FORK SEALS KEEP LEAKING!

bethanysdaddy · Post by **bethanysdaddy** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:38 pm

I got my VTR from a dealer 2 months ago. Part of the deal was that the dealer sorted the leaking fork seals for me (MoT failure anyway). He fitted aftermarket seals and the LHS one leaked after 2 days of picking the bike up. I took it back, he fitted 2 new seals (genuine Honda with dust seals) and all has been great since up until yesterday.

I took it out of the garage and noticed alot of fork oil leaking from the RHS seal down the fork and accumulating around the wheel and tyre. The other side is also now wet around the seal.

I have deicded to sort this issue myself because the dealer is too far away my our house and dont want to risk riding it too far th way it is.

So, what can cause the seals to keep leaking? Bent forks (look very straight), seals fitted incorrectly, worn bushes or are the forks too polished to hold the oil behind the seal? and are they easy enough to fit?

Any ideas/ soltiuons greatly recieved.

Thank you.

mad4it028 · Post by **mad4it028** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:54 pm

i had same problem with mine but only lhs on mine there was a tiny spot of rust right where the seals fit no matter how much i cleaned it up they kept leaking in the end i changed my forks for zx6r compleat front end not because its a better front end but because i fitted straght into the vtr yokes

mik_str · Post by **mik_str** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:54 pm

I had a similar problem on the original set of 96 Fireblade forks I installed on my bike. I had the seal in the right tube replaced twice, only to have it start leaking again shortly after. A visual inspection revealed nothing. I ended up replacing the stanchion tube with a new one (bought cheaply on eBay) and three years on, have not had a problem since.....

agentpineapple · Post by **agentpineapple** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 3:48 pm

if the fork is pitted , there are companies that will grind them down and rechrome them or whatever it is they apply, they look and work as good as new....
i'll try and find a link to the company.....
hopefully theres a cheaper solution tho...

VTRDark · Post by **VTRDark** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 5:37 pm

mad4it028 wrote:i had same problem with mine but only lhs on mine there was a tiny spot of rust right where the seals fit no matter how much i cleaned it up they kept leaking in the end i changed my forks for zx6r compleat front end not because its a better front end but because i fitted straght into the vtr yokes

Is that the early type or the upside down ones and did you have to change anything else like callipers etc?

(:-})

mad4it028 · Post by **mad4it028** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:08 pm

i kept the vtr yokes used zx6r early ones f3 model forks wheel mud guard wheel spindle discs and calipers the only reason was because i had the parts not as an up grade but as a keep me on the road

VTRDark · Post by **VTRDark** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:34 pm

Thanks mate

and there was me thinking maybe they might go on without other replacements.

Could have been another option instead of a blade front end.

(:-})

bethanysdaddy · Post by **bethanysdaddy** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 8:33 am

Thank you for all of your help. I will be stripping them down asap, cleaning everything and replacing the seals myself, I might even do the bushes if they are cheap enough. That way I can guarantee myself that everything is done properly. Then, if they leak again I will replace the forks with a used set or, if I find a similar front end set up from a ZX6-R I will change it over.

Nightmare, when we seem to at last be getting some decent weather!

agentpineapple · Post by **agentpineapple** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 1:52 pm

early blade forks are cheap enough, 96/97 i think are the best bet, i might be wrong but i think its a straight swap, you would need the yokes and mudguard aswell tho.
then you would have a bigger/stronger fork with the diameter increasing from 41 to 43mm

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CBR-900 ... 460501b244
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIREBLADE-CBR ... 4ab90a87cc
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-FIREBLA ... 3377f1e666

lloydie · Post by **lloydie** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 2:24 pm

bigspanishmarty wrote:early blade forks are cheap enough, 96/97 i think are the best bet, i might be wrong but i think its a straight swap, you would need the yokes and mudguard aswell tho.
then you would have a bigger/stronger fork with the diameter increasing from 41 to 43mm

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CBR-900 ... 460501b244
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIREBLADE-CBR ... 4ab90a87cc
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-FIREBLA ... 3377f1e666

94-97 are 45mm .forks .yokes .spindle and spacers
Bar clamps and renthals or 3" rise clipons . Mud guard and brackets
.

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