• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Newly redone forks leaking oil.

  • Thread starter Thread starter amontyg
  • Start date Start date
A

amontyg

Guest
Just got done completely tearing down and putting back together my front forks. took it out for the first ride and they are leaking oil. What could be the cause? I used new seals, and I have the pressure in the forks at about 30 psi.
 
We might be able to help if you told us where it's leaking from.
 
I think 30 psi is way too high IMO - try it at around 10psi & see if it stops leaking...

Also, check the fork tubes for pittings or other small "breaks" in the chrome - they will cut the seals & cause a leak.

Did you refill the forks with the proper amount of oil? Perhaps they are overfilled?
 
They are leaking around the seal. And I just checked my manual and it says 36psi is the max.......although if you read farther down it recommends 7:mad:. are my seals going to be ruined? or do I just need to refill them with oil and the correct air pressure??
 
Last edited:
Are you sure that pressure is for the forks? It seems high. My 82 1100 forks are 7 psi. That sounds like tire pressure to me. I would lower the pressure and see if they stop leaking. At that pressure you are going to push fluid past the seals.
 
Hi,

Before I installed Progressive springs I would run about 15-16 psi in the forks. Yes, I think 30 psi is too much. Are your fork tubes smooth? Did you use OEM or aftermarket seals? Did you over-fill the fork oil? Are the spacers too short and letting the forks sag too much? What kind of fork oil did you use?


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
I used new OEM seals, and I put air in using a bike pump with it's own gauge. The manual says you should not let the forks exceed 36 psi while filling. I learned this upon reading it a little closer.....dang my anxiousness. The manual states that the recommended pressure should be 7.11 psi. So I know that I need to take the forks off again and refill them to the correct level with oil, but I am wondering if I now need to replace the seals again? Have I likely ruined them with too much pressure?
 
amontyg said:
I used new OEM seals, and I put air in using a bike pump with it's own gauge. The manual says you should not let the forks exceed 36 psi while filling. I learned this upon reading it a little closer.....dang my anxiousness. The manual states that the recommended pressure should be 7.11 psi. So I know that I need to take the forks off again and refill them to the correct level with oil, but I am wondering if I now need to replace the seals again? Have I likely ruined them with too much pressure?
Click to expand...


Check your stanchion tubes for burrs. If the seal got damaged by defects in teh chromed surface you should be able to feel them with your finger nails even if you can`t see them.

Do not worry about the seals so much just redo the oil and pressure settings and see what happens. Fork oil is not so expensive so its just more an issue of time. Non-abrasive chrome cleaner can do a nice job of cleaning up stanchions and can fine steel wool.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top