ZXRIDER1000R

How stress can fork seals handle. This the second bike Iv owned that the seals went bad on.

Or is it just Kawi?
Or me?

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Texasl

Need more information, such as how do you ride? Bash the speed bumps (as a regular habit), lots of potholes, grabbing lots of air then dropping the nose hard (again as a regular practice)?

More to the point, how do you treat the front end of your bike?

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james1300

It could be both. If you wheelie, and drop the front hard. If the forks are out of alignment. Both can cause seals to leak.

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bcj

If the tubes don't see a lot of love, they can rust and get sharp edged pits in them.
That will do for even new seals in short order.

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ZXRIDER1000R

I give the seals plenty of love, yes wheelies, speed
Bumps not so much but as you know there all over bremerton. But my front end is real soft Iv gotten used to it but I lose all of braking power in the front..
Did a wheelie up a bill and when ingot to the top I pulled pretty hard and hit a small pot hole only about a half in deep or so but hit it at like 45mph.. And it only the right side fork other one is dry..
Fairly hard on the front end..
Is there any thing I can buy, like better seals or anything. I don't really want to buy all new after market forks?

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wsmc831

They are fork seals, and they don't last forever. Have them replaced if you can't do it yourself.

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Deven

English>you

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ZXRIDER1000R

i mean how hard is it to change them, i mean is it something i could do in an afternoon..
what are the possible risk of doing it myself.
im not afraid of doing work on my own as long as i have help you know .

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mgfchapin

It's something you could bang out in about 3-4 hours but you need the proper tools which are $300+. Just take it to a shop.

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ZXRIDER1000R

Yea, I had to get them replaced on my 600 when i was in Pensacola, the sand tore up my seals..

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D1ssent1ent01

Try Motion-Pro-Seal-Mate-Cleaner. If its debris they may work.

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Lone Rider

here ya go....,
http://www.zx-10r.net/forum/showthread.php?t=83762

Simple really.....,if you like working on your scoot.

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bryawn

Apparently the tools are just $89...

You can also use a piece of film or a thin piece of plastic to clean out the seals. Just pull down the scrapper and then push the film under the seal and run it all the way around the seal to clean it out. Sometimes that helps. More likely the seals are worn and need to be replaced.

On my dirt bikes, forks eventually get to the point where the forks leak even after replacing the seals. When that happens, it's time for new chrome sliders. Chances are, it would be a very long time before that happens to a street bike.

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mgfchapin

Those tools listed are $89, yes. Whether or not they're quality or "proper," is another thing. If, for instance, one were to follow my how-to, you would spend $300+ for the tools.

HOW TO: Fork oil & seal change

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JustPeachy

Let me know what you end up doing...where you go/how much it cost...I have a leaker too on my 07' ZX10

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bryawn

Yeah in my experience from replacing the seals and oil in many forks, as long as the oil gets fully drained, the seals get replaced without incurring any damage in the process and oil level is at the correct height, it doesn't really matter what tools you use. The difference is the amount of time it takes when one lacks the higher-end tools. But the outcome is the same.

Good write up, BTW. It is sweet to have $300 in tools.

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mgfchapin

I just like being able to do everything quickly and efficiently by myself without having to worry about scratching or breaking anything. Sounds like OP should have an extra hand anyway...

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GixxerTek

It isn't hard to change them. You first need all the tools, manual, parts, oil, skill, know how.

Risks are:
do it wrong. bikes handles like shit - you crash.
do it wrong. damage fork parts - cost you more than it would to have it done.

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ZXRIDER1000R

I went to cliffs, seals and dust covers are $70 and labor is $230.

My issues is i dont have the money to get it fixed before i go on deployment, so im going to have a bike that's leaking hydraulic fluid for 8 months.
i hope that i dont tear up the for chrome sliders getting it to the shop when i get back.

any ideas on how to slow that leak...

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mgfchapin

You don't really need to worry about the sliders as much as fork oil leaking all over your brakes and tire. My best advice is don't ride until you can fix it, but if you need to, zip-tie small rags around either fork leg.

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