Additive in Forks?

mooskie · Jan 9, 2013

Has anyone ever considered adding seal conditioner to forks? I am somewhat intimidated and think maybe I see some "wet" on one side. I am considering adding perhaps 10% "Gold Eagle" brand Power Steering Stop Leak when renewing oil. It is a seal sweller and conditioner that "fixed" my power steering on an old car.

Hobot · Jan 9, 2013

Hm, now that's a cleaver idea I'll try myself to see if stops the weep on brake rotor side of my Combat with 20/50 oil in the factory forks. If it eats seal up oh well then we'll know to try something else next time.

mike996 · Jan 9, 2013

A seal sweller might increase stiction a bit...but other wise I can't think it could cause any problem.

Many bikes now use ATF from the factory. ATF swells seals though it will depend on what material is in the seal as to whether a seal sweller will swell seals (say that fast 3 times!). The Fauth Fork mod which I installed on my Commando recommends ATF and I have used that ever since with good results. The standard-type seals on my bike do not even weep - it might be due to the ATF but I have done no scientific test to prove that.

Torontonian · Jan 9, 2013

A SEAL SWELLER WILL SWELL SEALS. A seal schweller will sheel sheels. A sheel schweller will sell seals. Why not ? Try it.

mooskie · Jan 9, 2013

Glad I opened some eye's, as for mine I found that when I drained the forks it looked like mud in the bottom of the dirty oil in the can so I decided to rebuild them.... NEXT PROBLEM: I cannot break collars loose on either fork. I have escalated my power to a chain wrench where the book says I should only need my booger hooks! I had to heat my caliper cap with a propane torch with same issue, should I torch this also?

Hobot · Jan 9, 2013

Oh yes sir high heat is your only hope I've found in same metal chewing torque
range to undo the seals. I've had to take on sense its ok for a grown man to cry a bit when first facing off Norton turmoils.

Matt Spencer · Jan 9, 2013

could be a problem like that funny brake fluid .

Are rubber seals & Nylon seals . putting the fancy Bellray oil in McPhearson struts , with Rubber Seals . they went all soggy & turned to custard .

Before the Belray the gun set up , ? was ATF & STP , with the 10 / 20 % STP to vary oil viscosity / damping .

bluto · Jan 9, 2013

maybe try cleaning the seals w/35mm film first, that often works and stops leaks, worked very well for me on on a non Norton bike recently ....(most here are probably old enough to know what 35mm film is and to have some around ;-)

Torontonian · Jan 9, 2013

Welcome to the living nightmare. Soaking collars in horrid fluids , applying big heat to burn off toxics to death do us part ,then extreme swearing and force in a vice with hammers n' strapwrenches/chains striking stuff. Siezed metals into one oxidized chunkage O' funnage. Followed by divorce threats because you decided to do it in the wrong area of the house. Dan Stone once said to me Nortons the best of all the really neat British junk. To quote.

mooskie · Jan 10, 2013

Torontonian said:
Welcome to the living nightmare. Soaking collars in horrid fluids , applying big heat to burn off toxics to death do us part ,then extreme swearing and force in a vice with hammers n' strapwrenches/chains striking stuff. Siezed metals into one oxidized chunkage O' funnage. Followed by divorce threats because you decided to do it in the wrong area of the house. Dan Stone once said to me Nortons the best of all the really neat British junk. To quote.

Yep, the smells! Just got thru primering some parts, house stinks almost as much as last week when I tuned a chainsaw that was running rich, at least the painting was quieter!

Hobot · Jan 10, 2013

I've experimented with wide range of fluids, but warn ya about brake or power steering fluid that don't have rust protection of regular oils or fork fluids aso springs and rust into the stanchions if set up very long.

mooskie · Jan 12, 2013

Torontonian said:
Welcome to the living nightmare. Soaking collars in horrid fluids , applying big heat to burn off toxics to death do us part ,then extreme swearing and force in a vice with hammers n' strapwrenches/chains striking stuff. Siezed metals into one oxidized chunkage O' funnage. Followed by divorce threats because you decided to do it in the wrong area of the house. Dan Stone once said to me Nortons the best of all the really neat British junk. To quote.

A little heat does magic, still needed a chain wrench to break my collars loose, forty years of corrosion, I guess. I had a retired motocycle shop owner help me with this one, if the book don't say heat it I won't unless guided (misguided).

Additive in Forks?

Similar threads