Hello everyone. I've removed the oil seals on my bike to find some deep scratches behind where the seals pushes against outer fork tube. Would it be a good idea to use some liquid gasket or sealant to fill it up? Here's some pictures.
Someone got heavy handed with a screwdriver by the looks of it. It’s the back of the seal so as long as it’s not got any raised, sharp bits it will be fine.
What about the spacers behind the seal? They are pretty dented. Could they cause any problems to the seal? I'm planning to replace them if I can find them but I'm try to find why my forks leaked so often.
Looks like the damage to the spacer might be pushing at the seal lip. If you can't find spares, try flatting them with fine emery paper on a flat surface using fingertip pressure.
i've heard of folks using super glue and fine wet and dry for that king of thing. the pic doesn't suggest it's too bad. maybe just a dollop of LM grease when inserted and a cloth could sort that
When you opened the forks I was supposed to slacken all the preload. But when I tried the nut didn't move at all. When I removed the top cup, there was no pressure from the spring... Meaning there was no preload at all. Could that be also the reason for the seals failing prematurely?
Mike, had a look in my workshop today and remembered I had a clearout of stuff like that over xmas, boxed it all up and put it in my storage container. I'm 90% sure I have a couple of sets from 848/1098 forks, and a set from a 900SS, but although it's just round the corner I won't be able to get there to look until after work on Tuesday. If I find them then I should still be able to get them to you for next weekend if you can wait that long.
That spacer is there so you can drive the bush in without damaging it. The seal rests against it, but it won’t affect the integrity of the seal lip. just file away the roughness and it will be good to use.
One more question if I may Paul. Do those forks have any preload that you need to adjust from the blue nuts on the top, or are they completely electronic? That nut on the top of mine doesn't move at all. Either ways.
NOK are good seals, I’m fairly sure they make the seals for Ohlins. I’ve forgotten which bike it is and what the forks are, are they Ohlins?
Preload is set on each fork leg by adjusting the big blue nuts, clockwise screws it in and increases preload, CCW decreases preload. It’s not electronically adjusted. The damping valves within the forks are adjusted electronically by the DSS system. RH side is rebound, LH is compression. This 2010 MultiStrada which is with me at present has 15 turns none to full preload, this customer has it set at 6 turns in from fully out.
When you disassembled the forks to change the seals did you back off all the preload before removing the cap?
