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Fork Oil Left Side 06 CRF 450X
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Posted by: knowiam---------------------

I read several earlier posts to see if I could find the answer to my question. Somebody asked about a leak being on the "rotor" side, but did not elaborate further after the original poster reported the leak on the right side.

Just the Facts:
06 CRF 450x
100 miles total ridden
no major crashes
left side fork oil leaking enough on to Disk Cover and making puddles on shop floor.
add this:
Bike was in for "first free service" at my Honda Dealer..The leak happened shortly after while riding out in the desert... I clean my bike nearly as well as I clean myself...

I don't pressure wash my bikes-

Am I seeing new seals in my future on a bike I've owned less than 2 months? Why would a new bike need seals this soon?

I appreciate any and all comments.

Ken

Posted by: jimt_yz400---------------------

Yes, you will probably need to replace the fork seal and the wiper.
You can attempt to clean it out, the seal that is, with a this credit card or something like that to shove into the seal, after removing the wiper of course, and then rotate it around the entire seal. You probably have some sand stuck in the seal.
You might want to replace it with a wiper and seal from a '97 CR250, they have a wiper from what I understand.

Posted by: knowiam---------------------

I Knew that the answer was likely replacement.

The reality is ... I ride. I fall. I get up again, and ride some more.

Never in my thought process did I expect that this bike would be exhibiting a fraction of the problems that I've had with it. It's a Honda!

Thanks again for your input... bye the way, I grew up not far from Livermore... I miss Northern CA.

Posted by: knowiam---------------------

The service manager at my Honda Dealer is going to fix my fork leak free of charge! Apparently, this leak is common ...so sayeth the service manager.

I Could not be more pleased with this Dealer and their staff... it is nice to be treated fairly in this day and age!

Over and Out.

Ken

Posted by: jimt_yz400---------------------

If you lived closer, I would also attempt to fix it for free!
Forks leak on any bike, all it takes is a small peice of dirt to get by the wiper and lodge it self under the lip of the seal, then you get a leak.
Worst case, you get that fork seal and wiper replaced.

Posted by: KelvinKDX---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by knowiam

The service manager at my Honda Dealer is going to fix my fork leak free of charge! Apparently, this leak is common ...so sayeth the service manager.

I Could not be more pleased with this Dealer and their staff... it is nice to be treated fairly in this day and age!

Over and Out.

Ken

I'm going to bring this up to my dealer next time i'm in there as mine left fork seal started to leak last time out on my 2006 crf250X. The bike is less than a year old ... seems a little premature to me.

Posted by: knowiam---------------------

Kelvin,

I never did get a straight answer as to "why" the left side leak was common. However, it was fixed "gratus" for me as promised....so, I did not pursue it further.

The counter guy started giving me an "unsolicited" lesson on over synching the tie downs...I compress the "Sh$t" out of the forks as my bike has bounced loose twice... I printed out {in advance} a thread by Jeremy regarding fork seals not "blowing" due to compression from tiedowns- and handed it to the young lad....He was clearly annoyed and did not seem in the least bit impressed.

I asked him to check the halogen fluid in my headlight too....not even a smile.

Good luck

Ken

Posted by: Synergystic-Seal---------------------

OK. This is funny and a total myth because of mis-educated riders not understanding fork seals...and its not their fault!

Main reason:
1. Dirt gets caught in between the seal lips causing a "bridge" affect. Ok, your seals did not leak before you rode or right after, but think about that little extra dirt that was just enough to cause the pressure build up to blow by the seal lips because of the "bridge" affect.

Oh and by the way, you also have dirt and water in your forks causing pre-mature wearing of the Du bushings....NOT CHEAP FIX! at least for good parts.

Rob

Quote:

Originally Posted by knowiam

Kelvin,

I never did get a straight answer as to "why" the left side leak was common. However, it was fixed "gratus" for me as promised....so, I did not pursue it further.

The counter guy started giving me an "unsolicited" lesson on over synching the tie downs...I compress the "Sh$t" out of the forks as my bike has bounced loose twice... I printed out {in advance} a thread by Jeremy regarding fork seals not "blowing" due to compression from tiedowns- and handed it to the young lad....He was clearly annoyed and did not seem in the least bit impressed.

I asked him to check the halogen fluid in my headlight too....not even a smile.

Good luck

Ken

Posted by: knowiam---------------------

Thanks for 'Schooling' me, Rob. I took the opportunity to visit your website to see where you were coming from.

Since having the seals replaced on each fork and many more hours put on the bike, the issue of leaking has not come back. The bike still gets sinched down hard enough to keep it upright.... the bike is being ridden hard.

While your bridging theory does indeed make sense, it does not explain why this replacement set of seals has lasted this long...nor does it explain why not everyone has seal leaks after a ride or race.

I am of the thinking that the original seals on my bike incurred some imperfection during manufacturing or were damaged by a mechanic during the original installation... in any event, it seems odd that the system is that 'delicate' that it would fail as a result of riding a dirtbike in the dirt. [A thought from the mis-informed]

I intend to replace the seals this season...why not send me some of yours and I'll let you know how they work out?

Respectfully,
Ken

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synergystic-Seal

OK. This is funny and a total myth because of mis-educated riders not understanding fork seals...and its not their fault!

Main reason:
1. Dirt gets caught in between the seal lips causing a "bridge" affect. Ok, your seals did not leak before you rode or right after, but think about that little extra dirt that was just enough to cause the pressure build up to blow by the seal lips because of the "bridge" affect.

Oh and by the way, you also have dirt and water in your forks causing pre-mature wearing of the Du bushings....NOT CHEAP FIX! at least for good parts.

Rob

Posted by: dirt bike dave---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by knowiam

I never did get a straight answer as to "why" the left side leak was common.

In my experience, bikes with upside down forks are much more likely to have the left side seal fail.

My theory is that grit tossed off the brake disc is thrown onto the fork tube, making it more likely to get something under the seal.

Posted by: MOgle80---------------------

then do you suggest keeping a plastic guard on the rotor to help save from that grit getting on the fork? I would try one if it could save fork seals.

Posted by: IndyMX---------------------

I use Seal Savers on my bikes.. It's a neoprene sleeve that goes over the forks, around the seals.

They work very well at keeping dirt out of the seals.

Posted by: dirt bike dave---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOgle80

then do you suggest keeping a plastic guard on the rotor to help save from that grit getting on the fork? I would try one if it could save fork seals.

I think the DeVol metal guard is even more effective.

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Fork Oil Left Side 06 CRF 450X

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