bottle... 

[indybobm]

I have only used the Seal-Mate. Luckily it worked fine. I have not tried cutting up a coke bottle but I would think that you would want the edges to be very smooth. If the edges are rough and sharp there might be chance of cutting the seal with the rough edge. Just a thought.

[Tfrank59]

I just wanted to report that the Seal Mate film tool to clean the crud under the fork seal worked great for me! I had a on again off again slight leak on my right fork tube, used the Seal Mate on it and now no more leak, best six bucks I've spent on the Valk. Those of you with leaky fork seals may want to try this product first before going to the expense of replacing your fork seals!

I really appreciate this post, as well as the replies to it, as my right fork seal has been leaking intermittently, and I'm thinking that it might just be dirt up in there. I just purchased a Seal Mate on eBay (for 3 bucks) and saw the YouTube demo how to use it, so once it arrives and I get a chance to try it, I'll report back on the outcome. If it turns out my seal is actually damaged and needs replaced I'll go ahead and do that too I guess... .  Thanks again.

[PA_1999Valk]

I just wanted to report that the Seal Mate film tool to clean the crud under the fork seal worked great for me! I had a on again off again slight leak on my right fork tube, used the Seal Mate on it and now no more leak, best six bucks I've spent on the Valk. Those of you with leaky fork seals may want to try this product first before going to the expense of replacing your fork seals!

I really appreciate this post, as well as the replies to it, as my right fork seal has been leaking intermittently, and I'm thinking that it might just be dirt up in there. I just purchased a Seal Mate on eBay (for 3 bucks) and saw the YouTube demo how to use it, so once it arrives and I get a chance to try it, I'll report back on the outcome. If it turns out my seal is actually damaged and needs replaced I'll go ahead and do that too I guess... .  Thanks again.

Thanks I just picked up the last two for $3 each.  I was going to buy last year but the shipping was too much.  I think $6 for two with free shipping can't be beat.

Carl

[SpidyJ]

I wouldn't mind kissing whoever invented these things........

[Tfrank59]

I just wanted to report that the Seal Mate film tool to clean the crud under the fork seal worked great for me! I had a on again off again slight leak on my right fork tube, used the Seal Mate on it and now no more leak, best six bucks I've spent on the Valk. Those of you with leaky fork seals may want to try this product first before going to the expense of replacing your fork seals!

I really appreciate this post, as well as the replies to it, as my right fork seal has been leaking intermittently, and I'm thinking that it might just be dirt up in there. I just purchased a Seal Mate on eBay (for 3 bucks) and saw the YouTube demo how to use it, so once it arrives and I get a chance to try it, I'll report back on the outcome. If it turns out my seal is actually damaged and needs replaced I'll go ahead and do that too I guess... .  Thanks again.

So I did the Seal Mate thing (others have used camera film or just thin plastic) to get the same result which is it did minimize the leaking considerably.   Very happy about that. I will then wait to do the seal replacement--probably it can wait till next year.