Fork Seals

[Stratman]

My TDM had a weeping seal, so I bought a new one and got ready to change it. Then someone suggested using a little tool called Sealmate. It's basically a piece of shaped plastic that clears crud from the seal which apparently accounts for 9 out of 10 leaky seals. I ordered one for £6.50 and it arrived the next day,
I was sceptical, but used it as described (there's a YouTube vid too)
Worked a treat and no more leak/seep. Saved hours of unnecessary effort.

[TheGingerBeardMan]

Mega olden days bike fork seal fix was to carry a bit of 35mm SLR photograph negative.

It was just the right flex, thickness and you could trim it to shape, stick it between the seals, and flick the dirt out. a lot of times the seal weeps cos there's tiny bits of grit creating a gap. Sliding the 35mm negative in and up sorted it the majority of the time.

The modern seal-mate is a derivative of that idea. £6 quid is a bit expensive for me, and there's always someone you'll find who did a lot of 35mm film photography to get a FREE bit of negative.

I mean, I think most households with "older folk" have kept photos and negatives. Ask for the leading end slide, that doesn't have any picture if they're concerned!)

[popkat]

It's a good tool and i use one from time to time.

Beware there are dealers who charge to change fork seals and just use this tool, if the seal goes again they just say it must be the bushes then get the job out of you twice... Mark some bolts so you know it's been done properly.

[MacV2]

As an ''Older Folk'' I still have old negatives...

I thought it was credit card type size they use...without seeing the 'specalist tool ' cant really say but wouldn't somthing like old ice cream tub plastic do the same thing...?

[Stratman]

I'm sure that you could use something made from a plastic milk container for example; it was just that I knew nothing at all of this technique before now and it could save others £££s too

[TheGingerBeardMan]

As an ''Older Folk'' I still have old negatives...

YOU have negatives?

Behave.

Pinhole cameras didn't have negatives.....or the large glass plates they used back then.

But as for using an ice cream tub, it's a wafer thin bit of plastic (oooh...Ice cream and wafers...)

Never used a tub (margarine or similar), and have always done the photo negative method. But yes, that would be thin enough to slide between the seals and not permanently distort the rubber.

Beware there are dealers who charge to change fork seals and just use this tool

Yup, there are MANY customers who just believe what the workshop says.
I mean, how do you know they changed the plugs, the fork seals or the air filter if a rider with no clue never check these things?

I always ask for my old bits back. It's panicked one dealer in particular in the past, as I asked for my old clutch plates back, and he stood there fluffing for ages trying to say they're in the bin, then they shattered on removal, then they were put into the recycle box etc. They never replaced them. They botched my clutch, and booked the new clutch plates back into stock.

They got karma back a short time after though!

So - quick lesson to be learned from old heads......always ask for your bits back, then you can dispose of them yourself. Unless it's obvious that a visible part has been changed or fitted. (Battery, tyres, fork dust seals, chain and sprockets etc).

Most workshops won't mind you asking for the old bits.

[MacV2]

As an ''Older Folk'' I still have old negatives...

YOU have negatives?

Behave.

Pinhole cameras didn't have negatives.....or the large glass plates they used back then.

Oh yes 35mm negatives not glass plates ya git, just coz you got the hump as you cant get One Direction on Wax Cylinder to play on your Edison Phonograme...

& yes I still have the Print's & negatives of you in that tent with that animal, the plastic wrap & the pot of lard at that bike rally back in the late '70's...

[RickTheHuman]

I have used an appropriate thickness feeler gauge.....very carefully of course

[TheGingerBeardMan]

I have used an appropriate thickness feeler gauge.....very carefully of course

Erm, are we still referring to clearing the crap out of fork seals....or is this part of some bizarre NZ medical procedure?

[RickTheHuman]

I have used an appropriate thickness feeler gauge.....very carefully of course

Erm, are we still referring to clearing the crap out of fork seals....or is this part of some bizarre NZ medical procedure?

Yep certainly, Just have to be careful not to nick the seal with a sharp edge.
And you would have to ask a Kiwi about your next question. I have no idea

[TheGingerBeardMan]

And you would have to ask a Kiwi about your next question. I have no idea

OOPS - Really sorry. My bad. Kicka my ass. The brain saw Taz, and I wrote NZ. I used to always remember Tasmania as being the "collar tag" below Australias "Dog shaped" head. But, I fooked up this time. Old age...many dead brain cells and humblest apologies.

[RickTheHuman]

And you would have to ask a Kiwi about your next question. I have no idea

OOPS - Really sorry. My bad. Kicka my ass. The brain saw Taz, and I wrote NZ. I used to always remember Tasmania as being the "collar tag" below Australias "Dog shaped" head. But, I fooked up this time. Old age...many dead brain cells and humblest apologies.

All good mate! it happens all the time. I have been called a lot worse things than a Kiwi