Can you fix leaky forks for free?

How to clean out fork seals (for free). Make your own tool out of scrap plastic to scrape fork seals and (hopefully) slow down or eliminate any seal leaks.
This technique works when dirt or debris is caught under the seal lip, holding it off the fork tube and allowing oil to leak out. The tool helps to clean the debris out. It will not save fork seals that are damaged.
Thanks for watching. Please ask any questions via the comments below or through my Facebook page or website.
Krankengineering.com
Facebook.com/krankengineering
KZbin/c/krankengineering
krankengineering
Cheers
Matt McLeod
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[@almostabeast240]

I rarely comment on youtube, but you just saved my bacon (and money), and i am extremely grateful for that. I just bought a used crf250l, and one fork started leaking on the way home. I was already stressed about having to spend even more money on the bike, but this fixed it completely! Lets just hope the fix lasts!

[@KappaCow]

I'm in the same boat. Just bought a used yz125 and noticed the forks were leaking when I got home, gonna try this and hopefully it works. Has it lasted long for you?

[@MrAusadventure]

Holy crap! Thanks mate. This video saved me today big time! I went and had a new tyre put on today in preparation for a ride tomorrow and they told me my fork seal was leaking. By the time I got home, oil was pissing out everywhere. So I searched online hoping for an easy fix, found my way here, did it, test rode the bike and hey presto! No more leak!

[@krankengineering]

+MrAusAdventure ha ha awesome!

[@gingchurcher6668]

Works for my vtr1000 as well

[@RayA-oo4lv]

Man, thanks so much. was looking at replacing the seal and being so time poor found your video sorted the issue with no more leaks. Free fix, genius.

[@markfarmer36]

Just tried this on my F800s worked like a charm. Thanks for the upload mate, I was just about to strip down my forks👍👍👍🙏🙏

[@krankengineering]

Great to hear!

[@grmacbean]

Works a treat. Popped dust seal off, cleaned it. Then wiped out excess fork oil, slipped in the "tool" and whizzed it gently around. Pulled out the dirt and grime and did this twice. All sorted! Now going to take bike for MOT!

[@sudiplimbu8218]

Matt, its really amazing. Just a use of a common sense and saved huge expenses.

[@Mike-mz9cm]

This worked. I likely need new seals soon (26000 km) but it was leaking enough to put a puddle on the floor. Now, it barely leaves a line on the tube after bouncing it multiple times. Thank you.

[@jacob9340]

This my friends, is the TRUE beauty of KZbin

[@Phil480]

Thanks for this! Someone had sent me a link to this video to try out as one of my fork seals had started leaking. For now at least, it looks like it’s done the job, saving me £150!

[@krankengineering]

Concrete warranty on these repairs, warranty ends when it leaves the concrete 😂

[@vvalekk]

Thanks so much for this. Totally did the trick. Easy peasy and no more leak.

[@krankengineering]

💪

[@ME262MKI]

This is one of those ideas that are revolutionary! (Well not so much), this saved me hours of work on fork seals

[@krankengineering]

Good to hear!

[@joshsevens9611]

@@krankengineering Did it end up working?

[@mattmcleod1975]

@@joshsevens9611 yes it works for dirt in the seal. It doesn't magically restore cut or worn lips or springs that have lost tension. Its just a cleaning device. The best part is the cost is $0 and it takes 15 minutes to try it out.

[@harryovermyer4163]

I tried this on my 81 Suzuki GS650. Had to wipe forks constantly. Not anymore. Thanks for the excellent tip!

[@chriscs9080]

I used gauge feeler that I have for adjusting valve clearance ... Worked like a charm 🤙

[@J4ff3568]

Nice tip. Wish id seen this before shelling out £170 for new seals. My dust seals were cracking tho. Only down side is with usd forks where you could have lost alot of oil without noticing the leak. If you catch it early this is great and way cheeper than a "seal mate"

[@ragazzi25]

I did that trick on my Kawasaki ZR7...so far so good! thanks mate.

[@kennethreuter8064]

hey, it worked out perfectly on my upside down fork, gsxr 750, 2011. thanks for the video :D

[@krankengineering]

+kenneth reuter Sweet!! Thanks for the feedback!!

[@SirDamned]

a milk jug! Good idea, I've seen scouring my house for stuff to rip up and use lol

[@antoninhelesic3623]

I was skeptical but this method working well 👍👍👍👍👍Thank You soo much!!!!!! You save me a lot of money 👍👍👍

[@krankengineering]

Good to hear!

[@goonigoogoo5868]

you did exactly what I did. I was not going to pay 12 euro for a piece of plastic I can cut myself from scrap plastic laying around..btw it worked well. no more leak

[@michaelbarnes5293]

This is why KZbin is so good,people sharing tips,saving people money,at least try it.

[@krankengineering]

Exactly Michael, free material and 15 minutes work 👍

[@vintagebikes4215]

I did this and it works

[@roydonthomas]

Saved me twice now. Thanks mate !

[@martinoconnor4314]

Thanks Matt, I did this today on my Zephyr forks and it has deffo improved them but I need to take her for a test ride later. One thing I will add if I may, also use the tool on the inside of your dust seals when they are raised up, I cleaned the underside first by jamming a tissue up from the bottom then rotated the dust seals held against the tissue. Then I used the tool on the dust seals, then the tissue, then the tool etc... until no more snot (oil mixed with water) was visible on a clean tissue. There was an awful lot of crap under the dust seals that wasn't doing any good.

[@krankengineering]

Hope it works for you Martin 👍

[@martinoconnor4314]

Thanks Matt, after a 30 mile test ride there was no misting of oil on the forks. Cheers Mate!

[@DifferentRides]

Got mot on Saturday will give it a try 👌👍

[@tigerhays]

Used plastic from my big gulp cup. Worked like a charm. Drink and a fixed fork for $1.79. Can’t beat it. Win win. Yz250f

[@krankengineering]

Winner 💪but spending a buck seventy nine is a bit much 😂

[@drivefact]

Just amazing, It worked!

[@atifliaqat8159]

Solved my issue too on my 150cc. Anything will work not just seal mate. A plastic with a hook like side so it can accumulate oily dirt.

[@sashqa0]

I'm sold

[@demitressmcdougald1355]

Thanks for the video just saved me some money

[@krankengineering]

Glad I could help

[@krishaanwright2772]

Mate you just saved my weekend. Cheers!

[@krankengineering]

Glad I could help!

[@IlPazzo125]

Thank you from Italy!!!! It worked!

[@krankengineering]

Glad to hear 👊

[@HGreen-le4nc]

gday matt, thanks for the tip and passing this onto other bikers C8)

[@captainwho5128]

Cheers! Will be doing this soon on an SV

[@hulluhomer2]

Awesome tip! Saved me big bucks on my '99 Honda Hornet

[@MrJackson04]

Thanks for this advice. It worked on my Suzuki V-Strom.

[@nicoguidera2886]

Thank you, sir, it works wonders on my '78 Guzzi 1000SP!

[@krankengineering]

Glad to hear it helped!

[@calvinrobert2899]

I really appreciate the way that you did your video on front fork seals. I am thinking that my forks is leaking from the bottom. Also, how do you put oil back into the forks,????

[@krankengineering]

Hi Calvin, normally you put the oil back in at the top, there should be a cap of some description that can be removed to refill the forks. If you think the forks are leaking from some other location, wipe them down so they are completely clean, then have a look after the next ride. On one of my bikes the fork seal was leaking at the top but the oil was running down the inside of the fork (I couldn’t see it) and dripping onto the ground below. Depending on your bike (age and model) there may or may not be a fitting of some description at the bottom to drain the oil. On the old Harley in this video, they have a tiny screw plug that is sealed with a copper washer. If yours is similar, you could check whether there is a leak at the fitting. Good luck!

[@bengtallebrink6860]

Thanks so much, this video saved me!

[@joelsuarez4251]

Yes Sir Thank you

[@iRidetas]

Brilliant, worked a treat. Thanks mate!

[@krankengineering]

Awesome, thanks for letting me know!

[@bm7760]

Doing this on my Guzzi tomorrow. Cheers. Only thing is, I've had to chuck a sickie... Oh well, in 100 years who's going to give a shit? ;-)

[@notamotorbikemechanic]

Can't wait for my fork seals to leak...so I can try this 😂🏍

[@Loki666Mega]

You can probably do that beforehand, preventitive maintenance rocks!

[@faustin289]

You make no sense at all.

[@notamotorbikemechanic]

@@faustin289 your obvious American, yank don’t get humour 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Joms7]

it helps, THANKS MAN!

[@jeremyromand]

Brilliant! I used a yogurt container. It has a curve in it already.

[@krankengineering]

Yoghurt for the win 💪😆

[@MrAmjedkhan]

woooooooow nice infoemation may you live long

[@0991ekul]

gonna try this on my race bike.

[@stevo9676]

Nice one dude! thanks. :-)

[@krankengineering]

Hope it works for you!

[@kazkoks]

When I insert the plastik into the seal it just sprays the oil with preasure from the gap. What I am doing wrong?

[@teaguejelinek4038]

I am changing my fork oil with new oil. My manual says 10w20 but I can't seem to find that anywhere? This is the last thing I need before I put my forks all back on my bike. Anyone have any suggestions?

[@joshsevens9611]

Did it end up working in the end?

[@krankengineering]

Yeah kept them going until I tore them down recently for use on another bike 👍

[@karanbundhela3336]

I did the same , but fork oil seal is not leaking at all ,but when the bike is going in potholes fork rod is slightly oil , oil seal are new btw help me is it safe to ride has i have put new rod

[@sw74glssuperstar61]

nice hair dude! :)

[@shiftyshamsk]

😂😂

[@Shawn855]

My tool didn't go all the way through the seal. Not sure why but anyways it still ended up working and now my seal doesn't leak yay !

[@woosahmusic1407]

so you dont need to add fluid? so that means each forks have uneven amount inside?

[@krankengineering]

If you’ve lost fluid due to a leak then yes, you might need to add fluid. However on bikes where the fluid fill is a fixed volume of oil, you really need to drain and refill with the correct amount because you have no idea how much has leaked out.

[@gingchurcher6668]

This fix my vtr1000

[@mrthomaslaux1]

But if there is oil like that doesnt it mean that the dampers are shot? Or these dont have one, just a spring and oil in the tube? I have shadow and never looked at it

[@krankengineering]

Hey Thomas, the dampers are internal parts of the suspension that modulate oil flow (to create the “damping” and slow down the motion of the forks when you hit a bump). These oil seals simply keep the oil inside the fork assembly. Eventually they start to leak or are damaged by any pitting in the tubes scraping past the seals.

[@rplagas]

i made my tool out of the covid plastic face mask,, worked perfect !!

[@300zxdriver]

Does it stay fixed?

[@krankengineering]

Mine are still going but that old bike is not a daily ride

[@AchillesCanine]

Did it fix the leak?

[@krankengineering]

AchillesCanine in this case no, as I said I had just installed new seals, I didn't admit I had bought really cheap ones off eBay. I got three cheap sets for the price of one good set. They were rubbish. I had to buy some good ones and build the forks again. And I threw out the spare two sets of cheap ones before I even used them!

[@AchillesCanine]

Matt McLeod . I made a Seal-Mate myself, out of the side of a milk jug. It seemed to work for my Ohlins forks on my Aprilia. I haven't had a leak for about 2 months now.

[@josedaniel4725]

Escuch me

[@jamesevans164]

Thanks Matt for your honest reply none the less it was about just cleaning around those seals and it did that. Giving it a try and putting it down to something that can be done anytime as preventive measure . Thanks Mate. jimonabuell WA

[@rodneymiller5926]

Now don't forget to drain both sides and put in correct amount of fresh oil in each side.

[@SuperAsianDude1]

where did you get the shape?

[@krankengineering]

+James Kang Google Images

[@SuperAsianDude1]

Matt McLeod thanks

[@desolator29]

it works hahahahahahhahahaaa xD!!

[@krankengineering]

desolator29 ha ha! Unreal!

[@souhailshamaissem7564]

The contents are good but the very hard to see where the plastic tool was inserted, perhaps you need another person to do close up from different angle. Thank you

[@tylerjohnson3195]

I feel like there wasn't a conclusion to this video

[@seanwheeldon9315]

Nothing worse than fork seals blowing

[@tommidd8042]

No, it'll cost you either way.

[@mikeez5455]

You're not into the seal, you're just getting into the sweeper. Pull the sweeper out and do it again.

[@artmchugh5644]

So you live on the bottom of the world , drive on the wrong side of the road ,so is that why you are left handed???😄😄😄😄sorry I couldn't help myself! Cheers

[@krankengineering]

LMAO! Pretty much spot on!

[@johncorbishley1548]

What makes you think you are at the top? Who decides which way up the universe is? Now there's food for thought!

[@publicplans5696]

the real answer: not for longer than a week

[@eddieg849]

That was a waste of time don't know if it works

[@anchopanchorancho]

Clean off your fork, fork seals etc... Ride and see if your clean seals are covered in oil. Super easy. If they leak you will know. If they don't, you are good.

[@eddieg849]

@@anchopanchorancho you know what brother it worked I made one from a water bottle I saved $525 I am tripping three years ago I spent the same amount of money to have this job done at the Ducati store when I told him what I use to fix the problem excuse me but no fun intended his face turn red thank you for this video if you was in California I would buy you lunch peace.

[@user-xb3jb8fx9q]

Nope. I fix things the right way. If they leak they should be replaced. Temporary fix for the inevitable.👎