Fork seals
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
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Fork seals
Ok I think I know I shouldn't already but what damage can be caused?
I got my lowers done last year and installed mono tubes, when I got them done the shop said it looked like someone had done seals before and there was a slight gouge in the upper, they said they could hit it with a little sand paper and it would most likely hold but the for seal may leak. I really didn't have money to replace both of the upper legs at the time so I said try it and I will cross my fingers. a couple of months later I notice some slight leakage but really didn't think much of it, it has been getting worse and today my first ride of the season I noticed it was damn near pouring out to the point where one of the guys said he saw a drip when we were at a light. Now I have a ride to NC scheduled for next weekend and being that the fork oil being that I have mono tubes is just for lubrication and not the function of the fork itself what kind of damage will it do to ride on it like this with a possible blown seal or should I cancel the ride until I get it fixed?
sorry for the long story but I wanted to put out as many details as possible and oh yeah both forks are leaking about the same amount
I got my lowers done last year and installed mono tubes, when I got them done the shop said it looked like someone had done seals before and there was a slight gouge in the upper, they said they could hit it with a little sand paper and it would most likely hold but the for seal may leak. I really didn't have money to replace both of the upper legs at the time so I said try it and I will cross my fingers. a couple of months later I notice some slight leakage but really didn't think much of it, it has been getting worse and today my first ride of the season I noticed it was damn near pouring out to the point where one of the guys said he saw a drip when we were at a light. Now I have a ride to NC scheduled for next weekend and being that the fork oil being that I have mono tubes is just for lubrication and not the function of the fork itself what kind of damage will it do to ride on it like this with a possible blown seal or should I cancel the ride until I get it fixed?
sorry for the long story but I wanted to put out as many details as possible and oh yeah both forks are leaking about the same amount
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: Vermont
Something doesn't add up. In looking at your past posts I find you have a 2009. If just last year you had your lowers swapped, I assume they were in place of the stock lowers. I find it hard to believe that an 09 would already have needed fork seals. Even if you are not the original owner, it sounds like the shop that swapped your lowers gouged the upper. I think somewhere along the way you got hosed. If it were me, I'd fix it and not take it to NC without fixing it.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
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you may be right about that, but I will say I watched some videos debating on doing the work myself and all of them had a what looked like plastic ring that had to be removed and my forks did not have that so maybe they had been done. I really don't know
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: North Central Ohio
I have all the tools to fix it and was gonna offer to help you ......a little to far. LOL..Good luck!
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
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thanks a lot, do you think there is a way to fix them if there is a gouge in the uppers or will I need to replace the uppers
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
I too believe that shop scratched your leg(s). So what to do now? Improper amounts of fork oil can lead to handling issues, so from the safety angle i would fix the problem before any thought of a long ride.