CRF's Only Forums

My left fork seal is blown, again.

The beginning of last year both fork seals leaked just a little bit, and I replaced them. Halfway through the year, the left seal started leaking a little bit. Last week, I replaced it again. First ride last weekend it was leaking, BADLY. If I was sitting there, it would form a puddle.

Any tips/hints/suggestions? When I rebuilt the forks, I used the instructions somebody had posted on here. I suppose I could have knicked the seal when installing, but seems sorta unlikely. I don't have any gashes or scrapes on the tubes. Anything else I should look for? Thanks a million-

Make sure there are NO knicks on the sliders. Buff them with compound on a cotton buffing wheel.

Use the seals from the 450X. They are stronger and use an additional sealing lip.

Agent,

Thanks for the help. I'll take it apart and take an extra special close up look on the slider. I'll buff it too. I didn't know about using the 450X seals on the 450R.
Is there any way that those copper looking bushings could be worn out and causing a leak?

I'll give it another shot...if not, looks like I'll be driving out to your place with some cold beer asking for help!

Bad66Chevelle454 wrote:Agent,

Thanks for the help. I'll take it apart and take an extra special close up look on the slider. I'll buff it too. I didn't know about using the 450X seals on the 450R.
Is there any way that those copper looking bushings could be worn out and causing a leak?

I'll give it another shot...if not, looks like I'll be driving out to your place with some cold beer asking for help!

If the bushings are worn, it can cause unusual loading which could wear the seal.

A quick visual inspection will determine if they are worn. If you see copper through the Teflon, they need replacing.

I doubt they are worn, since it's an 06, and I don't ride that much. But I'll look at those while its apart too. Maybe just throw a new pair in there for good measure.

Thanks Agent. You're the best.

Well Agent, I rebuild the fork tonight. Used the 450X seal and saw the extra lip you were talking about. The slider looked absolutely perfect. I've never wrecked or anything on that side, but I couldn't feel or see any dings/scratches.

I'm heading out to Glamis on Thursday, so I'll find out if she's going to hold up!

Thanks for your help

I had the same problem with my new 2006 crf250.
The seals leaked within the first year.
After changing seals a couple of times I finally replaced the fork bushings, and it hasn't leaked since.

mstuhldr wrote:I had the same problem with my new 2006 crf250.
The seals leaked within the first year.
After changing seals a couple of times I finally replaced the fork bushings, and it hasn't leaked since.

Mark? Is that you?

Ok, now i've rode a bit on my yard after replacing fork seals and bushing and noticed that, both seals let some oil to slider tube when forks compresses but not leaking when standing over night etc... Is this normal to the new seals or did i tear them when intalling? (i used plastig bag with grease when installed seals)

Could somebody please tell me, is it normal??

No, it's not normal. There should be no oil leakage at all whether compressed or not compressed. From what you are saying, if you were to cinch your bike down in the back of a truck and drive 12 hrs...the oil would leak out of the forks by the time you got there. That doesn't make sense. It's not normal at all to have an oil leak with the fork is compressed.

Did you notice that the seals are new...?

What would you suggest me to do?

Simpleman111 wrote:Did you notice that the seals are new...?

What would you suggest me to do?

Pull the dust seals down and wipe out any oil from the insides and the space between the oil seals and the dust seals.

Push the dust seals back into place and see if you still have oil build up.

Sometimes the oil that is trapped between the two will just take a while to get out. If oil continues to come out, it is then bypassing the oil seal and you will have to replace them. Make sure you inspect the sliders very well for nicks and scratches that oil could be coming from. If found, you will need to buff them out.

Okay, thanks AS!! I'll clean them tomorrow My sliders are okay there aren't any ''deep'' knicks which could cause leaking

hmm...This came to my mind, I also put some grease outside of the seal.. <--Cause leak??

Took the dust seal off today and cleaned the space between them. I just pumped the forks few times without dust seals and there was oil coming again

I'm going to ride more to let them settle down(if they will) before replacing

EDIT::::: PROBLEM SOLVED seals were upside down but thx for everybody, who tried to help. <33