General > Riding Tips & Tricks
Fork Seal Strategy
bigbellybob:
small nicks or scratches on the inner fork tube will make it impossible to keep seals from leaking. its also very common to nick the seal during installation. i use that food rap stuff the wife has in the kitchen and rap the fork tube and bushing before sliding the seal over it to prevent damaging the seal.
i have had great results with these seals.
http://www.synergyseals.com/
don46:
Kyle,
I'm going to throw in my .02.
I've seen countless fork seals leak due to mis alignment, what do I mean? If your axle does not slide into the forks easily you can force the fork to one side causing side load on the seal. anybody that has to use a hammer to get the axle in has issue. I keep my axle and the fork super clean and have made a tool that fits in the end of the axle so I can rotate the axle in without binding the fork. I'm not a proponent of the "take it off the stand and bounce on it theory" and while it may be better doing it than not, remember
Cleanliness is next to godliness, take the time and make sure the axle moves through the forks freely, grease it up and twist it in, and your golden. Motion Pro makes a axle alignment tool, I have one but really have only used it for demonstration purposes to show people what i mean by alignment.
I usually change oil on the race bikes frequently, and the play bikes at least once per year and always new seals, invariably if you don't replace the seals and just change oil the fork seal will leak and you've wasted the high dollar fork oil.
On another issue, and how I think your riding your bike, I wouldn't go over 5 wt oil, I use alot of 2.5 and a fork oil by reline called "like water".
http://www.motionpro.com/motorcycle/partno/08-0412/
cbmoor:
Once I have dissmantled a set of mx forks and cleaned them ready for assembly I always rub the fork legs with wet very fine emory paper Not in a up and down direction but around the tube direction and this cleans and removes any slight nics or smooths out any nicks which causes seal failure. You see a very fine haze affect on the chrome of the forks. I do not rub for ages and ages just enough to clean and smooth any nics thats been put there by racing with other bikes. And its a very fine emory cloth thats wet with oil. To be honest I have used the same piece for a while now that only used for this purpose. Its about 20mm wide and 200mm long and I loop it around the leg so when you hold the 2 ends and work it, Its all around the fork leg. Doing it this way the very fine scratches are in the same direction as the fork seals so it does not leak but it hold oil that is wiped by the seal and it lubes the seal also. If you do it in the other direction up and down the fork leg the same direction the way the forks move you will just damage the forks and they will leak!!. I am not saying this is the correct thing to do but it works for me and the many other bikes I have done.
BDI:
One thing I find blows seals that no one has touched Is your fork springs and comp settings. If your springs are to soft for your body weight and or your setting are to soft you will be pleauged by blown seals.
Hillclimb#42:
Don, I always unscrew the axle from the fork and screw it back in. I keep the axle very clean and greased, and it slides right in without a hammer. I have wondered if my 2x4 between the tire and underside of the fender that I am using to help tie down the bikes without the stress being put onto the forks, might be causing stress or misalignment of the seals during transportation. Do you use something like that?
Brian, it was mentioned that stiffer springs and lighter oil might do the trick, but it's all stock and should be the right rate for me. I make sure that the fork doesn't bottom out by keeping an eye on the fork tube during breaks. I usually have 6-8" of travel not being used.
Bob, I use electrical tape or duct tape to fill the bushing groove, so the seal is not hanging up on on the sharp edges. I'll check those seals out.
Thanks for everyone's input...just trying to be thorough
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