| Author | Message | ||
     Desert_bird |
I'm away from home often because I work overseas. In the meantime I have my little nephew start up my '08 Uly every several months just to get the oil circulating and recharge the battery. Last time he writes me back saying there is "oil all over the floor under the bike." Well, I go into crisis mode - as if I can really do anything about it anyhow. A buddy comes over to take a look, and he says that it seems like a front fork seal is leaking. Then slyly gives the ole "I told you so" about why he prefers his new 800GS instead. Great. Thanks A-hole. Any ideas how a well-maintained and easily- ridden Uly with only 10K miles on it could suddenly spring a front fork leak and dump all the oil out? It sits in a shed, but it hasn't gotten so hot in there yet. It hasn't been but 3 months since I rode it. Or is it exactly the fact that it hasn't been ridden; that the movement of fork helps seal and maintain the fork internals, and without enough movement the seals are more liable to shrink . . . ? What else could that be? Nothing coming from the brake lines. Appreciate your feedback. (Message edited by Desert_bird on May 08, 2009) | ||
| Rwven |
In a male slider fork isn't the vast majority of the oil in the slider below the seal? | ||
| Etennuly |
Maybe something got spilled on the bike?  | ||
| Xbimmer |
Al at American Sport Bike told me when I was having fork seal problems that sometimes a piece of the teflon bushing coating will get stuck in the seal. He suggested slipping a thin piece of plastic like acetate film or camera film in there and around the tube to clear any obstructions. That wasn't my problem though, I had corrosion pitting on the right tube down at the bottom that was cutting the seals. I buffed those down and put some Fork Skins on and my seals have been fine for over 30K. Fork seals R&R and fork servicing is a piece of cake anyway. | ||
| Froggy |
Not to sidetrack the thread, but I wouldn't do that. I would "winterize" the bike, and either put it on a trickle charger or forget about it. You are doing more harm than good by starting it up, going nowhere and then shutting it off after a short period. | ||
| Xbimmer |
+1. Raw fuel dumping past the rings into the case, water vapor getting into the oil and reservoir without things getting hot enough to burn it off... not good. | ||
| Desert_bird |
Thanks Xbimmer, Froggy. I make sure that he lets the bike idle for a good 10-15 minutes in order that everything thoroughly warms up before shutting her down. The bike has been in a high and dry place. I can't see any pitting or corrosion as the issue. Strange. Well, I guess that this means I'll have to go ahead with the fork service at 10K instead of 20. | ||
| Mike_dinger |
FWIW, I had my left fork seal replaced at my 10k service, under warranty. Didn't pool on the floor, but it was leaking down the slider. |
