Please help with 06 YZ Fork Seals!!

[Jake92]

Here's my issue. I am continually having Fork Seal Leaks. I have checked my tubes, seal lips, replaced seals. What I am wondering is if I have missed how Fork Seals should be put on, direction wise. Can you please direct me?

My big question is in relation to the spacer/oil seal here:

My question being is this correct if my towel is the bottom of the fork?

Thanks

[spark250]

The lip on the inside of the seal goes toward the oil. Some seals are tough to tell but most have some sort of directions or a diagram.

[wakin]

I think it's common on the 06's with OEM seals. My buddy & I are fighting the same issue on ours. After research there are other seals that work better. MSR is one. I'm sure others will chime in & give specifics.

If not search this forum for additional info.

[Jake92]

Your saying that the lip you see in the picture needs to go down. Correct?

I also tried MSR's and they leaked like mad before I even rode the bike.

[grayracer513]

The biggest, spring loaded lip of the seal always faces in toward the oil it seals, so with the fork upright, that means it faces UP.

I haven't had any further problem with unusually leaky fork seals since I started using the latest KYB seals from SMART Performance. I'm not certain whether these have found their way into the Yamaha parts stream yet, but they are much more effective than the first '06 seals were.

Some have even used '04/'05 CRF450 seals (the CRF has 47mm forks), but that seems like overkill.

Any significant scratching, dings, or burrs will lead to seal failure. "Look" for them with your fingers and fingernails. Mud is always tough on seals. Dried mud, or even dirty water spots should be removed at each opportunity. Clean out under the dust seal frequently, and apply grease between the oil seal and dust seal as an interceptor.

[Jake92]

As always Gray.......Your the man.

[spinyard]

your bushings look worn too that will cause seal leaks for sure

[Jake92]

I'm not trying to beat a dead horse but I just want to be sure. The Lip that sticks outside of the seal body (shown here) goes toward the oil?

Thanks

[mkporn]

I'm not trying to beat a dead horse but I just want to be sure. The Lip that sticks outside of the seal body (shown here) goes toward the oil?

Thanks

no....if you look at a seal there is a side that slightly protrudes with the spring being easier to see. the side that the sealing lip is slightly indented goes to the bushing and spacer side. I am going to look at the pictures again, but i thing you are 180...

[mkporn]

no....if you look at a seal there is a side that slightly protrudes with the spring being easier to see. the side that the sealing lip is slightly indented goes to the bushing and spacer side. I am going to look at the pictures again, but i thing you are 180...

if you are installing that seal as shown in those two pictures it is backassward...there are 2 springs on that seal, a thick one and a thin one...the thick one you can see in your picture and is easy to identify, the thin one (it is slightly smaller in diameter) is on the oil side of the seal and is very difficult to see as it is buried in the recess of the seal and requires you to bend the lip of the seal in a bit to see it....Long story short, the way the seal is installed on the leg as shown and how it is orientated in the picture with the spacer is backward....?

[mkporn]

if you are installing that seal as shown in those two pictures it is backassward...there are 2 springs on that seal, a thick one and a thin one...the thick one you can see in your picture and is easy to identify, the thin one (it is slightly smaller in diameter) is on the oil side of the seal and is very difficult to see as it is buried in the recess of the seal and requires you to bend the lip of the seal in a bit to see it....Long story short, the way the seal is installed on the leg as shown and how it is orientated in the picture with the spacer is backward....?

Here is one other way to remember which way a seal gets installed...

ALMOST ALWAYS THE WRITING ON THE SEAL FACE OF ANY SEAL GOES OUT OR AWAY FROM WHAT YOU ARE SEALING IN....

there are exceptions to this rule, but more times than not it is right...same with bearings....writting out....

[Jake92]

Thank You. Sorry for the confusion.

[mkporn]

Thank You. Sorry for the confusion.

no problem, good luck.

[grayracer513]

if you are installing that seal as shown in those two pictures it is backassward...there are 2 springs on that seal, a thick one and a thin one...the thick one you can see in your picture and is easy to identify, the thin one (it is slightly smaller in diameter) is on the oil side of the seal and is very difficult to see as it is buried in the recess of the seal and requires you to bend the lip of the seal in a bit to see it....Long story short, the way the seal is installed on the leg as shown and how it is orientated in the picture with the spacer is backward....

Sorry, man, but it doesn't look that way to me.

A little hard to tell without seeing both sides of the seal, but his last picture appears to be oriented correctly.

[Jake92]

This is the back side of seal.

[grayracer513]

Seeing that, I agree with MK. The side shown in this latest picture is the side that should face up, into the fork, against the oil.

[mx730md]

also the piece that goes between the bushing and the seal looks to be backwards in the first picture.

[grayracer513]

also the piece that goes between the bushing and the seal looks to be backwards in the first picture.

Nope. The three side with the three small tangs goes against the bushing, not the seal.

[mkporn]

Nope. The three side with the three small tangs goes against the bushing, not the seal.

bingo.... The three tabs are what actually will push the bushing into the seat of the fork tub and bottom out on the lip letting you know that the bushing is home....

[Wiz636]

What (if anything) do you guys use to help slide new seals over the fork tube without damaging it?