Hello,

I just got back from a 2,200 mile trip from SE Arizona to Colorado and back. I'm very religious about following the service manual's servicing at every 5,000 miles and do fluids at 3,000 miles. Before this trip (I'm at 40,000 miles) it was time to change the fork oil again which I did. Coming home, I noticed fork oil was leaking slightly on the right side (it was red).

I'm looking into what I need to do and where it is leaking from (seals etc.). I've attached to pics. Notice how high the oil film is. Could it be leaking from the very top seal under the cap? Do you think it is the lower seal? Also, notice the gap on the oily side (the one that's leaking) and there is not one on the left (the clean one). What does this look like to you?

Thanks for any input . . . ..

AJ

 

I have an arrow pointing tot he gap I'm referring to . . .

 

It's probably the oil seal under the top bolt. The bolt that hold fork tube to top triple clamp. You should always replace them everytime you remove bolt. less than a buck ea.

 

it looks like your fork tube is coming apart not a seal leaking.

 

X2, you need to screw that back together.

 

What do you mean screw back together?

 

well, once you remove the fork, there is a cap up there with threads on it, it should screw back in. the place where you show space between with arrow pointing should not be there. if the fork was out of the trees, theres a cap that holds the spring in, careful, its under pressure. Its hard to explain without pictures.

 

the lower clamp bolt is loose letting the tube spin and unscrewed itself.

 

Ok, I see what you're saying now and you're right. That top cap (UNDER the chrome cap bolt on the triple tree) that holds the spring in was almost unscrewed completely. 2 thread turns and it popped off. I inspected the threads and even screwed it back all the way in to make sure it was solid and it was. I'm almost positive this is where the fork oil leaked from.

My question now is HOW would that have loosened? I know the the top pipe turns freely. How would I prevent this from happening again? Could i have done this when I changed the fork oil? All I did was take the very top chrome cap off . . . . .

AJ

 

somehow the lower tree clamp must have come loose. maybe put some lock tight on the lower clamp bolt.?