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Leaking fork seal - how serious? Leaking fork seal - how serious?
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Photo by Sean Howman, The Pamir highway in an unseasonably cold late October, Tajikistan

I haven't been everywhere...
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Photo by Sean Howman,
The Pamir highway in an unseasonably
cold late October, Tajikistan



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  #16  
Old 9 Aug 2015
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Originally Posted by ta-rider View Post
For just a two weeks trip i would not bother. The oil will slowly come out but you can clean it. It will stop coming out once its half empty. Without oil the suspension will be more like a sofa but as the other side is still working i dont see a problem. If you feel any problems while riding you can refill the fork with normal engine oil. Been there done this.

Depends on the forks and how much oil is coming out but for a small amount sometimes you can put a bit of rag or sponge or something between the dust cover and the seal to soak up a bit of oil that would otherwise dribble down onto the tyre. Just check it / change it every fuel stop / night stop.

I have memories of topping up leaking forks with 20-50 engine oil and wishing I hadn't the first time I went over a pothole as the forks were essentially solid. I may well have put too much in but it got emptied out very quickly as riding around leaking forks was preferable to double vision and loose fillings.
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  #17  
Old 17 Aug 2015
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Well, I got the forks fixed! Thanks all for your feedback and tips.
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  #18  
Old 17 Aug 2015
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Originally Posted by backofbeyond View Post
I have memories of topping up leaking forks with 20-50 engine oil and wishing I hadn't the first time I went over a pothole as the forks were essentially solid. I may well have put too much in
It takes very little oil to make a big mess.

If you must use something for the fork oil ....
ATF - Automatic Transmission Fluid ... is about 5w .. and that should be ok for fork oil replacement untill you can get the good stuff. It is certainly better than 20-50w! To gauge how much to put in ... well the non leaking side will give you the height of oil in the leg that is required. A bit of wire to act as a dip stick and you have a good idea of where to have the oil in the leaking side.
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  #19  
Old 18 Aug 2015
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I think ATF is 10W. At least most of them. If your manual is stating 10W, you are good to go for ATF.
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  #20  
Old 18 Aug 2015
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Originally Posted by ccaa View Post
I think ATF is 10W. At least most of them. If your manual is stating 10W, you are good to go for ATF.
Still better than 20-50w engine oil...
Personally ...
I'd not be topping up the fork oil untill it runs towards dry or repairs are completed.
I'd put a rag around the fork leg to try and catch the oil before it makes a mess or gets on the brake. Remove the rag at the end of the days ride and squeeze out as much oil as you can.. bet it won't be much.
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