Fork Seal Leaking, Anyone?

[Phil Tarman]

My Labor Day ride consisted of painting in our garage. I was moving things to be able to get a the north wall and noticed a big blob of something petroleum-based on the floor not too far away from my NT. I wiped it up and asked Joanne if she'd spilled something. She said, "No, that was under your bike."

Got down on the floor and looked and it's my left fork seal. I'm a little surprised that one has gone that soon. And I hope my extended warranty covers it. I think it does. Now I hope I can get in for an appointment on Friday. I'm also still waiting for my replacement CeeBailey windshield. Naturally, in our "clean the garage mode," I had let Joanne convince me to get rid of the stock screen three days before the hospital parking lot claimed my first CeeBailey.

 

[Mellow]

Do you clean your forks regularly? Just takes one good bug hit that dries up.

I have some NOJ fork guards on my ST and the forks look brand new.

 

[Phil Tarman]

I usually do, but I've probably hit a few thousand bugs since I did last a couple of weeks ago.

 

[bicyclist]

OK, let's review, here.:smile:
http://www.nt-owners.org/forums/showthread.php?1126-Installing-Triumph-fork-gaitors

 

[Phil Tarman]

I probably won't get it done right now, because the bike is my only transportation. Unless, the Triumph dealer in Fort Collins has them. In that case, I will have a chance to pick them up before I get in with Sun Honda (hopefully on Friday).'

But I definitely will order a pair of the gaiters and have them ready for the next time the fork needs to come off.

Thanks for the reminder!

 

[ken45]

Do you clean your forks regularly? Just takes one good bug hit that dries up.

I have some NOJ fork guards on my ST and the forks look brand new.

Seems like a poor design that needs to be "debugged" ;-)

Same thing on my GW, just started at 8000 and one year old. Tech told me that Honda often denies it as a warranty issue

Ken

 

[RedLdr1]

John,

Those guards look like a good idea... Are using them on your NT?

 

[Phil Tarman]

Thanks, John.

 

[Bear]

John,
Thank you. I will order from Dennis Kirk immediately. I have always cleaned my forks with WD-40 after any ride that was dusty, wet, or particularly "buggy". One of those very small---wife calls them "purse size" spray cans of WD-40 fit nicely in the tank bag. A paper towel works fine for application.

Glad to see you "on the air". I look forward to your good advice.

 

[RedLdr1]

I am curious how they will fit on the NT, with the stock shield in place, so please post a picture when you get them installed. I'm thinking these would work great on my Wee as well....

 

[vc_slim]

Those gaitors remind me of the Lost in Space Robot:

"WARNING! Warning Will Robinson! The panniers refuse to open. Return to the ship immediately".

I'll be sure to add fork inspection to my ride checklist. Thanks all for the very valuable info.

 

[Phil Tarman]

Those gaitors remind me of the Lost in Space Robot:

Greg, I'm impressed that you've still hung on to your Lost In Space robot! Does it still work?

 

[ARKNT]

Today's exposed fork tubes do lend to getting bug spattered and pitted. I once had my Connie seal leak for a couple days but it fixed itself before I got to it. I think a bug part got between the seal and tube then later released itself. Phil it sounds like yours is leaking badly. I don't think you will be lucky enough for a self healing.

Brad

 

[Phil Tarman]

Phil it sounds like yours is leaking badly. I don't think you will be lucky enough for a self healing.

Brad, the only thing I ever had heal itself was my first bike, an '83 Honda GL650i Silverwing. I bought it in '98 and the fork seals leaked and there were a couple of slow leaks in different places around the engine. I didn't have enough money to get it fixed, so I just rode it and watched the oil level. By the time I'd put 3-4,000 miles on it in the first 3 months I owned it, everything had quit leaking.

On my two Connies, I replaced fork seals (one at a time) four times in 165,000 miles; a balancer shaft seal, a water pump seal, and three oil pressure sending units.

 

[RedLdr1]

Looked at bike----they should fit without cutting stock deflectors off. John Grinsel

Well if they don't fit the NT I can still use them on my Wee... Thanks for the info on them.

 

[Phil Tarman]

Looked at bike----they should fit without cutting stock deflectors off

My NOJ fork covers from Dennis Kirk are scheduled for Friday delivery. I'll pick 'em up after I get back from Denver and fork seal repair and new front tire, and let you know. If you all ask real nice, I might even take and post a picture.

I'll be surprised if they don't fit over the stock deflectors, but the deflectors also wouldn't be hard to get off (I don't think).

 

[Rob]

thanks for the part number on those john, seems like a very inexpensive preventative maintenance measure. i think i'll grab some as well.

 

[RedLdr1]

I'll be surprised if they don't fit over the stock deflectors, but the deflectors also wouldn't be hard to get off (I don't think).

That part is a full "wrap around" at the base so you will need to cut it off....or disassemble the front end... Luckily it is just plastic so it isn't anything a Dremel tool with a cutting wheel can't handle...

 

[Phil Tarman]

Luckily it is just plastic so it isn't anything a Dremel tool with a cutting wheel can't handle...

If I tried that, I'd probably cut the fork!

 

[Mellow]

Here's what they look like on an ST1300, they wrap around the small fork guard. I don't know what an NT fork looks like close up but maybe this will help.