Blown oil seals

Samuel Shinn

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Livingston, montana
So I went for a new years day ride in about 35 degrees F. No serious off road, came home to both of my fok tubes having blown oil seals. Water in forks in cold weather? Ideas?
 

RCinNC

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Step one would be to try and clean the area between the fork tube and the seal. Sometimes grit can get in there and create leaks. You can buy a tool for this called a Seal Mate, or else you can make one out of a plastic milk carton. It wouldn't surprise me if there was some grit in there from the roads being cindered in winter time. There are videos on YouTube of how to clean this area.


Seal Savers on the fork tubes can help with keeping crap out of that area.
 

Samuel Shinn

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Jul 3, 2020
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Location
Livingston, montana
So I went for a new years day ride in about 35 degrees F. No serious off road, came home to both of my fok tubes having blown oil seals. Water in forks in cold weather? Ideas?
Step one would be to try and clean the area between the fork tube and the seal. Sometimes grit can get in there and create leaks. You can buy a tool for this called a Seal Mate, or else you can make one out of a plastic milk carton. It wouldn't surprise me if there was some grit in there from the roads being cindered in winter time. There are videos on YouTube of how to clean this area.


Seal Savers on the fork tubes can help with keeping crap out of that area.
I will give it a try.
 

Sierra1

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Nov 7, 2016
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Joshua TX
So I went for a new years day ride in about 35 degrees F. No serious off road, came home to both of my fok tubes having blown oil seals. Water in forks in cold weather? Ideas?
Here is a post that you might want to look at. If it turns out that you can't clean your current ones. . . . this may be your next step. This guy will be your go-to for any help/advise/questions. Good luck.

Some folks have probably read before that I suggest changing out the seals along WITH the guides on this Tenere. Do it all at once, anytime you're inside the forks. Ive recently had a little weep out of one of the legs and I ordered ALL the parts for my forks. (im thrashing on the whole bike once-over) So today I dive in deep and guess what I found........ A great example of why I suggest this........ In my case I only had a little fork oil weep, I wonder what I was about to experience ?

The one guide that is all torn up is out of one leg..... The other photos are of the other leg, the material is almost completely worn to the metal ring.

If I didnt know better I might only replace ONE seal and be done.... They needed some TLC !

If this is first time you have read me saying this...... I suggest you always (on the Tenere) change out the guides along with seals and other wear parts anytime you are inside the forks... The Tenere is hard on guides.


Either that, or I'm a Pro- Dakar racer jumping this and racing this beast like no one ever has and the parts just cant keep up with my bad-a$$ ! ! LOL joking- I doubt it- so replace your $hizzt


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RCinNC

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Back in April this year at 66,000 miles I took my forks apart and replaced the seals, pistons/slides and dust seals. I was surprised how little wear was showing on the pistons and slides; I really had expected it to be worse. The old ones were still serviceable, but since I'd already bought the new parts, I installed them anyway. Mine weren't leaking, but I had to take the forks off since they were due for an oil change, and I figured I might as well change all the wear items since I had the forks apart anyway. Even at 66,000 miles, with a lot of it on dirt roads and loaded touring, I probably could have skipped all the replacement parts and just changed the oil.
 

Sierra1

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Tabasco has me worried. I don't get a lot of dirt, but my roads are so rough, my forks are constantly cycling; lot of use.
 

RCinNC

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That's why I bought all the replacement parts when I was planning the job; I'd seen photos of other guys' pistons and slides after the same sort of use I've put mine through, and they looked pretty bad, so I was expecting the same. Dodged a bullet, I guess.
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
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Jun 20, 2015
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Ventura, CA
Back in April this year at 66,000 miles I took my forks apart and replaced the seals, pistons/slides and dust seals. I was surprised how little wear was showing on the pistons and slides; I really had expected it to be worse. The old ones were still serviceable, but since I'd already bought the new parts, I installed them anyway. Mine weren't leaking, but I had to take the forks off since they were due for an oil change, and I figured I might as well change all the wear items since I had the forks apart anyway. Even at 66,000 miles, with a lot of it on dirt roads and loaded touring, I probably could have skipped all the replacement parts and just changed the oil.
Similar to my experience. Changed all the same parts and found the coating on the bushings showed no obvious visible wear. The fork oil was still translucent too. Based on what I’d read on the list I was expecting a bit of a mess, especially as I had well over 70,000 miles when I first serviced it. Mostly street use but ~10% off/dirt roads.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

EricV

Riding, farkling, riding...
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There is a big difference between "blown" and leaking seals. Hopefully they are just leaking and can be cleaned. Shock Sox or other fork covers do a lot to prevent leaking forks. I didn't have any leaks in over 100k miles on the stock forks, despite a fair amount of off pavement/gravel running and an month long 8k mile Alaska trip.
 

Highwayman

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Temp does affect old seals... Been doing riding on both my KTM and S10 in 30 degree temps. Both were leaking right after. Seals were old and were needing replacement.

My seal tender slowed the leak to a seep and got me another week of commuting in before parts showed up. Not a hard job if you have the tools. Spring compressor, damper rod tool, etc. My local charges about 180 for seals and oil. I always chose to spend money on tools and do it myself. Especially this bike, seems its pretty common.

Do both bushings along with seals and set of seal savers for 43mm. Consider a different weight of oil, I went with 10w. Some videos on YT, just be sure to pull spring guides for the oil level check. That step was forgotten on one video I watched and will affect the level measurements.

Got the tip on sonic springs here if a spring swap is in order. Unfortunately got the tip after my rebuild so I ordered a set 1.00 for next time I pull em.
 

RCinNC

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I took the phrase "blown a seal" to be acceptable hyperbole. I imagine a lot of riders have used that phrase to describe what's essentially a leaking oil seal. I don't think I've ever heard of anyone who's had a fork seal actually "blow", as in it coming apart in pieces. What does a blown oil seal on a fork actually look like? Do they burst or something?
 
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