Fork leak?

[maxtog]

I agree, get them done. Do you know anyone with the tools to do the forks?

Nope

If not, are you reasonably good with tools? It's not a hard job to do, extra hands help. I had never touched USD style forks, and did two C14's in an afternoon with the other riders assistance.

I used to be pretty good, not so much anymore.  My best friend is a master mechanic who used to help (more like I helped him) but he moved fairly far away when he got married and now has heath issues.

Where are you located?

Hampton Roads

I hate paying for someone to do something when I can invest less money in the tools and own them. https://traxxion.com/product/fork-service-tool-kit/

Wow, that seems far less expensive than I would have guessed.  I thought it required "special tool X" and "special tool Y" and special bike jack/stand, and spring compressors, and, and...  Anyway, the $300 is not an issue.  But $1450+ and 3+ weeks is.

I much prefer the non-upside-down forks I had on my ZRX.  Never a moment problem with them.  Easy to see and clean, gravity kept the fluid where it belongs, and sensitive parts much further away from the road debris.  Hard to imagine there is such a huge advantage of upside-down forks that can offset the problems it causes.

Oh, and I got home Sat from a ride from that friends house and checked.  Now the left tube is leaking a little again.   Grrrrrrr!!!!!!!!

[Justcliff]

I've had to replace my lower tubes. They weren't leaking, but the chrome finish was worn off in the slide area & they had some roughness to them. That was around the 140K mark.

I bought a set of used forks for $100.00 & just used the lower tubes. All has been good for another 100K.

Of course I wasn't paying attention & bought later model forks. So I had to drill out were the ABS sensor mounts to get the air gap right, but not a big deal.

I've never had a fork seal leak till I rode my V-Strom to Alaska!

[Boomer]

USD forks flex less, have less unsprung weight, and less weight overall and are superior to older systems in just about every way.
Yes, they are harder to self service, but then that applies to all of the C14.

My left fork started to weep at about 50k miles. I used one of the plastic fork seal cleaners and it's been fine ever since so I suspect it was a piece of crud trapped in the seal. Currently at 75k and still going strong. I am planning to get a major service done at a local specialists and will get the forks rebuilt with new seals at the same time.

[cmoore]

My forks started leaking at about 40K. I tried the seal mate a few times and then bit the bullet and replaced the seals. Getting the forks off was the toughest part for me. The left one (standing in front of the bike) came right off. The right fork upper bolt became a major PITA and had to be drilled. I finally got it out with an easy out and replaced those four bolts with cap head bolts. Once the forks are off the job went quickly for me.

[maxtog]

I found this video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFUZbA6WKiA which greatly helped understanding the process, although he glossed over the removal from the bike.  Makes a lot more sense now, compared to just trying to decipher the service manual.  Also puts that main part in the Traxxion kit into context.

[zrx mitch]

It is easy to mess up the heads on the fork pinch bolts, a 6-pt socket is highly recommended.

[zarticus]

I have had a leaking seal problem for a couple years on my 1986 Honda V65 Magna, I've used the sealmate & never could get it to compleatly stop. I just bought the Seal Doctor & it fixed the leak on the 1st try. The sealmate is to flexible & I never could get it to clean all the way around without bending & twisting the end. The seal doctor snaps right around the fork & with a couple twist around the fork the leak was fixed !. The other side of the tool cleans the dust seal also.   

[maxtog]

I've used the sealmate & never could get it to compleatly stop. I just bought the Seal Doctor & it fixed the leak on the 1st try. The sealmate is to flexible & I never could get it to clean all the way around without bending & twisting the end. The seal doctor snaps right around the fork & with a couple twist around the fork the leak was fixed !. The other side of the tool cleans the dust seal also.

I took a look at this again and put it in my cart on Amazon to buy.  The Sealmate works, but it is difficult to use and requires removal or moving the fender in order for fingers to get around and support/move the tool.   And, yes, I have bent/deformed the tip several times by accident.  It looks like the Doctor can be used much more easily and without fender removal, which would be a huge plus.  Thanks

Yes, I know this is not likely to magically fix my worn seals, but it looks like a nice tool to have, regardless.

https://riskracing.com/pages/seal-doctor
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0068G164E

[VirginiaJim]

I did my forks twice in my lifetime of owning my 08.   The first time I did it myself (I have all the traxxion stuff).  The second time I just removed the forks and took them to the local Kwackers dealer.  Much simpler the second time.  A tip for those doing it yourself or taking them to a dealer....break the top bolt loose while the forks are still in the bike.  It's so much easier that way.  Even the tech at Kwackers asked me if the bolts had been broke loose...of course I said yes.

[maxtog]

I hate paying for someone to do something when I can invest less money in the tools and own them.

https://traxxion.com/product/fork-service-tool-kit/

Just a follow-up, the Traxxion kit doesn't mention a fork driver, so that is something missing from the equation, which seems surprising.

[maxtog]

I took a look at this again and put it in my cart on Amazon to buy.  [...]
https://riskracing.com/pages/seal-doctor
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0068G164E

Hmm, it seems the C14's tubes are 43mm diameter.  So, surprisingly, it would actually use the small version, not the large?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ZTTY6Q?th=1

[zarticus]

Hmm, it seems the C14's tubes are 43mm diameter.  So, surprisingly, it would actually use the small version, not the large?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006ZTTY6Q?th=1

Correct, I got lucky & my Honda V65 Magna's forks are 41mm & the Concours is 43mm so the small 35-45mm seal doctor works for both !

[maxtog]

Yay!  It works quite well!  Unlike the Sealmate, which is flimsy and super thin and requires taking off the fender, I was able to use the SealDoctor without removing the fender.  It is tight, but doable.  My left was still leaking, despite using the Sealmate a week ago.  So I decided to try the SealDoctor with just ONE turn.  That is all it took- 100 mile ride and no leak.  Then a 60 mile ride and no leak.  Of course, leaking will return, but I can more easily deal with it now

[SVonhof]

I have used the Seal-mate a few times on my right front fork, but I took a 5-day trip and it started leaking the first day, to where the fork oil got all over my lower fairing.

I need to consider removing and replacing on my own or taking it to the dealer. And if I go with the dealer, do I take the bike to them or bring the fork tubes in?

I have never removed fork tubes on any bike in the past and this is the only bike I have had more than 30k miles (currently at ~45k).

[maxtog]

Of course, leaking will return, but I can more easily deal with it now

And it did return, a few hundred miles later (between 200 and 300 miles, not sure), same side (left).  Used Seal Doctor again (which was easy, like before) and it has been OK again for at least another few hundred miles so far.

[SVonhof]

And it did return, a few hundred miles later (between 200 and 300 miles, not sure), same side (left).  Used Seal Doctor again (which was easy, like before) and it has been OK again for at least another few hundred miles so far.

With all the times you have fussed with it, you would think you would have taken care of it by now by replacing and polishing the tubes as needed.

I am going to call the local shop tomorrow when they are open and see what they charge on the bike vs off. I should probably get it all checked out as well, since it has been 25k miles since it has had a full go-through.

[maxtog]

With all the times you have fussed with it, you would think you would have taken care of it by now by replacing and polishing the tubes as needed.

One might think so.    But it turns out to be expensive and the shop had over a months backlog.  So, I wanted to see if I can put it off longer.  Having watched videos and such, I determined it is not something I can do myself.  Has yours leaked more than just twice?

[SVonhof]

Mine was leaking, I got the Seal-Mate and fixed it and then it didn't leak as much as it just put a light coating on the tube, but then Covid hit and I wasn't commuting in (the majority of my riding) and I kinda forgot about it.

[SVonhof]

Just called and talked to the local dealer.

$500 if I bring the bike to them, $330 if I bring just the forks.

But I looked back on my service records and saw that I have not had the bike serviced in a long time (I have done the oil, clutch and brake fluid and I have a K&N air filter) and for a major service and the forks it would be $1600 but they are booked out for a month.

[VirginiaJim]

The last time I did it on my C14, I took the forks off myself and took them to the dealer.  If you do that, loosen the top bolt before you take them out.  The dealer tech will thank you.