Fork oil seals - Miracle

[Grant66]

Got the bike out after the winter break.
Big grins.

Noticed that one of the forks was dripping a bit of oil. Boo.

So rang garage and got it booked in on Wednesday for a oil seal change.

Checked after a short ride home tonight & the seal has stopped leaking
Could somebody tell me which of the following is most likely.

A) That's not possible, they don't get better. Go ahead with oil seal change.

B) They can do that but don't risk it. Go ahead with oil seal change.

C) Seals can reseat with a bit of use following a winter break. Save the money, put it towards a new can.

Feel free to add a D)

[yorkie_chris]

D) Fork has emptied itself of oil completely

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

D) Fork has emptied itself of oil completely

My thoughts exactly.

[Grant66]

Must admit its something I hadn't considered.

Surely I'd have a fork covered in oil if the fork had emptied in under 50 miles.
Perhaps its better described as weeping than leaking

Out of interest what would happen to the suspension if one side had considerably less damping than the other?

[yorkie_chris]

It'd just be more pogo like than usual.

Anyway I'd advise changing them to be on the safe side

i get this on my LC all the time

they leek and then stop for a week or so then leek again for a month....

Wouldnt worry about the oil, i get streems of it down the fork legs sometimes...

however i would say get it changed at some point but not "right now"

[yorkie_chris]

But do top the oil up if you're going to leave it.

Edit: please see my earlier post, this is still not a good idea!

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

D) Fork has emptied itself of oil completely

yup

get it fixed.......... the last thing you want is fork oil running onto your brake discs

[flymo]

Originally Posted by suzsv650

Wouldnt worry about the oil, i get streems of it down the fork legs sometimes...

Surely this is not good advice! Leaking seals means leaking seals, they arent supposed to do that. If there is no obvious damage or pitting to the fork stanchion surface then the seals have probably just hardened over time. It is rubber and so can perish.

Take it easy and get them serviced/changed.

Originally Posted by flymo

Surely this is not good advice! Leaking seals means leaking seals, they arent supposed to do that. If there is no obvious damage or pitting to the fork stanchion surface then the seals have probably just hardened over time. It is rubber and so can perish.

Take it easy and get them serviced/changed.

yea well i know they leek LCs are renowned for leeking

i always carry a rag and wipe em down every time i stop

and yes i do replace them they have been replaced twice in about 2000miles over a 2 year period.

but i can't be bothered to do them again as a oil seel has just blown and ive got water in the dam gearbox and all over the back weal! you try riding that home....