Fork Seals / Oil

[MoreHPLessKg]

Changing the forkseals on the GPX this w/e as the LH has decided to have a leak.

Whats the deal with fork oil? What do I use? Gunna head to the shop and ask the question but can I improve suspension handling by using certain oil??
Been told to use a heavier oil to make firmer.
Whats your thoughts??

[Spoony]

This is all true. It also makes a difference how much oil you put in as to the firmness etc. That's all I can tell u though!

[CAD]

you know what to do....give the chookie a call

[Xuaxace]

Bumping this one.

My seals have started to leak, not full on but making those ''oil rings'' around the fork tube.

Will have them changed by the end of the week hopefully. Is the bike rideable under those circumstances? E.g for this weeks learner ride?.

Also, I have never done this before, and I don't have a front end racestand to be able to hold the front end. Any cheap solutions to solve this? And how complicated can it be to change the oil and fork seals (any special tools?). I have seen a few D.I.Y on the net but I know it is more complicated that it seems, like when I tried to change the brake pads.

Any help will help. Thanks .

[polonY]

Bumping this one.

My seals have started to leak, not full on but making those ''oil rings'' around the fork tube.

Will have them changed by the end of the week hopefully. Is the bike rideable under those circumstances? E.g for this weeks learner ride?.

Also, I have never done this before, and I don't have a front end racestand to be able to hold the front end. Any cheap solutions to solve this? And how complicated can it be to change the oil and fork seals (any special tools?). I have seen a few D.I.Y on the net but I know it is more complicated that it seems, like when I tried to change the brake pads.

Any help will help. Thanks .

check this photo out. examine how i have jacked it up using the center stand and a standard car jack under the exhaust linkage bar thingo. it wont damage your manifold so dont worry. after putting it on the center stand and raising the jack, the bike rocks backwards onto the back tire, once the tyre has a semi-firm contact with the ground, stop raising the jack.

it isn't the most stable method around but if you're careful you can take out the front wheel and forks.

[Xuaxace]

Haha, i had seen your Dp just before this and I was trying to see how you jacked it up. Hmm the link is strong enough you say?, well don't have many other options really.

Oh that means I got to get the left side fairing out................... Nighmare, There is a screw totally stuck there that I haven't bee able to get out. Trip to bunnings.

[Captain Starfish]

BE CAREFUL with the stand. I managed to tip my busa off the paddock stand with a car jack doing pretty much the same thing.

Better if you can borrow a headstem stand. You can also strap around the tops of the forks and sling it from a beam in the roof space.

Tools depend on the configuration of the bike. For example, on my suzukis and older yamahas I had to make up special tools (different for each bike) to compress springs and/or hold the damper rod in place whilst I opened it up. Other bikes have been fine with just a rattle gun.

It depends.

Would suggest finding a krapasake forum and having a look there for model specific info.

You can ride it with the oil marks, just keep them clean as you can. The oil will pick up grit which will then start to rip the guts out of the seals (ie accelerate their demise) but may also scratch the chrome on the fork legs, not good.

[polonY]

haha, yea its defientely strong enough. the service manual reccommends you jack it up from the engine, but the sump isn't centered and the bike loses a lot of its balance. my bike has been roughly worked on and sitting there for several days like that without damage.

as CS said, BE CAREFUL

[Xuaxace]

Cheers cs, very right about picking up crap. I went to have a good clean and there was a lot of shit picked up in the oil. I'm guessing some of it might have got through the seals to the oil. Will definitely need to be replaced this week. That is for sure.

[likefry]

when i'm doing stuff on my front wheel i use a ratchet strap and hook it around the big beams on my pergola and the headstem and then just crank it up.

Works on my 200kg bike pretty well.

[I Like ( . Y . )]

When i had done a seal which i found out was an out of circle O-ring, all i did was use the tie down straps from the roofing structure to hold the bike up off the frame just behind the headstem.

Worked a treat as there was no need for paddock stands and also the bike couldn't fall.




Made it a lot easier to work on as it was adjustable.
Any (strong) overhead structure should be fine to support a bike.

[twentyfoursyc]

When i had done a seal which i found out was an out of circle O-ring, all i did was use the tie down straps from the roofing structure to hold the bike up off the frame just behind the headstem.

Worked a treat as there was no need for paddock stands and also the bike couldn't fall.




Made it a lot easier to work on as it was adjustable.
Any (strong) overhead structure should be fine to support a bike.

man for a second there I mistook the straps for an old tape measure!

[Desmo]

Don't joke, it wouldn't surprise me.