New forks seals leaking
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: WACO
New fork tube seals leaking
I had to put new upper fork tubes on Ol Sally. Picked up some 2008 new takeoff lower legs to go along with the new tubes. Local shop assembled with James seal kit and Amsoil #10. Within 200 miles both seals were leaking. Shop owner said sometimes that just hapens. Tech said bad seals. I thought BS. They replaced seals with Harley seals and Silkolene#30. No charge. #30 too heavy for me. Will have to change out to lighter weight. And, hope no leaking for a long time.
Any ideas why seals started leaking in such a short time?
It ain't no fun tearing the front end apart every 200 miles.
Any ideas why seals started leaking in such a short time?
It ain't no fun tearing the front end apart every 200 miles.
Last edited by OLD 96; Apr 13, 2009 at 01:12 AM. Reason: wrong title
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I guess it "sometimes just happens". For me, it never has happened after a fork swap. I don't even put in new seals, unless the old ones were leaking. I have always reused the old seals if they are relatively lower mile. Never had a leak, yet.....I'm doing the fork legs on a buddy's bike in the morning and planning on reusing the old seals....They will probably leak, now...LOL.
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: WACO
Also. With #10 Amsoil the front end would clunk or bang occassionly if I hit a bump just right. With the #30 Silkolene it clunks a lot more. And rides like a chuck wagon. I am thinking about using HD #5. I know the heavier the weight fluid the faster the rebound. I want it to "Glide" like the name implies. Does anyone elses front end "clunk" on rebound?
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[QUOTE=OLD 96;4860184]Also. With #10 Amsoil the front end would clunk or bang occassionly if I hit a bump just right. With the #30 Silkolene it clunks a lot more. And rides like a chuck wagon. I am thinking about using HD #5. QUOTE]
Personally, I would not go with lighter oil. On Touring models you can compress the front end enough to smash the fender on the brake tee if you brake and hit a hole/tracks/whatever at just the right time....It took me several years and about 40k miles before I learned this. After I found the ding in my front fender, I did some research and found it not that uncommon....After that, I swapped to SE Heavy oil to try to avoid a repeat. It's worked so far.
Personally, I would not go with lighter oil. On Touring models you can compress the front end enough to smash the fender on the brake tee if you brake and hit a hole/tracks/whatever at just the right time....It took me several years and about 40k miles before I learned this. After I found the ding in my front fender, I did some research and found it not that uncommon....After that, I swapped to SE Heavy oil to try to avoid a repeat. It's worked so far.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Sierra Nevada Mountains of N. Calif
[QUOTE=xxxflhrci;4863062]
That makes a lot sense because the front end already dips deep during a regular stop with front brakes. I just did my forks and decided to use the se fork oil.
Also. With #10 Amsoil the front end would clunk or bang occassionly if I hit a bump just right. With the #30 Silkolene it clunks a lot more. And rides like a chuck wagon. I am thinking about using HD #5. QUOTE]
Personally, I would not go with lighter oil. On Touring models you can compress the front end enough to smash the fender on the brake tee if you brake and hit a hole/tracks/whatever at just the right time....It took me several years and about 40k miles before I learned this. After I found the ding in my front fender, I did some research and found it not that uncommon....After that, I swapped to SE Heavy oil to try to avoid a repeat. It's worked so far.
Personally, I would not go with lighter oil. On Touring models you can compress the front end enough to smash the fender on the brake tee if you brake and hit a hole/tracks/whatever at just the right time....It took me several years and about 40k miles before I learned this. After I found the ding in my front fender, I did some research and found it not that uncommon....After that, I swapped to SE Heavy oil to try to avoid a repeat. It's worked so far.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Sierra Nevada Mountains of N. Calif
Ebay touring question
Sounds like a stupid question but what the hell do guys type for the Ebay search engine when looking for bike parts? Year and model of bike or something else? When I do it I get thousands of hits and lots of the items are junk that doesnt go on a Harley.
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Seasoned HDF Member
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From: WACO
Go to motorcycle parts. Get very specific as to want you are looking for. For example. Harley Davidson touring lower legs. There will always be other crap mixed in. But, the more specific search prompt you type in the more it will weed out the other crap. Hope this helps.
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