Blown fork seal

[tanneman]

Italian roads took its toll and the LH fork seal has had enough. Weeping like boy who lost his dog. To put it correctly the LH stanchion seal to the fork leg has been leaking. I think Buttonmoon was the only case I heard of replacing fork seals in the middle of nowhere. What is involved with the fork seal replacement on the LC? I have changed it before but on the R1100S, anything different? Just asking. The bike is going to BMW next week. Will see what the mothership transmits, full BMWSH and 2 years old with about 16000 miles on it.

Those who want to slag of the LC please add your comments below. Helpful replies more than welcome. If I can have the KTM 1290 SA with the ergonomics of the GSA I will be very pleased.

 

[Galactic Greyhound]

A lot of seal weeping/leakage can be fixed by inserting a thin, flexible but stiff piece of plastic between the seal lips and the stanchion then rotating the plastic around the stanchion to clean/reset the seal lips.
It is important that the fork legs are pumped up and down about 10 times after each clean.
If it still weeps, do another clean and pump until it stops weeping.

There is a proprietary tool to do this called 'Seal Mate' - expensive for what it is but it does the job.
Search for Seal Mate on Ebay or Google.
The ad contains a video of how it is used.

Alternatively you can make your own from a suitable piece of plastic such as used for a milk container.

 

[phillh]

A lot of seal weeping/leakage can be fixed by inserting a thin, flexible but stiff piece of plastic between the seal lips and the stanchion then rotating the plastic around the stanchion to clean/reset the seal lips.
It is important that the fork legs are pumped up and down about 10 times after each clean.
If it still weeps, do another clean and pump until it stops weeping.

There is a proprietary tool to do this called 'Seal Mate' - expensive for what it is but it does the job.
Search for Seal Mate on Ebay or Google.
The ad contains a video of how it is used.

Alternatively you can make your own from a suitable piece of plastic such as used for a milk container.

+1......................I have used a metal feeler gauge in the past, it worked well.

 

[tanneman]

Thanks guys. I'll give it a go. Washed the crud off it today. Took me 4 hours

 

[Galactic Greyhound]

http://sealmate.net/seal_mate_instructions.html

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172313122259

 

[NZRalphy]

Yup, we used to use 35mm film negative to do this

 

[tanneman]

I'm saving the milk bottle to cut a tool. At work this weekend so will give it a go on Monday. Thanks for the replies. Very helpful.