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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Mat on May 12, 2005, 06:19:32 PM

Title: fork seals
Post by: Mat on May 12, 2005, 06:19:32 PM
anybody have these (the pro-moly ones)
http://www.honda-kawasaki-suzuki-yamaha.com/cdcat/displayimage.php?album=79&pos=22

i picked them up a little while ago and i just can't get them to stop leaking
going to try turning them upsidown and see what happens but i am sure they are installed correctly

they don't leak when i have them off the bike and compress the forks.  BUT as soon as i install the forks and wheel on the bike, and take it off the stand and compress the forks they leak like a sieve
Title: fork seals
Post by: cernunos on May 12, 2005, 07:51:12 PM
Never used "Pro Moly", but when I was doing fork seals they probably didn't even have them. Upside down? If they leak when installed properly I don't see how they will leak upside down. They are usually installed with the lip-edge facing down into the legs. Is that how you installed them? Love the Baby GS, Greenland (cold, cold place) and this forum.

C........
Title: fork seals
Post by: Gisser on May 12, 2005, 08:06:22 PM
A couple things about Leak-proof seals...

1] The surface that the seal outer diameter slides into has to be clean and free of rubber residue from the old seal.

2] These seals have to be shimmed properly.  They need to float just a bit as per instructions.  You may need to fabricate as shim or two if the included shim does not provide the specified clearance.

:thumb:

Edit...Oops, I see that Leak-proof has a new line of conventional fork seals, so this post may not apply to your situation.  :dunno:
Title: fork seals
Post by: Mat on May 13, 2005, 01:56:27 AM
excuse my ms paint skills
but this is how i installed them
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v707/imisdwarpdtor/forkseal.jpg)

this is probally the third set of seals i have installed so i am pretty sure i got it right

never done leak proof seals before though


fork tubes were very clean when i installed them


i am thinking of just scrapping these and getting regular seals just to get it over with so i can start riding again (supposed to be in the 70*'s all week
Title: fork seals
Post by: scratch on May 13, 2005, 07:51:23 AM
I've already gone through a set of Leak-Proof (yeah, right), and I am not impressed; they weeped right after installation, and I know I installed them correctly.

Edit: I knew something made in America wasn't going to work on something made in Japan (of course, here I am, an Amercian riding a Japanese motorcycle).
Title: fork seals
Post by: Gisser on May 13, 2005, 08:46:13 PM
The fork sliders have to be clean and free of debris, not just the fork tubes.  IIRC, the kit specifies the ideal amount of seal clearance between the washers--like .025'' or some such.  The idea behind Leak-proof is that the double wiper design [inner and outer diameter] reduces seal lip deflection from the slop in the fork tube/slider fit, which causes a conventional seal to lose its shape once the elasticity begins to wane.  When I installed them on my older GS, the kit washers left too much clearance allowing the seal to move too much and I had to improvise some thicker shims.  After that, they didn't leak a drop.  :cheers:
Title: Promoly
Post by: The Buddha on May 13, 2005, 10:17:34 PM
Pro moly's never leaked for me ... I sometimes oil or soak them in fork oil before putting them ... The softer the better is my thinking on seals, also I put vaseline in the gap between the dust seal and fork seal ... I like the pro moly ... and want to punch the Idiot parts counter clowns that call it Chrome-moly ... :x
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: fork seals
Post by: Mat on May 14, 2005, 12:06:46 AM
well i think i will run to the depot tomorrow do get some shat to try to shim them better

thanks for your help