Leaking fork seals

[downin]

I have an 09 yz450f and it has about 20-25 hours on it. I have noticed lately that the fork seals have been seeping. I do what the shop manual says and clean them after each ride but they still seep while im riding. Is it normal for them to seep at all or am i looking at new seals?

[arnego2]

Hello there

How do you clean them? I use a finger of a small and slim plastic film about the thickness of a photo film. If that does not help you will need new seals. It is not really hard to change when having the tools. Her is video how to do in > video

Regards

Arnego2

[downin]

I use a goggle tear off and fits up in perfect. I kinda figured that once they start leaking its time for new ones thanks.

[crf450319]

.....

Edited September 23, 2010 by crf450319

[grayracer513]

Rather than film, etc., I use a business card from which I have torn the bottom third off lengthwise. This leaves a torn, "fuzzy" edge that removes dirt better than just film.

[STROKEDIESEL]

very easy job!!! i had never touched suspension myself up until a couple works ago. i also bought the tools mentioned above and they dont take but like an hour to do both sides and both chambers your first time.

highly recommend buying the complete rebuild kit as well instead of just the seal and wiper all that and some oil and you will still be cheaper than the local shop and you'll have the tools for the innevitable.

[Subby]

SD,

Where do you buy the rebuild kit?

Thanks,

Subby

[downin]

I finally got all the dirt and mud out of the seals and they dont leak a bit.

[STROKEDIESEL]

glad to hear you got it. i wasnt so lucky on my attempt. you can pick them up from denniskirk though for future reference.

[crush6742]

I was just getting ready to start a similar thread. I have an '08 yz450f and just noticed that my forks were leaking oil today. Should I try to clean up around the seals first, or should I just take it into the shop to be fixed? If I take it in the shop, what is should I expect to pay to have this fixed?

[downin]

I would try cleaning them before id have them rebuilt.

[crush6742]

What did you use to clean yours with? I'll give that a try first.

[downin]

I used a google tearoff and slid it up in each fork and went the whole way around them in a sweeping manner. I had to repeat a couple times to get all the mud and dirt.

[BBrown626]

I was just getting ready to start a similar thread. I have an '08 yz450f and just noticed that my forks were leaking oil today. Should I try to clean up around the seals first, or should I just take it into the shop to be fixed? If I take it in the shop, what is should I expect to pay to have this fixed?

Don't pay a penny! Spend a few bucks getting the fork tube wrench and a seal driver from rockymountain and buy a set of seals from them too. Watch a video or two and dig into those forks. They are really easy to replace. The first time you replace the seals the savings will more than pay for the tools. ?

[STROKEDIESEL]

I was just getting ready to start a similar thread. I have an '08 yz450f and just noticed that my forks were leaking oil today. Should I try to clean up around the seals first, or should I just take it into the shop to be fixed? If I take it in the shop, what is should I expect to pay to have this fixed?

for me it was easy. i went to the shop and got a quote as i didnt have the proper fork tools. quote was 140-190 depending on if the bushings needed to be changed or not.

so i did it myself

motion pro seal driver/bullet -48

tusk wrench and cap thingy - 20

oil-15

msr seals -24

$107

bring on the next leak i am ready!!!!!

watch the video on rocky mountain as already stated , read the manual and get er done.

[grayracer513]

What did you use to clean yours with? I'll give that a try first.

Start by reading the whole thread. The question was asked and answered earlier.

[crush6742]

I read the thread. Downin said he was using the tear off to clean his seals. But that didn't seem to work. I was under the impression he had given up on this method. You mentioned using the buniness card as a better solution after that. I wasn't sure if he switched to the business card method with better results. I don't have any tear off.

[downin]

I didnt need to use a buisness card, just a tear off but like i said i had to repeat a couple times to get all the mud and dirt out.

[STROKEDIESEL]

i cleaned mine with 35mm negatives. worked for an hour or so and started leaking again.