Leaking forks again. HELP

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May 19, 2012 | 06:18 PM

Kilroykarr

Thread Starter

Intermediate

Joined: Jul 2011

Posts: 34

Likes: 1

From: Iowa

Leaking forks again. HELP

Hey guys, i had my lower fork legs powder coated, i installed the race tech gold valves. Put it all back together and had the tube seals installed by the dealer. Because i didn't want to use a pvc pipe to install them. Got it all back together per specs rode a couple hundred miles and noticed oil all over the right side of my bike. Took the right side tube out of the trees and there was 1/4" oil just sitting on top of the seal. I drained the oil and took both shocks back to the dealer to install new seals again. I also replaced both top cap seals. 10.7 oz in both. Got it all back together and had a couple hundred more miles and now i am seeing the oil running down the left fork leg. I'm starting to get a little frustrated. Any ideas what I should do next? I have a 2011 streetglide. Wanting to do a 2000 mile trip next weekend and I am having second thoughts if i cant get this figured out. Im going to take the front end back apart tonight to see whats going on with the left side. anyway the gold valves could be causing a problem? Wow thats alot, thanks for any input.

May 19, 2012 | 07:28 PM

dawg

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 28,524

Likes: 3,953

From: Vermont

Is it coming from the top cap and leaking down, or is it coming from the lower leg seal? Hopefully you don't have a nick in the slider.

May 27, 2012 | 06:29 PM

hog95023

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 3,542

Likes: 161

From: Booming metropolis

Both of mine are leaking after chrome lowers and bars installed. taking it in saturday to get fixed. HD said it would take about an Hour and half to fix. does that sound right?

May 30, 2012 | 10:03 PM

blackcat1954

Stage IV

Joined: May 2012

Posts: 4

Likes: 0

From: Indiana

hey mister Hog,do both forks leak?& where do you see the fork oil,mine leaks at the back bolt that holds the upper can on. I'm kinda waiting to see if it stops or get worse, My Mechanic says he will replace the seals but they are lifetime garanteed. Hate to mess with the new chrome,lol thanx for the info I'm glad I'm not the only one having this problem.

May 30, 2012 | 10:09 PM

hog95023

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 3,542

Likes: 161

From: Booming metropolis

Mine are leaking at the top caps

May 30, 2012 | 10:09 PM

hog95023

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 3,542

Likes: 161

From: Booming metropolis

Both sides are leaking

Jul 4, 2012 | 08:31 AM

TexasBowhunter

Road Warrior

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 1,416

Likes: 27

From: Northern Part of the Great Lone Star State

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kilroykarr

I had installed a brand new set of Fork Seals on my FLHX a few months ago
I got the parts from my dealer like in April/May
Low and behold both of them started leaking
I'm not new at tearing down a front end so I don't believe it was my doing
Just thought I would lean back and watch and read to see if perhaps HD had a bad batch that came thru...
I'm leaning now towards a bad batch that has been made for HD
I now have gone to James gaskets seals
We'll see how they do
For me I thought they were of better quaility anyway...
paul

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Jul 4, 2012 | 08:46 AM

fxdxrdr

Advanced

Joined: Jun 2012

Posts: 59

Likes: 1

From: Louisiana

Ok my $.02, I have not rebuilt the forks on the newer dynas, but have rebuilt them on a few other bikes, 2000 FXDX 06 FLTR & a sporty. The manual gives a fluid amount, but if you just add the fluid amount specified then your forks are likely to leak. The HD manual on the forks I've rebuilt always specified a distance from down from the top of the tube that the level should be. I believe that measurement on a 2000 FXDX was 5.04”. The reason for the odd measurement is that Harley shocks are made by Showa, a subsidiary of Honda, hence metric. You can buy a tool from progressive that will allow the correct measurement. It looks like a syringe. Or what I did, having had and extra meat injector in my tool box. I fit a tube to my injector, marked two measurements on the tube, with a dial caliber. First for top of shock tube, second at 5.04”. I filled the shock with oil and then used the syringe to remove oil until I got my 5.04”. I then closed the shock mounted it and I have had no problems with them. Consult your manual for you model and year for the proper measurement.
I hope this helps.