Front fork leak FLSTC
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 299
Likes: 40
From: Eastern foothills of Shenandoah Mountains, Virginia
Front fork leak FLSTC
Hi, Dang it, my right front fork is dripping oil from bolt at bottom of fork.
Assume I need to replace fork seals?
No oil on entire length of fork, just on bottom bolt, the left (rear) one.
Very slow leak, a fifth of a teaspoon puddled on rim after 2 weeks sitting.
Clean golden oil I replaced a few hundred miles ago, see & touch on bolt.
Both bolts were already tight; I didn't touch them when I changed oil.
No leak around fork oil drain screw.
Indie quoted $360 labor, $40 parts. Will do myself if needed.
Softail Heritage FLSTC 1999, 42,000 miles, still pretty.
Thanks! Kayakeur Bud
Assume I need to replace fork seals?
No oil on entire length of fork, just on bottom bolt, the left (rear) one.
Very slow leak, a fifth of a teaspoon puddled on rim after 2 weeks sitting.
Clean golden oil I replaced a few hundred miles ago, see & touch on bolt.
Both bolts were already tight; I didn't touch them when I changed oil.
No leak around fork oil drain screw.
Indie quoted $360 labor, $40 parts. Will do myself if needed.
Softail Heritage FLSTC 1999, 42,000 miles, still pretty.
Thanks! Kayakeur Bud
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,066
Likes: 4,568
From: Haslet Texas
Hi, Dang it, my right front fork is dripping oil from bolt at bottom of fork.
Assume I need to replace fork seals?
No oil on entire length of fork, just on bottom bolt, the left (rear) one.
Very slow leak, a fifth of a teaspoon puddled on rim after 2 weeks sitting.
Clean golden oil I replaced a few hundred miles ago, see & touch on bolt.
Both bolts were already tight; I didn't touch them when I changed oil.
No leak around fork oil drain screw.
Indie quoted $360 labor, $40 parts. Will do myself if needed.
Softail Heritage FLSTC 1999, 42,000 miles, still pretty.
Thanks! Kayakeur Bud
Assume I need to replace fork seals?
No oil on entire length of fork, just on bottom bolt, the left (rear) one.
Very slow leak, a fifth of a teaspoon puddled on rim after 2 weeks sitting.
Clean golden oil I replaced a few hundred miles ago, see & touch on bolt.
Both bolts were already tight; I didn't touch them when I changed oil.
No leak around fork oil drain screw.
Indie quoted $360 labor, $40 parts. Will do myself if needed.
Softail Heritage FLSTC 1999, 42,000 miles, still pretty.
Thanks! Kayakeur Bud
Personally I'd just try tightening up the bolt first.
If that doesn't work just take out the bolt and change the crush washer and reinstall the bolt.
You will need an impact to remove the bolt.
Not to mention that you will have to take out the fork spring before removing the bolt as well.
It's a 6mm allen head bolt.
You don't need a long shank 6mm allen to reach that bolt but you will if you ever have to tackle the one on the left.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 10,298
Likes: 7,779
From: West Central FL
And why do you need to remove the spring?
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,066
Likes: 4,568
From: Haslet Texas
To take the pressure off so that you can get the bolt back in.
A little pressure is good as it holds the damper in place but with full spring pressure you won't be able to compress the fork enough to install the bolt.
A little pressure is good as it holds the damper in place but with full spring pressure you won't be able to compress the fork enough to install the bolt.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 299
Likes: 40
From: Eastern foothills of Shenandoah Mountains, Virginia
Guys, I think I mis-stated the problem, the location of problem.
photos below
Leak oil dripping from
Actually not from bolts but a pair of nuts at the bottom of the front fork/shock.
There is no oil drip path down the length of the fork, no oil collected along lower rim of wider-diameter cover (I guess #44, p/n 45964-86 ).
No oil seep from drain screw #29, pn 45858-77 (I changed fork oil a month ago, did not replace the copper washer)
Parts Catalog diagram pages 72, 73, 74, 75.
Nut #14 p/n 7748W
onto stud #45 p/n 45998-73
through #24 axle cap 45832-77A
into #36 slider p/n 45917-86
Tried tightening the nut but it was already on so smug it didnt move with my best estimate of appropriate strong torque.
Tightened the drain screw teensy bit, measuring torque with the meter inside my fingers, dared not torque it more.
Bud Kayakeur
FLSTC Heritage Classic 1999, 42,000 miles
photos below
Leak oil dripping from
Actually not from bolts but a pair of nuts at the bottom of the front fork/shock.
There is no oil drip path down the length of the fork, no oil collected along lower rim of wider-diameter cover (I guess #44, p/n 45964-86 ).
No oil seep from drain screw #29, pn 45858-77 (I changed fork oil a month ago, did not replace the copper washer)
Parts Catalog diagram pages 72, 73, 74, 75.
Nut #14 p/n 7748W
onto stud #45 p/n 45998-73
through #24 axle cap 45832-77A
into #36 slider p/n 45917-86
Tried tightening the nut but it was already on so smug it didnt move with my best estimate of appropriate strong torque.
Tightened the drain screw teensy bit, measuring torque with the meter inside my fingers, dared not torque it more.
Bud Kayakeur
FLSTC Heritage Classic 1999, 42,000 miles
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,066
Likes: 4,568
From: Haslet Texas
Guys, I think I mis-stated the problem, the location of problem.
photos below
Leak oil dripping from
Actually not from bolts but a pair of nuts at the bottom of the front fork/shock.
There is no oil drip path down the length of the fork, no oil collected along lower rim of wider-diameter cover (I guess #44, p/n 45964-86 ).
No oil seep from drain screw #29, pn 45858-77 (I changed fork oil a month ago, did not replace the copper washer)
Parts Catalog diagram pages 72, 73, 74, 75.
Nut #14 p/n 7748W
onto stud #45 p/n 45998-73
through #24 axle cap 45832-77A
into #36 slider p/n 45917-86
Tried tightening the nut but it was already on so smug it didnt move with my best estimate of appropriate strong torque.
Tightened the drain screw teensy bit, measuring torque with the meter inside my fingers, dared not torque it more.
Bud Kayakeur
FLSTC Heritage Classic 1999, 42,000 miles
photos below
Leak oil dripping from
Actually not from bolts but a pair of nuts at the bottom of the front fork/shock.
There is no oil drip path down the length of the fork, no oil collected along lower rim of wider-diameter cover (I guess #44, p/n 45964-86 ).
No oil seep from drain screw #29, pn 45858-77 (I changed fork oil a month ago, did not replace the copper washer)
Parts Catalog diagram pages 72, 73, 74, 75.
Nut #14 p/n 7748W
onto stud #45 p/n 45998-73
through #24 axle cap 45832-77A
into #36 slider p/n 45917-86
Tried tightening the nut but it was already on so smug it didnt move with my best estimate of appropriate strong torque.
Tightened the drain screw teensy bit, measuring torque with the meter inside my fingers, dared not torque it more.
Bud Kayakeur
FLSTC Heritage Classic 1999, 42,000 miles
You have to take the axle off to get at the bolts I am talking about.
It's part number 17 on the exploded diagram for the '99 Heritage.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
