Replaced fork seals, one leaking

[Guest]

I replaced both my fork seals, because the bike sat for about 12 months with out a proper ride on the side stand.
The left fork( as you sit on the bike) look to be weeping a little, this is what prompted the change.
Now, the same fork is still leaking after new seals, i changed the other at the sames time and it is not leaking at all.
There is nothing on the working areas of the forks to cause an oil leak, i have repeatedly checked this.
The seal was definitely seated when i installed it.
I dont have another bike to compare it too, but i think it is too "soft" and/or "slow" on the rebound.

Sorry for the poor description, but any ideas?

[chuck hahn]

May be coming from the area where it seats against the fork lower. May have to see IF you can gently remove it and apply some RTV to the seat and reinstall the seal. You can slide the boot up. clean the oil off, and stand on the footpegs and compress the forks to get some new oil to start leaking and see where it comes from.

[Gorminrider]

They're pretty easy to b*gger up installing. I've installed 6 and thought I was good at it but not so in one instance so far! It took a week, but it failed.

[landshark]

Thanks Guys, Chuck i'll give that a go.
Do you know another name for RTV? im not familiar with it.

[Chris G]

Had same issue on mine, previous owner had changed them but one was leaking when I bought it only done 2k since they were fitted right hand fork on mine, I just changed the leaking one but new oil in both.
A bike mechanic mentioned a trick of using a thin feeler gauge gently pushed into the seal and worked round, as sometimes bits of gunk can get caught up in there, tried it but didn't work fork me. I used red rubber grease when seating the new seal, so far so good.

[chuck hahn]

Regular automotive grade silicone gasket stuff....known as Permatex RTV and other brand names over this side of the pond.

[landshark]

Regular automotive grade silicone gasket stuff....known as Permatex RTV and other brand names over this side of the pond.

Ahh, sweet I know what you mean exactly.
Thanks.

[Gorminrider]

Had same issue on mine, previous owner had changed them but one was leaking when I bought it only done 2k since they were fitted right hand fork on mine, I just changed the leaking one but new oil in both.
A bike mechanic mentioned a trick of using a thin feeler gauge gently pushed into the seal and worked round, as sometimes bits of gunk can get caught up in there, tried it but didn't work fork me. I used red rubber grease when seating the new seal, so far do good.

AHA! good idea there.Try that feeler gauge idea first, if you feel lucky!!!..or try a piece of film! (which I guess is kind of rare now, eh.... but similar)

One other thing if you can stand it.Might be irrelevant. On My bike with the botched install (a GSX400), I tried 10.5mm thickness seals because the shop looked it up and found it listed so. But 11mm per the Shop Manual (which I'd used before,happily, ) is the one that is correct. It is Easy to tell-there is NO space below the circlip when installed

[bonanzadave]

There is nothing on the working areas of the forks to cause an oil leak, i have repeatedly checked this.

It can be near microscopic. Clean the tube with some 1500-2000 grit paper.