Checking Fork Seals

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roncg41677 · #1 Post by **roncg41677** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:26 pm

I ran over one of those painted turn arrows on the ground the other day. It was much taller than I expected. It felt like the suspension bottomed out. It was a hard hit. I want to make sure the fork seals aren't leaking and I can't find a real clear guide online to checking fork seals.

The forks look very clean. I don't see any oil leaking from them. Is that all I need to look for?

RC DAVE · #2 Post by **RC DAVE** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:11 pm

Hey ron, yea you would see oil around the top of the bottom tube usd or not there would be a film hanging around. they will take a pretty good hit efore they leak

#3 Post by **Wrider** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 6:13 pm

Yep definitely... For them to leak from one hit you'd have to come down from a high wheelie pretty hard. And somehow I don't see a GZ250 doing much wheelying!

roncg41677 · #4 Post by **roncg41677** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 6:15 pm

Thanks

I got the bike after it had been sitting in a shed for a couple of years, and I've never known how to check the seals. I read so much about them needing to be replace on bikes that have been neglected.

mgdavis · #5 Post by **mgdavis** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 6:49 pm

An arrow painted on the pavement bottomed your suspension? Might want to double check that there's actually springs in there.

Seriously though, I'm kinda confused by your description.

roncg41677 · #6 Post by **roncg41677** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:53 am

mgdavis wrote:An arrow painted on the pavement bottomed your suspension? Might want to double check that there's actually springs in there. Laughing
Seriously though, I'm kinda confused by your description.

Yeah, it was in a turn lane, those turn arrows painted on the pavement to indicate what lane you are in. I think they've been painted over about a million times. It took me by surprise. They must have been raised a good inch or so off the ground. And there's 2 of them, so it was twice in a row.

I know it must sound strange, but it is what it is.

Tennif Shoe · #7 Post by **Tennif Shoe** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:34 am

mgdavis wrote:An arrow painted on the pavement bottomed your suspension? Might want to double check that there's actually springs in there.

Seriously though, I'm kinda confused by your description.

x2

roncg41677 · #8 Post by **roncg41677** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:25 am

Okay, maybe "bottoming out" is not the right term, but they are hitting the suspension pretty hard. I mean, I go over railroad tracks daily that don't jolt my bike as much as these stupid arrows. Of course I'm going over the tracks at 15-20mph vs. 30-40mph over the arrows.

The main info I was hoping to glean was how to check the seals, regardless of whether I'm running over arrows or a small animal.

Gummiente · #9 Post by **Gummiente** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 11:52 am

roncg41677 wrote:The forks look very clean. I don't see any oil leaking from them. Is that all I need to look for?

Yes. If they're leaking, you will see a definite oil "ring" around the fork leg. It will atttract dust and dirt and become more visible over time.

Most motorcycle suspensions do not react well to sudden, sharp bumps so your bike is just acting normally in this situation. However, prolonged and repeated hits like these arrows you mention will eventually cause damage to the steering head bearings, as well as the front suspension so it's best to avoid them as best you can.

HYPERR · #10 Post by **HYPERR** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 6:38 am

Most fork seals leak from filthy forks that have embedded krap, bugs, dirt, grime, etc that dry up to become highly abrasive and damage the fork seals.

I always keep my forks meticulously clean and keep the sliders waxed or polished to a super slick smooth mirror finish. I have never had a fork leak in any of my bikes ever in the 23 years I have been riding.

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