Fork seal leaking (options?)

[Wrightboy]

So my front right fork seal has start oozing some what appears to be green oil.
Tied off a paper town where the two tubes to try and keep what I can from getting on the tires.

Just got off the phone with the only true bike shop around here (even then it's a dirt bike shop). And he said it would be about $250 or so to do the seals. A bit stumped as to how to proceed, I don't really have the time or tools to do the job myself...but 250$ is quite a chunk out of my budget. Just seems like for that price I should be getting new forks, not new seals (that's like 1/5 of what I paid for the bike).

So my question would be, is $250 a fair price and should I just save and pay it? Or would it be worth spending that money on some tools and then just work on it when I have time?

Also, what seals should I be replacing? I located the schematic here: http://www.bikebandit.com/1990-suzuki-gs500el/o/m6050#sch248672
But there's 3 seals to choose from, a $25, $4, and $16 one. Or do I need all of them?

I'm just worried that if I try and do it myself I'll end up stuck halfway (I've looked at the FAQ guides, lots of text, few pics. I'm kinda a simple guy...like to match with pictures) and have to shell out cash to the shop on top of what I put into tools.

Or as a final option, anyone have a guess on how much more would it be for some used forks with newish seals?

Thanks,
Wright

[Big Rich]

Can you take the forks off the bike yourself? That can save you a lot in labor. If you do them yourself, seals aren't usually a tough job to do. I should point out though, I haven't done GS seals.

[franke3c]

I've done it, its easy. As long as you can take the forks off you're good.
IIRC you need the OIL seal, which I think is the #5 there, and might as well get dust seal too. Shop else where if thats too expensive, ebay might have some cheaper alternatives.

You will need to make a tool, which is two long bolts and a coupling there's info on it somewhere on this site, cost like $10 to make from home depot.

[Wrightboy]

Well it looks like I'm going to try do it by hand, hopefully won't run into too many issues.

Are there are important torque specs I should be aware of when doing this? Worth renting a torque wrench from somewhere? Was thinking the axle and where it attaches to the frame in particular.

They are a bit pricey, these seem like cheaper alternatives but I'm not sure on the quality.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUZUKI-89-00-GS500-E-FORK-SEALS-WIPERS-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem53e7906435QQitemZ360367285301QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUZUKI-GS500E-1978-1979-FORK-SEAL-DUST-SEAL-JIS-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem43a70c807dQQitemZ290565423229QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

Anyone had any experience with the JIS seals?

Thanks,
Wright

[Paulcet]

JIS simply means what it says in the ebay description. It's not a brand name. However, you don't want those, I don't think. The GS500 of 1978 is much different from yours!

[Big Rich]

Any decent dealership should have th fork seals in stock. If there isn't a dealer close to you check out www.denniskirk.com- they should have them and their shipping is FAST.

I wouldn't bother renting a torque wrench......buy one instead. If you plan on owning a cycle for any length of time you'll use it repeatedly.

[xanthras]

got mine done last summer for under 200 around CNY. I would love to do my own, but I have read a lot of horror stories here about them.

[ben2go]

Get these seals http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUZUKI-89-00-GS500-E-FORK-SEALS-WIPERS-/360367285301?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item53e7906435 and some 10W fork oil.Where are you located?PM me if you need to.I can help you do them,if you're close by.I have done three sets for myself and in 4 years non have even hinted at a leak.I've also done Katana forks.$250 is not bad if all the work is done by a shop.A shop usually charges $80 to $120 to clean and replace the seals and oil.Good time to upgrade the front springs if yours are soft and hitting bottom on bumps.

[Wrightboy]

Get these seals http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUZUKI-89-00-GS500-E-FORK-SEALS-WIPERS-/360367285301?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item53e7906435 and some 10W fork oil.Where are you located?PM me if you need to.I can help you do them,if you're close by.I have done three sets for myself and in 4 years non have even hinted at a leak.I've also done Katana forks.$250 is not bad if all the work is done by a shop.A shop usually charges $80 to $120 to clean and replace the seals and oil.Good time to upgrade the front springs if yours are soft and hitting bottom on bumps.

Snagged a set of those seals. Heh, was just going to ask what kind of oil I should be getting, is 10 the better choice over 15? I don't think I've ever experienced the shocks bottoming out, only weigh 140 lbs, but was thinking maybe this just to stiffen it a touch: http://www.amazon.com/Suzuki-Performance-Fork-Suspension-Oil/dp/B004UI2BAA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1306132285&sr=1-2-catcorr
And I hope you don't mind but I just might take you up on that offer and get in contact with you once I start getting into things.

While I wait for the seals to arrive, are there any tools I should order that can't be found at small town hardware stores? Would hate to get going on it then have to break for a few days waiting for something.

Also, I keep reading that if the oil gets on the pads they're completely toasted. I think I caught it fairly early, but it was pooling in the base of the wheel. I have ridden it and it never crossed my mind (though they've always been really soft brakes to begin with). Is it worth taking them off and looking if it seems to be functioning correctly? (Mainly just asking if oil had really gotten on them, I would either know or be dead =P)

Thanks,
Wright

[Nemesis X]

PM sent

[lamoun]

You could try to clean the fork seal this way.
http://www.dirt-bike-tips-and-pics.com/leaking-fork-seals.html

I have tried it on a KLX250 I had, but before I could take it for a spin it was stolen 
So I can't tell you how well it works.

[ben2go]

Get these seals http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUZUKI-89-00-GS500-E-FORK-SEALS-WIPERS-/360367285301?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item53e7906435 and some 10W fork oil.Where are you located?PM me if you need to.I can help you do them,if you're close by.I have done three sets for myself and in 4 years non have even hinted at a leak.I've also done Katana forks.$250 is not bad if all the work is done by a shop.A shop usually charges $80 to $120 to clean and replace the seals and oil.Good time to upgrade the front springs if yours are soft and hitting bottom on bumps.

Snagged a set of those seals. Heh, was just going to ask what kind of oil I should be getting, is 10 the better choice over 15? I don't think I've ever experienced the shocks bottoming out, only weigh 140 lbs, but was thinking maybe this just to stiffen it a touch: http://www.amazon.com/Suzuki-Performance-Fork-Suspension-Oil/dp/B004UI2BAA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1306132285&sr=1-2-catcorr
And I hope you don't mind but I just might take you up on that offer and get in contact with you once I start getting into things.

While I wait for the seals to arrive, are there any tools I should order that can't be found at small town hardware stores? Would hate to get going on it then have to break for a few days waiting for something.

Also, I keep reading that if the oil gets on the pads they're completely toasted. I think I caught it fairly early, but it was pooling in the base of the wheel. I have ridden it and it never crossed my mind (though they've always been really soft brakes to begin with). Is it worth taking them off and looking if it seems to be functioning correctly? (Mainly just asking if oil had really gotten on them, I would either know or be dead =P)

Thanks,
Wright

15w oil would be great.

[sledge]

Lots of helpful advice but the obvious is being overlooked again. Before you even think about replacing the seals you need to ensure the chrome surface on the tube that the seal acts on isnt pitted or damaged. If it is and you do nothing about it you will be having to replace the seal every other week!

Have a good look for signs of damage on the tube, an imperfection as small as a pin head can tear the seal within minutes. A good tip is to get a pair of nylons of your Sister/GF/Mum/BF! Stretch the nylon tight and run it over the tube......if there is any damage the nylon will snag on it.

[Wrightboy]

Lots of helpful advice but the obvious is being overlooked again. Before you even think about replacing the seals you need to ensure the chrome surface on the tube that the seal acts on isnt pitted or damaged. If it is and you do nothing about it you will be having to replace the seal every other week!

Have a good look for signs of damage on the tube, an imperfection as small as a pin head can tear the seal within minutes. A good tip is to get a pair of nylons of your Sister/GF/Mum/BF! Stretch the nylon tight and run it over the tube......if there is any damage the nylon will snag on it.

Haha, thanks for stopping by and saying this. Probably wouldn't have crossed my mind and I'll definitely take a look when I have them off.