Fork seals

sendin71
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sendin71
Edited Date/Time 2/5/2015 4:44pm
I have two new yz 250's and it seems like every other time I ride them I have a fork seal leaking. Wondering if anyone has and tips on how I can stop replacing fork seals.
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Roostermx58
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Roostermx58 2/5/2015 8:17am
2/5/2015 8:17am
sendin71 wrote:
I have two new yz 250's and it seems like every other time I ride them I have a fork seal leaking. Wondering if anyone has...
I have two new yz 250's and it seems like every other time I ride them I have a fork seal leaking. Wondering if anyone has and tips on how I can stop replacing fork seals.
This is a problem among multiple riders. Good news is there is a new seal in town that outlast all the others. You pay a little bit more for them up front but don't have those issues down the road.

FTI Susepnsion sells these and does an awesome job polishing your fork tubes to get any and all burs out - http://ftisuspension.com/

Fork and Dust Seals - https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/1049/39423/SKF-Fork-and-Dust-Seal-…

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PalerBlue
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PalerBlue 2/5/2015 8:18am
2/5/2015 8:18am Edited Date/Time 2/5/2015 8:19am
casper wrote:
Check your fork tubes for any nicks or scratches. Do you ride in wet sand allot? I find my seals start leaking on me when I...
Check your fork tubes for any nicks or scratches. Do you ride in wet sand allot? I find my seals start leaking on me when I ride in wet sand. I got this tool to clean out leaking fork seals, it's a little pricey for what it is but it does work great.

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/731/34458/Risk-Racing-Fork-Seal-Do…
x2 knicks and scratches are likely to be the cause They don't have to be any size to do damage.
mtl
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mtl 2/5/2015 11:47am
2/5/2015 11:47am
casper wrote:
Check your fork tubes for any nicks or scratches. Do you ride in wet sand allot? I find my seals start leaking on me when I...
Check your fork tubes for any nicks or scratches. Do you ride in wet sand allot? I find my seals start leaking on me when I ride in wet sand. I got this tool to clean out leaking fork seals, it's a little pricey for what it is but it does work great.

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/731/34458/Risk-Racing-Fork-Seal-Do…
Is it both forks or just one? .

A nick in the fork tube will result in a seal being wasted in 1 ride. But having a nick in both fork tubes is a surprise...

Once you find it, use some very very fine scotch brite to buff it away. Or very fine sand paper if its tall.

You will probably need bushings also. Once you see the busing there will be a line in the teflon from where the nick has been cutting the seal and busing...

yota
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yota 2/5/2015 12:54pm
2/5/2015 12:54pm
casper wrote:
Check your fork tubes for any nicks or scratches. Do you ride in wet sand allot? I find my seals start leaking on me when I...
Check your fork tubes for any nicks or scratches. Do you ride in wet sand allot? I find my seals start leaking on me when I ride in wet sand. I got this tool to clean out leaking fork seals, it's a little pricey for what it is but it does work great.

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/731/34458/Risk-Racing-Fork-Seal-Do…
I ride in sand all the time, wet and dry and don't have fork seal problems. Keep your bike on a stand.
roughneck
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roughneck 2/5/2015 12:54pm
2/5/2015 12:54pm
they make little plastic seal cleaners for that..or make your own out of a strip of milk jug...works great for getting the mud from behind the seals..easy
Markee
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Markee 2/5/2015 1:05pm
2/5/2015 1:05pm
FORK TUBE ALIGNMENT. If you are using the incorrect procedure to tighten your axel, you are will decrease fork seal life.

Your fork have to be dead nuts parallel. Normally you tighten the nut side first with the clamp side completely loose. Take off stand and bounce on the front end and without disturbing the bike to much, snug the pinch side. Put back on stand and torque to spec.

Motion Pro makes a alignment tool to eliminate taking the bike off the stand for correct alignment.

http://www.motosport.com/motion-pro-fork-alignment-tool
mjskier
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mjskier 2/5/2015 2:28pm
2/5/2015 2:28pm
Clean your fork tube after riding. Mud, or even dirty water, dries up and leaves residues.
That is supposed to be taken care of by the dust seals but it isn't (come to think about it, maybe the dust seals are supposed to only take care of dust :-)
Even deposit from hard water are supposed to be bad and will eventually cause the seals to leak. So dry the tubes after washing your bike.
RonJon516
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RonJon516 2/5/2015 3:26pm
2/5/2015 3:26pm
I've had great luck with SKF seals. My 13 KX450 leaked within the 1st month, then went to SKF and they have been perfect for almost a year now. I have them on my YZ250 too and is all ill use.
http://youtu.be/y4H_kiWl2jM

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