Forks leaking oil on the slide

[greensporty90]

I have a 90 Sporty and the last couple of weeks I have been noticing more and more oil build up on the slide on the fork. It is to the point now that oil runs down the fork and even gets on the disc brake. It is so bad that from the wind while riding the bike has oil that has ran and blew all over it. The front suspension is terrible now. One side is worse than the other and when I depress the front suspension now it sounds like its kind of sucking or gurgleing, I assume it's now empty. I don't want to refill if it'll just do it again. Not sure what oil was in it before.

I guess my question is how do I fix it? Do I need new forks, maybe seals, rebuild? I am a complete rookie and have no idea what I'm in for. I just want to ride this thing not fight with it like I have been. Seems like it's always something! FYI, I have a service manual.

[1984 FLHS]

Originally Posted by greensporty90

I have a service manual.

You need to replace the fork seals. prolly should have done it before this point but, as long as you have the service manual it's a piece of cake on a sporty. Good luck.

[48emodelpanhead]

You need to replace the fork seals.

1984FLHS is correct. Just go to your part source and get a front end rebuild kit for your year model. It's riding rough because you were so low on oil. Shouldn't have damaged anything but I'd suggest checking your bushings against the specs in your manual while you have it apart. Your manual should tell you the type of oil you need. It's not hard on long on time to do, I'd say a 3 beer job.

[Dave63]

You can also try an old trick that sometimes cures the problem: Take a 35mm film negative or smilar type material, and sneak it past the seal, making a pass around the stanchion (shiney silver part) between the stanchion and the seal.

Sometimes dirt gets built up (or a piece) in the seal, and causes a leak, and just needs to be cleaned out.

The manual will tell you, you need a fork seal installing tool. It can be done without one. PVC works well, or taking your time and being careful not to ruin the new seal.

It's also a good time to think about going to 15 or even 20wt fork oil if you weigh over 200 lbs, to make the front dampen/compress a little slower.

[vlade]

How bout all the other probs? did you sort out your electrics?

[greensporty90]

Looks like the forks need to come apart and off to replace the seals which would mean a motorcylce jack. That's great, can't afford the parts to rebuild this right now muchless a jack. I will try Dave's suggestion and hope like heck it works to get by for now or it will have to sit for a while unfortunately.

Vlad, got the electrical is all figured out and the short fixed. Just replaced the accelerator diaphram, o ring, and spring in carb, and the vaccum line to the carb. I took it on a quick ride and ran like a different bike. Ran again in the evening on Sunday evening and while riding I noticed the leak was from bad to excessive. Go figure, runs great but can't ride it now and really ticks me off!!!

It looks like more than a 3 beer job, at leat according to my manual. This seems to be a pretty cruddy manual as far as simplicity, details, and very hard to find the information you need.

[Kainam]

See here for a DIY bike lift. http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/bikelift.htm

I have also used a milk crate before. Lucerne makes (or did about 20 years ago when I got mine) some pretty heavy duty ones.

[greensporty90]

Thanks for the link, looks pretty clever. I will check it out in the meantime till I can get a lift, as I will sure need it..... unfortunately.