leaky forks

[diskmark]

Can anyone recommend a mechanic in the Sacramento area.
I need to have my fork seals done.
Also what is the best spring set up.

[old2soon]

    MAYBE a seal mate would correct it fer a bit? Or the 35MM film trick. Look THAT up here on the tech board. Far as Sacramento no joy as I reside in Missouri. RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

The Fork Doctor is so much better than the seal mate.

https://www.amazon.com/Risk-Racing-00-121-millimeters-55-millimeters/dp/B0068G164E

Pry dust covers down, clean, wipe, bounce forks, repeat.  This usually stops the leak (for a while or even long time), but it may come back later.  I did this for years before finally getting them serviced by a good shop... and they told me I had not lost all that much fork oil during those years.

[Joe333x]

I just rebuilt my forks. If just replacing the seals its not that big of a job, but if you replace the springs as I found out, its a much more difficult job, especially with the dampener. I went with progressive springs but havent been able to ride since I installed them.

[CoreyP]

I just rebuilt my forks. If just replacing the seals its not that big of a job, but if you replace the springs as I found out, its a much more difficult job, especially with the dampener. I went with progressive springs but havent been able to ride since I installed them.

This is coming up on my list of to do items. Not sure if I want to change the springs or what I want to do. How complex are we talking here?? LOL. I'm checking/adjusting my valves next. Only thing I haven't touched is my forks so they will be the last thing I get to this year. 

[Joe333x]

I just rebuilt my forks. If just replacing the seals its not that big of a job, but if you replace the springs as I found out, its a much more difficult job, especially with the dampener. I went with progressive springs but havent been able to ride since I installed them.

This is coming up on my list of to do items. Not sure if I want to change the springs or what I want to do. How complex are we talking here?? LOL. I'm checking/adjusting my valves next. Only thing I haven't touched is my forks so they will be the last thing I get to this year. 

Well one fork requires a specific tool to remove the spring, the other doesn't but has the damper in it. Looking back though, you can replace the spring and not take the damper rod out which I would highly recommend because the biggest problem I had was getting the bolt for the damper rod off and back in, I ended up using an impact and it did the job though. The damper wants to keep spinning with the bolt which is the problem.

[h13man]

My experience on springs, Progressive springs were really good especially two up riding on my VT1100C but with near 5yrs./30,000 mi. on them they started getting soft.

On the Valk I put #80 RaceTech single wound springs as I ride solo more now though they done well two up also. This is 10 yrs. later.

[diskmark]

Are the Race Techs stiffer than the Progressive springs?

[diskmark]

I tried the Seal Doctor, it stopped leaking for a while.
But now it's back.

[98valk]

I tried the Seal Doctor, it stopped leaking for a while.
But now it's back.

I did the following

https://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,126543.0.html

fork hasn't leaked for almost 3k miles now.

[F6Dave]

I've found that with the Seal Doctor, it may take a few cleanings to remove all the crud that's causing the leak. But I did buy a bottle of ATP AT-205 which I'm going to try in the future.

[Valker]

I've found that with the Seal Doctor, it may take a few cleanings to remove all the crud that's causing the leak. But I did buy a bottle of ATP AT-205 which I'm going to try in the future.

Me too.

[diskmark]

How do you check the fork oil level?

[Joe333x]

How do you check the fork oil level?

When I rebuilt mine, I did what the manual stated and measured from the top down to where the fluid is, from what I remember each for has a different measurement. Im not sure you could really check the level correctly while the fork tubes are on the bike, maybe if the front wheel is off the ground but even then they are not straight up and down.

[diskmark]

Thanks Joe33

[h13man]

I just rebuilt my forks. If just replacing the seals its not that big of a job, but if you replace the springs as I found out, its a much more difficult job, especially with the dampener. I went with progressive springs but havent been able to ride since I installed them.

This is coming up on my list of to do items. Not sure if I want to change the springs or what I want to do. How complex are we talking here?? LOL. I'm checking/adjusting my valves next. Only thing I haven't touched is my forks so they will be the last thing I get to this year. 

Well Corey I was able to purchase a set of Racetech #80 springs from a fellow from here because he thought they were too stiff. I'm @ 165 lbs. solo. Actually they broke in after about 200 mi. and that was 11 yrs. ago @ #3 setting on rear shock. I had Progressives on the VT1100 and they worked great but @ 32,000 they started to get soft after riding two up riding most the time.