TOPIC:

So after just a few hundred miles I have one fork seal that's leaking... well king of leaking. It only leaks when compressed down a lot, like when stabbing the front breaks, or a rough spot in the road. Otherwise its dry. If I grab the breaks and the font dives down it will leave a thing ring or oil on the fork tube. When I first noticed this I puled the dust boot up and found the seal itself was dry. So it only leaks when the fork tube is compressed in. Its a minor leak, not enough to drip down the forks or anything...

I used OEM seals when I did the job, with 15W fork oil to the proper level. Any suggestions as to what is causing this?

Is there a better grade of seal to use, It almost seams to me like the seal is just weak...

Hi Tyler,
Get yerself one o these. I recently had five bikes with nine leaking fork seals. I ran the seal mate through each seal and around once and all nine are holding fine three months later. These bikes are run for training every weekend.
www.ktm-parts.com/AOMC/product/03640006-...6ft80CFYqPfgodDJMFkQ
When I withdrew the seal mate I was expectin to find some sort of dirt or debris, no such luck. It's possible that the sealmate just arranged the sealing lips correctly. I don't know how it worked but I will never replace a fork seal again unless I've given one of these a chance.
Bill

Eh for $5 it can't hurt to try!

KZQ wrote: Hi Tyler,
Get yerself one o these. I recently had five bikes with nine leaking fork seals. I ran the seal mate through each seal and around once and all nine are holding fine three months later. These bikes are run for training every weekend.
www.ktm-parts.com/AOMC/product/03640006-...6ft80CFYqPfgodDJMFkQ
When I withdrew the seal mate I was expectin to find some sort of dirt or debris, no such luck. It's possible that the sealmate just arranged the sealing lips correctly. I don't know how it worked but I will never replace a fork seal again unless I've given one of these a chance.
Bill

Just to add to this info, it might help to understand how this tool works. I've never heard of it so I found a Youtube video describing the use .

I'm definitely going to order one of these. I have slight leaks around my seals.

If you have only just installed new seals that tool wont help as it cleans the bits of bugs etc that accumulate and lets the seal lip contact the chrome surface.

It is always worth cleaning the lip with one of those tools but as they are new there probably wont be a build up of bug parts.

The most common cause of older forks leaking is that the slider no longer fits the leg well and the seal cant compensate for the movement.
I have seen forks bored out at the top and a sleeve inserted which has helped because it holds the slider concentric with the leg.

Also if you bought the Pyramid Parts seals try some OEM or at least better quality. I had one of them turn inside out on a slow entry into a large pothole when the forks bottomed and oil sprayed everywhere including into my radiator which then clogged with oilsoaked dust