Question about fork seal replacement

[Morgan]

I just took my forks to my local shop to have the seals replaced on my 07 CBR600RR.  I figured that it shouldn't be altogether complicated for a crew that sells and services MV Agusta and Moto Guzzi.  

So here's the question:  Is it normal for the seals to weep for a while after replacement?  I've never had this issue with other seal replacements, but after spending a couple of hours carefully reinstalling everything and re-torquing everything to spec, I rode the bike and the seals are weeping.  They were wet when I picked them up from the shop, actually.

Any thoughts (other than calling tomorrow AM and letting the shop know that I'll be bringing the forks back)?

[pak29]

Hi there!  Mechanic and first time poster here.  

Yes, after the disassembly and reassembly, there is usually some excess oil hanging around above (or in the case of your upside-down forks, below) the seal, which gets pulled out onto the visible portion of the slider bit by bit.  It should be no more than a trace amount, and be gone within a day or two.  If it's any more than that, bring it back to the shop ASAP.  Be polite, but show them that it has been leaking since you got it back.  Seals sometimes get chewed up in installation, and they should fix it.  

[mxvet57]

No they should not. If so the new seal may be old and dyed out or it was torn during installation. There may be a slight residue of oil on the fork tube after assembly but that will wipe off and the tube should stay dry.

I have been doing my own fork rebuilding for the last 30 years and have never had a fork seal leak after installation.

[bomber]

+1 -- they may have not cleaned up the forks when they finished the work, but if YOU do, and wipe all the oil off, and find any more at all the next day or so, take the forks back to em.

You CAN nick a seal during installtion, but if you do, you should fix it.

[Papa Lazarou]

I've never had a fork seal leak after replacement. Either by myself or by someone who knows what they are doing.

[sprint_st]

Hi there!  Mechanic and first time poster here.  

Yes, after the disassembly and reassembly, there is usually some excess oil hanging around above (or in the case of your upside-down forks, below) the seal, which gets pulled out onto the visible portion of the slider bit by bit.  It should be no more than a trace amount, and be gone within a day or two.  If it's any more than that, bring it back to the shop ASAP.  Be polite, but show them that it has been leaking since you got it back.  Seals sometimes get chewed up in installation, and they should fix it.  

I am in agreement with the above, kinda sorta.   The seals shouldn't be weeping, leaking, whatever, but my dust covers were in excellent shape and did not need replaced.  Those dust covers did collect some oil when I cleaned the space between the outer and inner tubes before taking them apart.  In other words the oil was not oil from in the tubes.  For maybe a day, I had a ring on my reinstalled tubes then it went away.

[Kraz]

I have been doing my own fork rebuilding for the last 30 years and have never had a fork seal leak after installation.

I have... it was pretty obvious that I had screwed it up through, and required a new set.    If it's weeping - it's bad.

A little residue?  Ok, but not weeping.


If there's a damage or pitting to the chrome on the oleo - that'll cause a weep too, and destroy seals in short order.  Pitting can usually be touched up with some high grit sandpaper - not sure if this is applicable to your case though.