Fork seals

nikfubar1 · Apr 9, 2013

Uglyfatfook said:
Any chance of elaborating on the front wheel procedure, or pointing me to a thread somewhere please mate? I'd do a search but I'm a lazy fecker.

This is for Ohlins forks to prevent the ali clamps from cracking & preventing premature wear of the fork internals & seals.
It's a pain in the arse but this is how it needs to be done
Lift wheel into place & slide in spindle from L/H side
Do up L/H pinch bolts to specified torque
Fit axle washer & nut & do up to specified torque
Do up R/H pinch bolts to specified torque.
Fit brake calipers.
Slacken off L/H pinch bolts
Take bike off stand apply brakes & pump the forks several times to settle forks, brakes etc into position.
Do up L/H pinch bolts to correct torque

Job done

As far as the grease goes the guy told me it is supplied by Ohlins specifically for use on their seals, (******** who knows but mine have never leaked since he did them )

w00dzy · Apr 9, 2013

Sweet cheers for that, I followed that guide you posted up before.. saved that to a word doc now :thumbup

albrown001 · Apr 13, 2013

My bike is a 08 factory and it has done 27,000 miles and my fork seals failed around 18,000 miles. It not uncommon on ohlins depending on where and how you drive and what you use to wash the bike in

CrazyG · Apr 18, 2013

Okay, so I took my bike in for an MOT on Tuesday and asked if they could inspect the forks with a view to seal replacement because I went out for a ride on Sunday and there was a proper dribble of oil coming from both legs. I was told they were absolutely fine and were only leaking because the bike hadn't been used enough. Apparently, when the forks are allowed to sit idle for a period of time the seals relax a little and will stiffen up again through use. Sure enough they were absolutely fine when I rode the bike back home and they'd done nothing to the seals whatsoever. The guy also mentioned that Ohlins forks do have a tendency to 'sweat' and I should only be worried if there is oil dribbling all over the hub. I have no reason to doubt what he says because he could quite easily have just done the seals, charged me the money and I would have been none the wiser. Inceidentally, this is the same dealer that I bought the bike from brand new 6 years ago.

nikfubar1 · Apr 18, 2013

Mmm think that's ******** I've had my RSVR for 8 years & the forks have never "sweated" or weaped, they are either leaking or not, mine gets laid up over the winter for about 4 months & the stantions are always oil free. Think this bloke just doesn't want to get involved, if they are leaking take them to a Ohlins service centre & get the job done right. When I had my leaky seals replaced the first time the Aprilia dealer told me the same thing "they all weep a bit" & with the combination of their bodger mechanic not fitting the replacement seals as Ohlins reccomend & not re-fitting the front wheel in the correct sequence, they blew again after one ride. Consequently I had them serviced by someone who knew what they were doing & they have been fine ever since.

CrazyG · Apr 18, 2013

He doesn't have an issue with changing them, just that he didn't think they needed changing. His advice was to keep riding it and see how they get on. If I'm worried about it, just book it back in and he'll change them. I think he's just an honest guy who's simply trying to save me a bit of money!

albrown001 · Apr 18, 2013

CrazyG said:
Okay, so I took my bike in for an MOT on Tuesday and asked if they could inspect the forks with a view to seal replacement because I went out for a ride on Sunday and there was a proper dribble of oil coming from both legs. I was told they were absolutely fine and were only leaking because the bike hadn't been used enough. Apparently, when the forks are allowed to sit idle for a period of time the seals relax a little and will stiffen up again through use. Sure enough they were absolutely fine when I rode the bike back home and they'd done nothing to the seals whatsoever. The guy also mentioned that Ohlins forks do have a tendency to 'sweat' and I should only be worried if there is oil dribbling all over the hub. I have no reason to doubt what he says because he could quite easily have just done the seals, charged me the money and I would have been none the wiser. Inceidentally, this is the same dealer that I bought the bike from brand new 6 years ago.

Thats a good observation too that is. It happens to most hydraulic systems that does too. If the seals are not under pressure then they can leak. Good comment I think that you have made there in that it could just be because the forks just need using. Cheers for the info

mark58 · Apr 19, 2013

When I first bought mine, the Ohlins didn't leak at all, they started weeping around 24.000 miles but would seal once the bike had been run, but they did get worse until they leaked all the time. Had them changed at the guys in my previous post and have not leaked since. Bikes been laid up 6 months while I've been rebuilding it, they've not leaked now I'm riding it again.

So, its probably the first signs that they're going to need doing at some point.

wizbit · Apr 19, 2013

As I've previously mentioned, my showa forks weep on one stanchion when left over the winter but as soon as I ride the bike again it seals up straight away.
Sounds like an honest bloke to me.

albrown001 · Apr 19, 2013

When I had my fork seals replaced the Ohlins mechanic replaced my seals with different ones. Still Ohlins but an upgrade. He told me that it doesn't happen to everyone just on some forks, but it wasn't uncommon. If you go to the Ohlins web site you can find approved Ohlins mechanics. Get one that is near you and give them a ring. No matter how experienced you are as you won't know about any modifications or improvements that might have come out. But the Ohlins mechanic will. Well thats what I did any way. If you can get the forks off it doesn't cost that much for them to do a full service and replace everything.

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