Leaking fork seal..

[offcamber]

My left fork seal started leaking....bad enough to leave a small stain on the ground when parked. I tried using a seal saver b ut it started leaking again.

I assume this would be covered under the YES warranty?

Any other ideas to fix it. Dealer is an hour away so kind of a PIA so take it in....

 

[SilverBullet]

My left fork seal started leaking....bad enough to leave a small stain on the ground when parked. I tried using a seal saver b ut it started leaking again.

I assume this would be covered under the YES warranty?

Y.E.S. just replaced both my fork seals and dust wipers. But the answer needs to come from YOUR dealer and how they represent it to Yamaha. Over the phone my dealer said no, that it was a wear item. I countered what if it happened two weeks after purchase? Then followed with maintenance schedule doesnt have an interval for replacement or state replace when worn. Dealer sided with me and got Yamaha to approve warranty coverage. FYI my bike is almost 2-1/2 yrs old and had 71k miles at time of YES replacement. Dealer also did final drive seal and x-ring under YES at same time. My dealer is 3 hrs each way for me but a nice ride and I schedule in advance so wait while work is done and ride home same day. Upgraded CCT replaced by YES also.

 

[~TABASCO~]

Just FYI....

Ive seen this happen several times over the years, and has even happened to me.. I had a fork seal leaking. I knew better and ordered the up and lower guides and seals. When I got into my fork it wasn't a blown seal, it was a worn guide that had caused the leaking issue. The guide material had 'worn' and fallen down in the oil to the seal, then it just works its self into the seal and then leaks. Its not the seal that is broken (in my case). The Super Tenere is hard on guides, I ALWAYS suggest to customers if we are in your forks replace those along with the seals. (unless they have 5K miles or less). I replaced a good amount of seals and guides on the Tenere and probably more than half have really worn guides, that might have been the seal issue in the first place. Just replace them if you have the fork(s) torn down....

If its under warranty, save your self a second trip, try and have them replace the guides, or have them pull out the lower and inspect it. They will see the wear of the top one because its fixed at the top of the lower tube. Just eye ball the guides...

Replace: (per fork)

dust seal
oil seal
up & lower guides

 

[Ron Earp]

Try this:

http://sealmate.net/

Saved our trip about four weeks ago when my buds Ducati started weeping, cheap and it does work as many times the sea is good but has trapped dirt

 

[Ryan G.]

The SealMate also works great on the final drive seal. You would be surprised how much crap you can dig out of a seal. Its just a thin stiff piece of plastic shaped into a hook.

 

[mebgardner]

The SealMate also works great on the final drive seal. You would be surprised how much crap you can dig out of a seal. Its just a thin stiff piece of plastic shaped into a hook.

Has anyone nicked / damaged a seal while attempting to use this tool or similar? I would think a thin plastic tool edge would tend to cut a seal, but I don't know, so I'm asking.

 

[offcamber]

Just FYI....

Ive seen this happen several times over the years, and has even happened to me.. I had a fork seal leaking. I knew better and ordered the up and lower guides and seals. When I got into my fork it wasn't a blown seal, it was a worn guide that had caused the leaking issue. The guide material had 'worn' and fallen down in the oil to the seal, then it just works its self into the seal and then leaks. Its not the seal that is broken (in my case). The Super Tenere is hard on guides, I ALWAYS suggest to customers if we are in your forks replace those along with the seals. (unless they have 5K miles or less). I replaced a good amount of seals and guides on the Tenere and probably more than half have really worn guides, that might have been the seal issue in the first place. Just replace them if you have the fork(s) torn down....

If its under warranty, save your self a second trip, try and have them replace the guides, or have them pull out the lower and inspect it. They will see the wear of the top one because its fixed at the top of the lower tube. Just eye ball the guides...

Replace: (per fork)

dust seal
oil seal
up & lower guides

Thanks for th tip. I just dropped the bike off at the dealer today. Yamaha authorized them to fix both under the YES warranty. I will call them and mention the guides, they seem pretty receptive and they won't get to the bike for a week or two. They are really busy with water craft as they are right next to a big lake No worries I have with Wing tio ride

Thanks for tips

 

[The Patman]

Has anyone nicked / damaged a seal while attempting to use this tool or similar? I would think a thin plastic tool edge would tend to cut a seal, but I don't know, so I'm asking.

Just as a note, I would say that (mechanical damage not withstanding), most seal leaks are due to a particle of sand or grit being lodged between the seal surface and the fork tube surface, holding the seal away from the fork and letting oil slip past. Over the years, I've used a piece of film (yes, 35mm camera film from back when cameras used...never-mind) and there were times when film wasn't available and I used a feeler gauge with a squirt of brake cleaner. Even with these crude tools (by today's standards where we now have a specific tool) I've never seen any damage done. And with the exception of once when there was a scratch on the tube (mechanical damage) it was always a good fix. This, by the way, was in a long distance off-road environment (desert racing).

I installed Race Tech Gold Valves and fresh SKF seals last week, (saw no significant guide / bushing wear at 5600 miles ) and somehow after a 200 mile off road (mostly) ride on Sunday...I saw that I had a leak. Yep, I stupidly didn't get a dust cover back on straight and noticed half way through the ride that I had a leak with 1 day old seals!

So...Out came the wallet, and off came that little plastic window you can see the driver's license through, and with that little piece of clear "film" a quick fix was made on the trail.

Oh, by the way, in my own defense, I had pulled the dust covers after I had put the forks back on the bike. I did so to add a little dab of silicone grease to smooth the action a bit. I was trying to do this 15 minutes before my Sunday ride and didn't remove the Worldcrosser type fork guards or fender and that's why I failed to get the dust seal back on straight. (not much finger room in there!) That's my excuse anyway. Haste makes waste!

Yesterday, I bought the proper tool for the tool bag, and some bright red fork socks. (don't wanna tear up another wallet)

(Hey look! I've been here over a year and finally made a post!)

Patman the Ancient.