Fork Oil Question

[Slim]

The Man has just changed the fork & brake fluids in my bike, preparetory to my March trip & he found something interesting with the fork oil.


One forks oil was perfectly fine, but the other one was smelly & cluggy. I know for a fact that both forks had new oil 2 years ago, so why would one deteriorate and the other not??? :spudwhat:

[Blakamin]

slightly leaky seal... attracted water??

moisture in the air.... seals aren't airtight...

[Slim]

That was my first thought, but The Man reckons the seals are fine. :spudwhat:

[Blakamin]

are they usd forks? could be the drain bolt or whatever is not airtight... could be a lower level of fork oil and condensation.... :spudwhat:

[FROSTY:Me]

my only suggestions there is -1 Its the motorcycle gods playing with ya head or
2) The "fact" re both fork oils bein changes was in fact wrong.maybee they changed one lot of fork oil twice

[erik]

Maybe something (ie: a mouse, a spider) fell in one of the forks last time half way through the oil change?

[Paul in NZ]

Maybe the bike sits in a place where the sun falls on one side and not the other so condensation forms on one side and not the other..

Paul N

[Slim]

The 97 CBR6 does not have USD forks, and in fact does not even have drain holes at the bottom of the forks at all.

Both forks definitely had their oil replaced last time - the oil was incredibly smelly that time & only replacing one would have resulted in some interesting handling problems.

The bike is garaged most of the time & only sees the sun when it's being ridden.



So we basically don't know, right? The biking gods are playing with my head I reckon. I might sugest to The Man that we check them in 6 months maybe...

[Jackrat]

That was my first thought, but The Man reckons the seals are fine. :spudwhat:

The seals can be ok and still let moisture in.
Which side was it,I'm betting the right.
It's the most exposed and not under much pressure when the bikes on the side stand.
Your fork oil should also really be changed every year as well,IMHO.
I use hydraulic fluid and stynthetic brake fluid.
I've found that the most exspensive stuff really does work the best.
Go figure huh.

[Hitcher]

I know fork oil about this topic...

[Paul in NZ]

I know fork oil about this topic...

You must be in suspense-ion then

[MikeL]

I know fork oil about this topic...

He he he...
That is truly inspired.

[Mongoose]

You must be in suspense-ion then

Thats oil forked up

[Slim]

The seals can be ok and still let moisture in.
Which side was it,I'm betting the right.
It's the most exposed and not under much pressure when the bikes on the side stand.
Your fork oil should also really be changed every year as well,IMHO.
I use hydraulic fluid and stynthetic brake fluid.
I've found that the most expensive stuff really does work the best.
Go figure huh.

Interesting. I'll ask him which one it was & report back.

Can you explain the "hydraulic fluid & synthetic brake fluid" comment please?



:spudwave: to the comediennes, you got me with that lot.

[Motu]

The seals act like a valve - they may not let oil out,but will let water in,specialy if there is water around on the upstroke.To completly seal a sliding cylinder a seal needs to be truly double lipped,like two seals back to back.A fork seal has a wiper only on one side - but I have visions of true double fork seals,maybe they exist.