revtothelimit - motorbike forum

I have never had a leaking fork seal before so I'm after any advice that you have to keep me calm.

I noticed at the weekend the tell tell sign of a black oil line around one of the front suspension forks. I wiped it off and forgot about it. I went out yesterday, did less than 30 miles and noticed when I got home that it had leaked again - sorry no pics. I left a message on the Triumph dealership's answerphone. The bike has over a year of warranty and I've not hit any large potholes so I've not looked for any damage to the wheel and I'd be very surprised if there was some - just the leaky seal.

I'm off to the Picos and Pyrenees in 11 days so trying not to panic.

It's no panic, your dealer should sort easily and quickly. Whether it's classed as warranty or wear and tear is open to debate but it's a 30 minute job.

weeksy wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 5:51 am It's no panic, your dealer should sort easily and quickly. Whether it's classed as warranty or wear and tear is open to debate but it's a 30 minute job.

Thanks. I've Googled it, of course. There's a tool that you can buy - a bit of plastic, that you can run around the seal - if the dealer can't fit it in I shall cut up a plastic milk bottle and 'ave a go myself

How much oil can you afford to lose before needing a top up?

Trinity765 wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 6:11 am

weeksy wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 5:51 am It's no panic, your dealer should sort easily and quickly. Whether it's classed as warranty or wear and tear is open to debate but it's a 30 minute job.

Thanks. I've Googled it, of course. There's a tool that you can buy - a bit of plastic, that you can run around the seal - if the dealer can't fit it in I shall cut up a plastic milk bottle and 'ave a go myself

How much oil can you afford to lose before needing a top up?

Yeah there's tools, i've not used but many on here will have, give them a chance to get out of bed They'll offer a bit of wisdom shortly.

I rode back around and back from germany with a leaky one... it was fine "we'll sort it when you get back" was the dealers reply... it didn't cause any issues.

The lost oil is a problem, but the bigger problem is getting fork oil on your brakes. The tolerance there is pretty much zero.

Sounds like you have it in hand though.

Is the line actually black? When you wipe it, how oily is it? (It does sound like the seal needs reseating to me 'cos being black etc but I'm definitely no expert!).

Count Steer wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 6:54 am Is the line actually black? When you wipe it, how oily is it? (It does sound like the seal needs reseating to me 'cos being black etc but I'm definitely no expert!).

When I noticed it at the weekend it was black - which I cleaned off. Yesterday it was clean oil colour (beige/clear).

In the short term tie a rag around the top of the fork led to stop the dribble going down the fork leg.

I had the same problem, even though I had both fork seals replaced last year.

This seems to have solved it.

Risk Racing 00-123 Small 35mm - 45mm Seal Doctor, Small (35 millimeters - 45 millimeters) , Red https://amzn.eu/d/7jIlwLB

Are they right way up or upside down forks, right way ups are less hassle with a leaky seal

Trinity765 wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 5:11 am
I'm off to the Picos and Pyrenees in 11 days so trying not to panic.

I wouldn't panic over a leaky fork seal,It's not ideal but it's not a show stopper.The damping will change,depending on how much oil has leaked out
The most important thing is trying to keep the oil off the disc & contaminating the pads.
As the bike's under warranty take it back to Triumph .

Bustaspoke wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 9:18 am

Trinity765 wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 5:11 am
I'm off to the Picos and Pyrenees in 11 days so trying not to panic.

I wouldn't panic over a leaky fork seal,It's not ideal but it's not a show stopper.The damping will change,depending on how much oil has leaked out
The most important thing is trying to keep the oil off the disc & contaminating the pads.
As the bike's under warranty take it back to Triumph .

On my GSXR1000, so much oil dumped onto the tyre and I crashed down Craner Curves. Suzuki refused to replace the fork seals. I even took the forks to Suzuki HQ in Milton Keynes.

ninja wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 8:40 am I had the same problem, even though I had both fork seals replaced last year.

This seems to have solved it.

Risk Racing 00-123 Small 35mm - 45mm Seal Doctor, Small (35 millimeters - 45 millimeters) , Red https://amzn.eu/d/7jIlwLB

I've got something very similar to that and it has worked well on various bikes.
As others have said, chances are it's just a bit of detritus in there and something like the above ( or SealMate, or end of a zip-tie or maybe even milk bottle) will solve it.
Only ever had to use it a couple of times on the road bikes, but had the same issue on my ZX6 last year and have had it a fair few times on the off-roader- you lose a little bit of oil but nothing significant if you know what you're doing and don't have weight on the forks.

Having said all that, as it's still under warranty, I wouldn't be doing any of the above just yet- I'd ride it to my local Triumph dealer, explain that you're off on a big trip shortly F2F and see if you can get one of their techs to have a look / sort it

I'm a little bit annoyed with Triumph already (that didn't take long).

When I say I popped out on the bike yesterday, it was actually to go to the dealers and pick up a couple of belly pan bolts which I'd ordered and it was when I got home I noticed the leak was back. It was 4.30pm and I phoned them twice without getting through so left a message. I've just phoned them as they haven't returned the call and said "Hi, I left a message late yesterday" and the guy said "Yeah - about the bolts". I said "No, about the suspension". They had listened to the beginning of the messaged, assumed it was about the bolts and skipped to next message.

They're seeing now if they can put it through as a warranty claim but panicking as they know I'm away on the 25th and they already can't fit me in.

I'm going to end up sorting this out for myself.

Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 9:13 am Are they right way up or upside down forks, right way ups are less hassle with a leaky seal

Upside down

Seal mate works well, used mine a few times.

When the Supermoto group from VD went to Corsica, I learnt that a strip of 35mm wet film was most effective at cleaning grit and dust out of KTM fork seals.

I'd be most surprised if Triumph sort them under warranty, but good luck.

I think for my first two years of riding my bike always had a leaking fork seal. I was too skint to get them fixed. I used to wipe the oil away before MOT tests.

I'd be very impressed if anyone can change them in 30 minutes, I'd have thought more like two hours. 20 years ago I think 100 quid was a good deal for getting them done, all in.

MyLittleStudPony wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 2:12 pm I think for my first two years of riding my bike always had a leaking fork seal. I was too skint to get them fixed. I used to wipe the oil away before MOT tests.

I'd be very impressed if anyone can change them in 30 minutes, I'd have thought more like two hours. 20 years ago I think 100 quid was a good deal for getting them done, all in.

IIRC it was a 30 min job on the LCs.

But I watched the lad split the forks on my Husky TE300i. Needed 2 special tools.

It's a lot more involved replacing fork seals on USD forks compared to RWU, and normally involves at least one special tool. Certainly try a seal-mate (or similar) to remove any detritus that may be present, but wrap some cloth arouind the lower fork leg first as the action of introducing the seal mate may cause the loss of a bit of fluid. I'd also be very carefully checking the errant fork stanchion for any nicks, scratches or pips which may have disturbed the fork seal. Ideally you'd put the bike on the centre stand (if it has one) and get the front wheel off the ground so the forks are at full extension before checking. Check all round and as much of the visible fork stanchion as you can.

Yorick wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 2:59 pm

MyLittleStudPony wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 2:12 pm I think for my first two years of riding my bike always had a leaking fork seal. I was too skint to get them fixed. I used to wipe the oil away before MOT tests.

I'd be very impressed if anyone can change them in 30 minutes, I'd have thought more like two hours. 20 years ago I think 100 quid was a good deal for getting them done, all in.

IIRC it was a 30 min job on the LCs.

But I watched the lad split the forks on my Husky TE300i. Needed 2 special tools.

It's a 30 minute job on rwu forks so long as the old seal comes out easily.
On USD forks it's an arse of a job