leaking fork seal possible fix

[firedog19]

I ve had a leaking fork seal ever since I installed it even after replacing it a second time. The tubes are not worn or scratched but would always leave residue on the tubes when they compressed. I found a web site where this guy was selling a plastic seal cleaner so I cut a long oval piece of plastic out of a milk jug and slid it down the tube between the seal and the tube and rotated it 360 degrees and pulled it out . Now I have no more leaking or residue on the tubes.

 

[BroadBand]

I like your idea better, $ wise.
Commercial cleaner goes $22 to $30, called Seal Doctor.

If I remember right, our fork tubes are 41mm.
Another like tool is the Seal Mate for less than $5.
<LINK>

 

[firedog19]

the seal mate is what I saw

 

[FrankBDPS]

Mine do the same thing. New seals and all. Thanks for the idea.

 

[BWG56]

Good idea

 

[badyellowvette]

I use old 35mm film negatives.

 

[francoblay1]

Good to know!!!

 

[Sven]

This is a 'field fix' and this guy convinced me... When you learn something and all those years you were changing fork seals and could have tried this. More like when I had to change seals, the chrome was the culprit

A. Fork has to be spotless, no rust [pores] under chrome that raise like craters that could cut your fingers.
B. Fork slider sleeve has to be within spec or it wobbles the tube in the leg, causes the seal to egg shape.
C. Fork seal lip had a consistent fold-over when firedog installed them, but unhooked the flap so it sealed?
D. Fork seal was not dirty but brand new, nor had the legs have any gouges for the oil to travel out through.
E. Fork diss tool; rock the seal up and down, left and right, roll it around the the tube and this will unhinge that lip.

As far as dirt holding that seal open, wouldn't that gouge the leg finish with lines? I guess it works?