NVFRC ; question- "fork seal install"

Listers,
I am seeking wisdom / experience of the list to problem solve a condition
that exsists.
As a multi-bike owner/rider, I do most the work on them myself,& mostly
comes out right, though
frequently will find several wrong ways to do things before stumbling on the
right way.

These problem arose this past winter, I changed a fork seal on my 86 G/Wing
and the removal and inspection went without problem .I took the leg to a
local shop where the wrench used a seal driver to seat the seal, then I took
it home, added fork oil ,and reinstalled the leg and wheel.
I was stunned to find when I began riding it again,the leg still leaked. I
tried adding air to the forks, didn't help.The fork tube looked/felt fine,
and though it doesn't leak as bad as the old seal, it still leaks enough to
drip after a short ride (running down toward the brake pads).. not good.
I'm thinking maybe leaks/ doesn't seal as it should as I got the seals from
the local shop &
they were aftermarket (non OEM) seals.and of ? quality. I also wondered if
it was necessary for the wrench to slam the seal driver as hard as he did
when seating the seal in the leg. I recall thinking he seemed to be a little
over -enthusiastic when driving the seal in with the seal driver.
Any thoughts on this ?

(I ordered a new set of OEM seals for my GL 1200, but havn't put them on
yet.)

Wanting to avoid another session of taking everytning apart (more than once)
on my ST, I ordered the OEM seals and thought I'd send you this to request
advice/seek opinions on what went wrong/why seal leaks. (experience can be a
good teacher) and had any advice to offer ?...

Maybe I should add, though I havn't done it recently, I've changed fork
seals many times in the past ,on both dirt & street bikes, and have never
had a new seal not perform well after I changed it. Iv'e got leaking seals
on the GL,ST, and an XR200 I bought this spring for my youngest son to ride,
all needing fork seals. Your suggestions/thoughts /ideas are welcome.
My VFR And VTR aren't leaking...though the HD FXEF is starting to weep too!

(must be all the potholes &frost upheaveals in S.E.Mich.)

Thanks in advance for responding...Joebiker996.


_______________________________________________
vfr mailing list
vfr@xxxxxx
For subscription and delivery options:
https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr

When I brought my '97 VFR to the local shop to rectify a blown left fork
seal, they recommended I order bushings as well as seals. They said
that bushing wear is often a big contributor to failed seals.


-Brad

_______________________________________________
vfr mailing list
vfr@xxxxxx
For subscription and delivery options:
https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr

You probably already do this, but I'll mention it anyway. When done with a
ride, or on a long trip, wipe the tubes down with some Wubya-Dee-4-tee
(WD-40). Dirt, and dried bugs can take a seal out in one stroke.
It may be he drove the seal in with too much force. I use the old seal, by
cutting out a small section (so I can get it back out), then use it as a
buffer between the new seal, and the tool.

TK
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Speed"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2006 9:58 AM
Subject: NVFRC ; question- "fork seal install"


> Listers,
> I am seeking wisdom / experience of the list to problem solve a condition
> that exsists.
> As a multi-bike owner/rider, I do most the work on them myself,& mostly
> comes out right, though
> frequently will find several wrong ways to do things before stumbling on
the
> right way.
>
> These problem arose this past winter, I changed a fork seal on my 86
G/Wing
> and the removal and inspection went without problem .I took the leg to a
> local shop where the wrench used a seal driver to seat the seal, then I
took
> it home, added fork oil ,and reinstalled the leg and wheel.
> I was stunned to find when I began riding it again,the leg still leaked. I
> tried adding air to the forks, didn't help.The fork tube looked/felt fine,
> and though it doesn't leak as bad as the old seal, it still leaks enough
to
> drip after a short ride (running down toward the brake pads).. not good.
> I'm thinking maybe leaks/ doesn't seal as it should as I got the seals
from
> the local shop &
> they were aftermarket (non OEM) seals.and of ? quality. I also wondered if
> it was necessary for the wrench to slam the seal driver as hard as he did
> when seating the seal in the leg. I recall thinking he seemed to be a
little
> over -enthusiastic when driving the seal in with the seal driver.
> Any thoughts on this ?
>
> (I ordered a new set of OEM seals for my GL 1200, but havn't put them on
> yet.)
>
> Wanting to avoid another session of taking everytning apart (more than
once)
> on my ST, I ordered the OEM seals and thought I'd send you this to request
> advice/seek opinions on what went wrong/why seal leaks. (experience can be
a
> good teacher) and had any advice to offer ?...
>
> Maybe I should add, though I havn't done it recently, I've changed fork
> seals many times in the past ,on both dirt & street bikes, and have never
> had a new seal not perform well after I changed it. Iv'e got leaking
seals
> on the GL,ST, and an XR200 I bought this spring for my youngest son to
ride,
> all needing fork seals. Your suggestions/thoughts /ideas are welcome.
> My VFR And VTR aren't leaking...though the HD FXEF is starting to weep
too!
>
> (must be all the potholes &frost upheaveals in S.E.Mich.)
>
> Thanks in advance for responding...Joebiker996.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> vfr mailing list
> vfr@xxxxxx
> For subscription and delivery options:
> https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr
>


_______________________________________________
vfr mailing list
vfr@xxxxxx
For subscription and delivery options:
https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr

Yup, I'm with them on this one.

TK
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brad Berson"
To:
Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2006 10:12 AM
Subject: RE: NVFRC ; question- "fork seal install"


> When I brought my '97 VFR to the local shop to rectify a blown left fork
> seal, they recommended I order bushings as well as seals. They said
> that bushing wear is often a big contributor to failed seals.
>
>
> -Brad
>
> _______________________________________________
> vfr mailing list
> vfr@xxxxxx
> For subscription and delivery options:
> https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr
>

_______________________________________________
vfr mailing list
vfr@xxxxxx
For subscription and delivery options:
https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr

Hate to say it, but if the installer was ham fisted with the seal driver,
there is a good chance that he did not take care to protect the new seal
when he slid it over the fork leg. I usually wrap the top of the leg with
electrical tape and grease the seal to make sure that it does not get
damaged during installation.
John Harrison
Birmingham




> -----Original Message-----
> From: vfr-bounces@xxxxxx [mailto:vfr-bounces@xxxxxx] On Behalf
> Of Tom Komjathy
> Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2006 12:18 PM
> To: Joe Speed; vfr@xxxxxx
> Subject: Re: NVFRC ; question- "fork seal install"
>
> You probably already do this, but I'll mention it anyway. When done with a
> ride, or on a long trip, wipe the tubes down with some Wubya-Dee-4-tee
> (WD-40). Dirt, and dried bugs can take a seal out in one stroke.
> It may be he drove the seal in with too much force. I use the old seal,
> by
> cutting out a small section (so I can get it back out), then use it as a
> buffer between the new seal, and the tool.
>
> TK
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Joe Speed"
> To:
> Sent: Wednesday, August 02, 2006 9:58 AM
> Subject: NVFRC ; question- "fork seal install"
>
>
> > Listers,
> > I am seeking wisdom / experience of the list to problem solve a
> condition
> > that exsists.
> > As a multi-bike owner/rider, I do most the work on them myself,& mostly
> > comes out right, though
> > frequently will find several wrong ways to do things before stumbling on
> the
> > right way.
> >
> > These problem arose this past winter, I changed a fork seal on my 86
> G/Wing
> > and the removal and inspection went without problem .I took the leg to a
> > local shop where the wrench used a seal driver to seat the seal, then I
> took
> > it home, added fork oil ,and reinstalled the leg and wheel.
> > I was stunned to find when I began riding it again,the leg still leaked.
> I
> > tried adding air to the forks, didn't help.The fork tube looked/felt
> fine,
> > and though it doesn't leak as bad as the old seal, it still leaks enough
> to
> > drip after a short ride (running down toward the brake pads).. not good.
> > I'm thinking maybe leaks/ doesn't seal as it should as I got the seals
> from
> > the local shop &
> > they were aftermarket (non OEM) seals.and of ? quality. I also wondered
> if
> > it was necessary for the wrench to slam the seal driver as hard as he
> did
> > when seating the seal in the leg. I recall thinking he seemed to be a
> little
> > over -enthusiastic when driving the seal in with the seal driver.
> > Any thoughts on this ?
> >
> > (I ordered a new set of OEM seals for my GL 1200, but havn't put them on
> > yet.)
> >
> > Wanting to avoid another session of taking everytning apart (more than
> once)
> > on my ST, I ordered the OEM seals and thought I'd send you this to
> request
> > advice/seek opinions on what went wrong/why seal leaks. (experience can
> be
> a
> > good teacher) and had any advice to offer ?...
> >
> > Maybe I should add, though I havn't done it recently, I've changed fork
> > seals many times in the past ,on both dirt & street bikes, and have
> never
> > had a new seal not perform well after I changed it. Iv'e got leaking
> seals
> > on the GL,ST, and an XR200 I bought this spring for my youngest son to
> ride,
> > all needing fork seals. Your suggestions/thoughts /ideas are welcome.
> > My VFR And VTR aren't leaking...though the HD FXEF is starting to weep
> too!
> >
> > (must be all the potholes &frost upheaveals in S.E.Mich.)
> >
> > Thanks in advance for responding...Joebiker996.
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > vfr mailing list
> > vfr@xxxxxx
> > For subscription and delivery options:
> > https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr
> >
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> vfr mailing list
> vfr@xxxxxx
> For subscription and delivery options:
> https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr



_______________________________________________
vfr mailing list
vfr@xxxxxx
For subscription and delivery options:
https://lists.cs.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/vfr