So today I found about a teaspoon fork oil on my front calipers and wheel. Front right fork seal is leaking i think. Recently bought the bike (thundercat 01) so I am pretty tight on cash. So How much of hassle is it to replace fork seals? I suppose a garage would charge upwards of 100 for a job like this. Any recommended mechanic in manchester m23 or should I attempt this myself ? I was reading up and it turns out I would need a yoke stand for the front, which I dont have. I have a front fork stand. Now the whole procedure (take the wheel out, brake caliper, then deassmbling the forks) sounds like a pita to do. So How dangerous is it to ride around with a leaky seal, I know oil could leak on calipers and the wheel. So is it an urgent job that needs doing ? Any advice/help would be appreciated. Thanks
Wouldn't advise riding with leaky forks! How good are you mechanically? Are you capable of carrying out the work? If in doubt don't do it, take it to a garage!
I've done my fork seals myself (changed fork oil, oil seals and dust seals). It's a messy, horrible job. You might also need a special/customised tool to hold the cartridge still inside the stancheon when you undo the lower bolt. Practicalities - you need to support the bike with no front end. I did it the pikey way with a car trolley jack under the exhaust below the sump (using a thick wad of fabric to protect the pipe) and a paddock stand on the rear, plus axle stands on either side and a bar through the centre of the frame for extra stability. I found a few garages offering to do it for £60. Thinking I'd do it myself and save the cash, I learned an important lesson: it's well worth paying someone else £60 to do! But safety first - don't ride with a leak that bad. End of.
it's not that bad of a job, order the fork oil seals (and dust if they are looking bad) as well as fork oil i have done them on a gsxr 750, bandit 600 and bandit 1200 tools i needed (once the fork was removed from the bike) blunt-ish flat blade screw driver (the remove dust seal and to remove the circlip) a socket for the top of the fork a tub for the old fork oil an allen key for the bolt at the bottom of the fork (once removed fork oil will start to come out) a hammer/ rubber mallet a pair of snips [to cut a small piece of the old oil seal out so that it can be used to hit in the new oil seal and circlip] and videos like these helped me
So it is an urgent job then. Damn. I dont think I would have too much trouble doing it myself if i had the yoke stand. Procedure is simple but lengthy and annoying (several parts to take off). And yes I am in doubt, but Ive never done something like this before so I guess that would be normal. I also would need the skies to stay clear of rain because I only have a driveway to work on. I think all mechanical jobs are messy, I had to puncture the oil filter yesterday as it was so tight and rusted. So there was a big mess, hah! By specialised tool, you mean a sharpened broom handle, or a pvc pipe to jam the bush and seals ? I am in too minds whether to attempt this myself because it shouldnt take more than a few hours even at amateur level. Also, 60£ doesnt seem too bad. Is that per fork, parts and labour ? or just labour ? And is it worth getting both done at the same time ?
Ive watched the dellboy video and it doesnt seem that bad, Its just that I need to figure out a way to pop the bike up the pikey way like jim said. In all honesty I would like to do the job myself, because it will be learning a new skill. I just need to figure out a way of doing it. If push comes to shove then I would take it to a reasonable garage.
other than that you may just have dirt under the seal and if so try this method, just cut a smooth hook into a credit card, its worth a try anyway
Pricewise your looking at about £180 to get both replaced - how do I know this, because I had mine done last week lol
Set of step ladders and some ratchet straps to lift the front. Set steps across front of bike straps round a step and frame/top yoke. Ratchet up the bike. Or trolley/scissor jack under the sump and some wood to spread the load. You can change the oil seals without dismantling the forks, but you need to have them out of the bike. Drill 2 small holes through the seal metal surface screw in a self tapper and pull out with pliers. Then simply slide the new seals down, make sure you clean the fork very well first. Not recommended if you have any rust on the upper end.
I can't help looking that way. If you've never tried it don't knock it. It works and if someone is gonna pay £180 and not watch you do it, it's easy money for the garage. Would you strip the gearbox down to change an output shaft seal? Some experience helps with that method and saves changing the oil.
i did this and it worked a treat just make some thing a similar shape out of thin plastic, i used a coke bottle.
Went to a garage in sale bike tyres services, 110 for fork seals. Wont change the fork seals without changing the stanchion as it is pitted quite bad apparently. So stanchion and seals for 230. bloody hell alm:
