Fork Oil Seals and Leaks

[TimboLeMatelot]

Hi all

I suspect i have weeping fork seals. Nothing major yet but there is the start of a tide mark and a definate oilyness on the fork.

12 plate Triple Black 1800miles

Has anyone else had a similiar experience/failure. I am canvassing opinions before I have a bun fight with BMW (its approved used under warranty)

Thanks

TimboLM

 

[TimboLeMatelot]

PS. The chrome is in good condition so I would not expect that to have caused a failure. I suspect piss poor material choice by BMW or am I just unlucky?

 

[Greenman14]

I have a very slight oil tide mark on my fork legs and like you everything looks to be in good order. I don't see it as a problem, yet, but I wouldn't want it to get much worse. Interested to hear other's experiences. My definition of a leaking fork seal is when there's a substantial tide mark and oil stains are just visible on the fork leg.

 

[bikemad]

Oil leak is when oil is actually running down the legs, Iv had a Vstrom from a dealer fresh mot they'd washed when I brought it was hiding the leaking forks but easy fix,didn't bother going back about it was a good price I'd paid.

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Mate, they are seals which sometimes leak. Don't worry too much as the forks do nothing and are only there to hold the wheel in Hardly an issue to get worked up about. Get a couple of new seals and sort it yourself in a morning

I had a fork seal go on my 1100 in northern Alaska a few years back and rode 5000 miles with it leaking. No problem whatsoever.

 

[Bendy toy]

The oil is there simply to lubricate the sliding bushes. There is no damping or otherwise going on inside the fork legs

 

[adventuredon]

Plus 1 bendy. I changed mime for peace of mind recently at 42k. For no reason
..Me bad

 

[ahutcheon]

I'm talking 1150, but I wait until the weep becomes a leak then spend half an hour changing the seal. The oil isn't doing any vital suspending, and you can get a long way without it running onto the brake disk.

On the other had, if the dealer will do it for you under warranty, why not?

 

[TimboLeMatelot]

Thanks for all the replies. I'll post BMW's response when i talk to them

 

[TimboLeMatelot]

Being done under warranty!