Grease the dust seals?

[airhose]

I read a post suggesting that I should pop the dust wiper seal free and pack it with a waterproof grease if I plan to get my bike wet and muddy. I do.

Has anybody else done this and will the '06 WR forks tolerate this? If so, are there any suggestions for getting the wipers down with minimal abuse?

[waynus]

I read the same thing in theworkshop manual. I intend to do it too unless there is a very good reason not to. A fine screwdriver working around the scraper a bit at a time used to do it on the KLX.

Wayne

[drewpeacock]

https://www.thumpertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=213525

[Dodjy]

Done this, just made a mess and attracts dust. Between rides I just pop the dust seals, run a piece of camera film (negative) around between the fork tube and the oil seal which pulls any dust out then replace the dust seal. Oil seals last a long time doing this and the dust seals still seem to slide nicely over the chrome. Oh yer, I also use seal savers.

[5valve]

I've seen oil seals leaking on two seperate ocasions, when dust seals were greased.

Could be wrong type grease, but book says lightweight lithium grease and that was used.

[waynus]

Sh*t, I,ve already gawn ahead and done it! I used a waterproof grease but I doon't know what base is in it, lithium or other. What I did notice was how easy the dust seal then slid over the chrome. The bike's brand new so I,ll leave the grease on and be a guineapig.

[beakr]

I've been greasing mine on the '04 since it was new and have about 1000 miles on it with no fork seal leaks of any kind. IMO if you are making a mess or attracting grease, you're using way too much. The object is to keep the rubber seals lubricated, and capture the dust in the grease so it doesn't work its way into the seal and leak.

[Drunken Monkey]

A good trick is to pop the dust seal, cut a strip of sponge and soak it in a bit of oil,

wrap it around the tube and then put the dust seal back on. You don't want it dripping,

just moist.

It traps the dust like a filter, lubes up the seals, causes way less stiction.

[tony1970]

Clean the dust seal occasionally, and lube with silicon spray. Silicon spray will not attract dust. I also spray the fork slider after every wash.

[Strike]

I spray my whole bike with silicone spray to get it shining real good, but it attracts dust. Lots of dust.

The only thing is, one hit with the hose, it is spotlessly clean again.

[Dodjy]

I spray my whole bike with silicone spray to get it shining real good, but it attracts dust. Lots of dust.

I did that once,f'n hurt when I slid off the back. LOL

[Humunn]

After blowing my seals (after a muddy ride and expensive shop bill) I greased mine with waterproof grease AND covered the entire seal area with Seal Savers, a neoprene boot. That was 3 years ago. No problems since.

[waynus]

Jeez, I wish I knew which part saved them, the grease in the dust seals or the seal savers. I like the idea of the savers stopping dust destroying the seals or even stoping dust holding the seal off of the fork allowing oil out, but I doon't like the thought of them effectively turning oil and dust into an abrasive and wearing through the hard chrome. Whaddya reckon?

[WGP]

I use Seal Savers, No grease and clean the wipers and seals(w/film) once a month. No Problems....

http://www.sealsavers.com/abi002/showdetl.cfm?&DID=19&Product_ID=12&CATID=1

[Dodjy]

Jeez, I wish I knew which part saved them, the grease in the dust seals or the seal savers. I like the idea of the savers stopping dust destroying the seals or even stoping dust holding the seal off of the fork allowing oil out, but I doon't like the thought of them effectively turning oil and dust into an abrasive and wearing through the hard chrome. Whaddya reckon?

Get the seal savers which have velcro, then clean every ride.

[waynus]

Thanks for all your advice Dodjy and crew. Appreciate it

Wayne