Blown fork seal, on trip, 4,500 miles to go

sirbike

sirbike

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Joined
Feb 26, 2007
Messages
893
Location
Cleveland OH
Bike
2006 ST1300A
2025 Miles
002989
Today I thought I was loosing my edge a little.
Southbound on the Cassiar Highway out of Dease Lake.
I felt just slightly disconnected from what was going on. Thought it was me for a bit.
This feeling was on curvy solid chip and seal. Felt like the bike just kissed bottoming out a couple times. Things were ok when the pavement smoothed out.
This evening while I am investigating a headlight out I see the fork oil on the right fork tube.

4 year old seal.

If this is the way the bike is going to handle all the way home, I am ok with it. I am done with the chip and seal, gravel washboard and ridiculous pothole part of the trip.

I have to feel out if this will degrade further or if this is what I’ll have.

I am in New Hazelton BC headed for Russell Cycle in Shasta Lake CA.
If it rides ok I’ll head home via Roseburg OR, and Missoula Montana.

If it rides marginally ok, hell it’s already marginal, I’ll ride straight home.

I have time so I won’t be pressing on at night or in bad weather.

What say ye?
 
Don’t worry as much about your fork oil, as you should your brake pads getting soaked with oil.
Tie a bandana around the fork to try and keep the oil off your pads etc.
If you happen to be near Arizona on your travels, you’re welcome to stop in and I’ll change your fork seals for you.
:WCP1:
 
BTDT... blew both fork seals way up north in Norway, had to continue home for another week to Austria...
Got me a can of brake cleaner at a gas station and stopped twice a day to clean the mess around calipers, rotors and pads...
Front handled a bit spongy, noticeable dive while applying brakes but remained ride-able (conservative style of course)...

However, the loss of oil -> lack of lubrication wore my aluminum fork bottoms out... (likely owned by the often crappy roads up there)
the small clearance I could feel when wiggling the fork tube inside the bottom was enough to render the repair (new bushings & seals) unsuccessful, the set started to leak again right away...
Organized new fork bottoms ($$$), again new bushings and seals, now all is set...

Doesn't mean such must happen to you as well, but depending on age/contamination of oil, leakage rate, road conditions, etc... some risk seems given...
 
Had the same thing happen 4 years ago. You can clean the inner part of the seal between the fork tube and the seal with some fancy cutting of a plastic bottle as the tool in the video shows. Mine was still leaking a small bit after cleaning. Be sure to pry up and slide up the dust cover before cleaning. You want to clean behind the seal not just the dust cover. So to try to snug up the seal a bit I pulled up the dust cover, took part of a paper napkin, folded it into a tube shape. Laid it in the channel above the seal and pressed the dust cover back in. It took a couple of tries to get the right amount of napkin but once in it did not leak again for 5000 miles home. When removed at home where was only a few drops of fork oil on the rolled napkin. Just a though for an on road fix..
 
Just something to think about, when you put fork seals onto the tubes, you use a condom or Saran Wrap over the end of the tube to prevent the edge of the tube from damaging the delicate for seal so it won’t leak.
You think shoving a piece of plastic down there and scraping the seal is a good thing :rofl1:
Yes, folks make YouTube videos about them, and sell and market them, but in MY opinion that only damages the seals.
Ymmv
 
Tie an old sock around the fork just on top of the slider and ride it home. You won't loose 3 ounces of oil. Like Igofar said, keep the pads clean as you can and ride home.

Been there done that rode 3,000 miles and no issues.

About the handling, if it has 3" of oil in the bottom the dampener will work normally.
 
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