SuzukiSavage.com - Fork seals leaking.... UNDERSTATEMENT!!

JennC

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Fork seals leaking.... UNDERSTATEMENT!!
06/09/17 at 13:00:59

Ok, so I bought fork seals, clips and cover from a Suzuki Dealer for my 87 Savage. Had someone install them for me... Didn't work out. So here I go into unchartered territory.

I looked at a chart, made sure I had all my pcs there. Followed a youtube video step by step

The letters on the seal are facing up.. the clip snapped in the groove, so they are down far enough, right? Used a pipe to evenly push them down.

When I say they are leaking.... understatement of the century. When I pulled the dust cover up, fork oil was puddled inside. After my ride, I had to wipe down the front brakes wipe the forks.... Pretty messy!!!

I tried wiping down with rubbing alcohol and cleaning the seals. Made that little flat piece out of a milk carton.

Any ideas here? And if there is a mistake that would cause them to leak and puddle up under the cover that makes you think.... "no one would actually do that" .... go ahead and run that by me too Grin

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Online Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28886 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Fork seals leaking.... UNDERSTATEMENT!! Reply #1 - 06/09/17 at 13:10:41 Jenn, I've replaced my seals once, but other than that I can only shrug. Perhaps if you can list all parts you used and a link to the video maybe some one can spot something.
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stewmills Serious Thumper Offline Imagination is more important than knowledge Posts: 2641 Auburn, AL Gender:	Re: Fork seals leaking.... UNDERSTATEMENT!! Reply #2 - 06/09/17 at 13:58:38 If you got oil all over your brake pads, I wouldn't trust them for much other than gently slowing down. I don't think you can "clean" oil out of the brake pad material...once it's in there, it's in there.
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gizzo

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Re: Fork seals leaking.... UNDERSTATEMENT!!
Reply #3 - 06/09/17 at 15:41:12

is the chrome on the fork leg in good condition? if the chrome's chipped or pitted or rusty, that's where the oil gets out. other than that or a dented fork tube, the culprit can pretty much only be installing error (I've seen them fitted upside down!) or wrong parts used. error could be oerrorientation but you've described fitting the right way up, dirty work space, damaging seal while fitting, maybe an old seal gone hard. overfilling the fork oil.
you haven't been doing big jumps, right?
my fork seals failed during the trailer ride home when I bought it.
any other thoughts?

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Gary_in_NJ Serious Thumper Offline LS650 Cafe Racer Posts: 2633 Amongst the Twisty Roads	Re: Fork seals leaking.... UNDERSTATEMENT!! Reply #4 - 06/09/17 at 16:58:22 You need to use a seal driver. What type of pipe did you use? Hopefully you didn't score the seal.
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ohiomoto Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2770	Re: Fork seals leaking.... UNDERSTATEMENT!! Reply #5 - 06/09/17 at 18:47:11 Seal driver = PVC pipe Never fails me.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Fork seals leaking.... UNDERSTATEMENT!! Reply #6 - 06/09/17 at 19:42:36 Okay, they got the seals wrong, maybe Upside Down wrong, but they got the forks apart and back together. Unless you kicked them in the shins and talked ugly about their Mom, maybe you can get them to help you fix Their screwup.. and, You can get them to come here and make sure they don't screw up
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JennC

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Re: Fork seals leaking.... UNDERSTATEMENT!!
Reply #7 - 06/15/17 at 05:44:45

Used a PVC pipe.
Definitely no big jumps....ever! Lol
I'm not counting solely on my front brakes. I'm pretty well taking it easy getting the feel of this bike.
I used the Clymer to make sure I had all the parts. The only thing new were the seals, clamps, and covers. But something I remembered AFTER my post, was the clips and covers came from the dealership. I bought the seals from a little mom and pop cycle shop, and never considered the fact that they could have been on the shelf for who knows how long.
I ordered another set of seals, and I have an extra set of forks, so I'm going to try with those.
I wondered about the whole upside down thing.
I'll post a video of the link in a bit. Gotta get to work.
Thanks so much everyone!!

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JennC

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Re: Fork seals leaking.... UNDERSTATEMENT!!
Reply #8 - 06/15/17 at 05:49:56

No Justin, I didn't kick them and talk about their momma, but if they get my seals wrong again I might.
I may just do a little investigating around my area and find someone who CAN do it and not just SAYS they can do it.
And I don't know if they will spend much time on this site, but you can bet I have done a lot of reading to them. Grin

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JennC YaBB Newbies Offline Posts: 28 Boonville, IN Gender:	Re: Fork seals leaking.... UNDERSTATEMENT!! Reply #9 - 06/15/17 at 08:12:57 Ok...so this was the video used for reference.... without the steps for lowering.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Fork seals leaking.... UNDERSTATEMENT!! Reply #10 - 06/15/17 at 09:16:29 I see,, well, that's very interesting.. Sure didn't take long to watch it.
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JennC

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Re: Fork seals leaking.... UNDERSTATEMENT!!
Reply #11 - 06/15/17 at 10:28:53

It sure didn't. But considering I don't know how long of a video it SHOULD be... I don't really have much to compare it to.
I'm trying here... I'm REALLY REALLY trying. I don't think I was this filthy or ruined so many clothes even as a child!!!!

I was thinking that someone with a general knowledge (I know, open mouth insert foot... because the knowledge is obviously lacking) would be able to see what they needed from that video.

I have tackled a lot of things on this bike...even though some things have taken 2 or 3 tries. But after seeing two complete failures from people who are WAY more knowledgeable than myself, I'm feeling a little leery of trying it on my own. Is this really hard to do, or just something you can't rush?
If someone were to take their time...an average person...not the super skilled like many of you... how long should this project take? Realistically? I'm asking because I'm trying to figure out if they rushed through it? if I had bad seals? or if two people ( working separately and at totally separate times) actually managed to put seals in upside down. Anyone on here live in Southern Indiana? I'll pay you. lol

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FL Savage YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 44 Orlando/Eustis FL Gender:	Re: Fork seals leaking.... UNDERSTATEMENT!! Reply #12 - 06/15/17 at 10:45:40 JennC wrote on 06/15/17 at 08:12:57: Ok...so this was the video used for reference.... without the steps for lowering.
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JennC YaBB Newbies Offline Posts: 28 Boonville, IN Gender:	Re: Fork seals leaking.... UNDERSTATEMENT!! Reply #13 - 06/15/17 at 10:50:13 FL Savage wrote on 06/15/17 at 10:45:40: JennC wrote on 06/15/17 at 08:12:57: Ok...so this was the video used for reference.... without the steps for lowering. http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/default/scope.gif Yeah, that seems to be a common reaction on here. lol
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Fork seals leaking.... UNDERSTATEMENT!! Reply #14 - 06/15/17 at 11:41:14 NOW it's longer.. Before, it was almost nonexistent..
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