Currently in the middle of France and discovered yesterday that the left fork seal is leaking pretty badly. Initially I rode with a lot of caution but you know what French roads are like and it got a little ‘spirited’ in the afternoon. The bike performed well and I didn’t notice any real changes. It’s a Skyhook DVT It does seem much worse but it’s leaking a lot. We are going to try and remove the dust shield and run a plastic card around the seal before we sent off today to see if that might help. I have to ride to Avignon, then the bike goes on the Autotrain to Paris before I ride from Paris home on Sunday. Question is, has anyone rode a long distance with a leaking seal and what, if anything, is likely to happen? Can I still limp home if necessary? I’d rather not get recovered if possible
It will look worse than it actually is. The forks will still perform acceptably with a weeping seal without damage to the forks, So don't worry about riding it. I would wipe at every opportunity tho to avoid oil getting onto the brake pads. Once on the pads obviously brake performance will be affected and new pads required. TB
I had a big trip on my v strom and did both seals early on, continuing to do about 1500 km before home. I tied some little rag bits like tiny rambo headbands and replaced them at regular intervals. I would absolutely try the plastic card thing, I wish I had known that trick at the time, but it has subsequently worked for me perfectly on another occasion. Also, and more importantly, you get to remove the bit of crap/stone from the seal and so spare further/any fork damage. I just made my own seal tool with a bit of heavy clearfile and cut the end like a wave shape. It slipped into the seal surprisingly easy and then you just have to manoevre it around the fork a couple of laps. You do need to wipe it all down first and do it quickly as it may leak oil when you do it. I always take it with me now...
Thanks again. We had made a tool from a plastic cup and it seems to have improved a little. It was a bit to thin to manoeuvre accurately but we will look for something more suitable later when we find a town.
You can make a tool from a plastic milk carton. Here’s a picture of a sealmate https://images.app.goo.gl/9K9zQkZY5LJcKbqi9
Almost at Avignon now, no more twistys just Autotrain and Motorway from Paris so should be fine. Oil is blowing back onto the gear change rubber a little bit.
Has most have said you will get home ok, just be careful with your front brake has the bike will want to nose dive reducing your braking efficiency, basically, you might want to give yourself more time and distance, Also watch yourself going into the bends the bike will behave has it normally does! but it's all perfectly safe you just have to be aware that the bike will handle differently.
Pull down the outer seal, stick a bit of rag up there and push outer seal back. That'll stop so much blowing about.
What JH said, rag or tissue will stop the dribble and you can sort when you get home. I was told by a Ducati mechanic that the skyhook system is mainly operated by a cartridge in the fork unlike the normal spring and oil combination so a leaking seal isnt as big an issue as with a normally suspended bike. I had issues on my first 2013 skyhook with seals blowing after about 10000 miles. I put on a pair of Kriega rubber seal covers and the next set were still going well 18000 miles later. My 2nd one will be getting a pair of them too. Meant for MX bikes but seem to work https://kriega.com/works/fork-seal-covers
Its too late now, but forget trying to pull the seal out, putting anything in there will mean the seal won't stay put. I've had this twice now. The better solution is to tie a bit of T-shirt or similar around the bottom of the slider. This will absorb the oil as it runs out and down the leg. It stops it from running back and into the caliper / on the pads. Just make sure it is well secured so it can't get caught in the disc. You can either change the bit of cloth or wring it out and refit as necessary until you get home.
That’s what we did with some cloth and a cable tie. Got home ok and it’s at the dealers now. Apparently not covered under warranty☹️
Really ? I had both my leaky legs done under warranty. Which dealer ? I think this is their view, and some dealers just cant be arsed to claim.
Can't remember on the 1st time, but probably less than 20k. Last time was definitely north of 20k, but just within the extended warranty period.
