Fork Leak?

[dweh54]

Got up this morning and changed the oil and filter on the bike and went for a ride for about 4 hours.  Probably one of the last times since this is Ohio.  Came home, walked back out to the bike and there was a small puddle of oil under the left side fork and the bottom of the fork had some oil on it.  Changed the oil and springs in July.  Does this mean the seals are toast?  Can I get away with adding a little oil into the fork to get me through the rest of the riding season (probably rest of November)?

[average]

Maybe you can try and reseat the seals. I would doubt that they would need replacing so quickly unless you were riding it like a dirtbike in fields or something. Other than that maybe the seal is toast. That would be a 1st for ME considering my bike is a 90 and I ve had it since 95 and just replaced mine this spring.

[dweh54]

Sorry, my bad, when I did the springs and oil in July I did not change the seals.  The bike is a 94

[ashman]

Sounds like your seal is shot, they are pretty cheap on ebay. Replace both while your at it, (duh like i needed to tell you.) G'luck those things suck to change, really its the getting them appart that sux.

-ash

[scratch]

Wait, he didn't say where the oil was coming from.

Where is the oil coming from?

I suspect it is only from the dampening rod bolt and copper washer at the bottom of the fork leg, that has backed itself out a little bit; in which case all you'll need to do is remove the axle and tighten it again.

Otherwise, you'd have a nice, long stream of oil down your fork leg.

[Mandres]

Yea, there's no way worn out seals would make a puddle on the ground.  Either the damper rod bolt has backed out a bit or the oil is coming from somewhere else.  If you just changed the engine oil earlier that day are you sure the leak isn't related to that?

[dweh54]

The puddle was only about two inches in diameter and it was formed after a full day of riding, changed the oil before riding so I know that is isn't engine oil, plus it has a green tint to the oil, much like the oil that was added.

As for the location, i touched the very bottom of the fork leg and there was oil there, not at all on the sides.  it was not running like a stream either.

Thank you for everyone's help

[RVertigo]

Generally, if you see any oil around your seals or forks, you have a bad fork seal...  Generally.

[Mandres]

The puddle was only about two inches in diameter and it was formed after a full day of riding, changed the oil before riding so I know that is isn't engine oil, plus it has a green tint to the oil, much like the oil that was added.

As for the location, i touched the very bottom of the fork leg and there was oil there, not at all on the sides.  it was not running like a stream either.

Thank you for everyone's help

It's got to be the damper rod bolt then.  That's the allen-head bolt at the very bottom of the forks.  Take off the wheel and axle and tighten it up, see if the leak returns.