Help.. oil leak in France.

[steve'o]

I noticed today that my fork stantion on one side is leaking oil today.. Its a 2003 1150GS. Tomorrow I have 400 miles to do back to the Cherbourg ferry, so do I just go with it cause "they all do that sir" and will be safe, or do i risk damaging the stantion. Carrol Nash recovery on hold at the monent as i would prefer to ride home

So what do the collective think?

 

[Noddy]

Tie somthing absorbent around the leaky side then get on it and ride home.
Old tea shirt/underwear tea towel etc.
Or don't tie anything and have a bit more of a mess to clean up when you get back.

 

[david a hall]

ride it, no probs.

 

[duckspeed]

As Noddy said try to contain the oil to prevent any reaching the brakes, ok to ride on however as all suspension damping is done by the coilover spring.

 

[Packer]

As Noddy said try to contain the oil to prevent any reaching the brakes, ok to ride on however as all suspension damping is done by the coilover spring.

+1 the only risk is where the leaking oil ends up. It won't affect the handling in any way.

 

[steve'o]

Thanks for the advice, was as expected really. Liked the idea of wrapping a rag around it to control the oil. Worked really well and can stay in place till I can fit a new seal. Just need to guess how much oil I lost now. Now, what sort of oil do I use!

 

[monkeyboy]

My guess is you'll have not lost hardly any oil. I blew both mine early on some rough roads in a trip last year then rode them another 15k before I replaced them - didn't put any oil in at all. Doesn't seem to have had any detrimental effect. I think they look a lot worse than they are

 

[Timolgra]

Try carefully inserting a thin feeler guage or plastic cable tie beween the seal and fork leg to remove the dirt that's probably causing the leak.