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DIY 10 minute fork seal repair.


superhawk996

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My 'new' Ducati had leaky seals (helped shave a couple $ off the price) so I gave cleaning them a shot. I found that there are a few people selling tools to do this but being that I'd just unloaded it from the truck I wanted to ride right then, not go tool shopping or wait for Amazon. I used the energy guide sticker that was on my new TV (and the chick bitches that I never throw things away) it's thin and fairly stiff so I thought I'd try it. A few minutes later they appeared to be good to go so I took a ride--dry Ohlins for me :)! Another home tool that works well is camera film but I didn't have any laying around. While cleaning you'll get some extra oil dribbling out around your tool so be prepared. The oil was pretty dirty so I'm thinking of getting more oil, it'll need topping off anyway, and purging them some more. There are detailed tutorials online with pics & vids so I won't bother, just want to share the idea and state that it can work. They were leaking pretty badly and I had my doubts but I'm a believer now. The tutorials I found were on dirtbikes, I guess they get more dirt in their seals for some odd reason, but same job on a streeter.

The Ducati manual gives the rebuild instructions for the standard version 999 with Showas, for the S model with Ohlins it gives adjustment instructions followed by -if your Ohlins have an issue fuck off and go talk to them about it.

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I had a KTM360 EXC with the 50mm Marzocchi forks. Great set of forks, but those things would leak if you looked at them funny. The cleaning you're referencing worked well on those, kept seal replacement to every 4-5 outings rather than every other.

For those wondering, some higher end forks have seals that are on the loose side to minimize stiction. They can pick up small pieces of debris that will then deform the seal enough to allow oil to pass. Taking a thin piece of plastic and running it between the seal and the fork leg can displace this debris and stop a leak, assuming the seal itself isn't damaged.

As a side note, I can change out a set of seals on 50mm Marzocchi forks in about 25 minutes from putting the bike on the stand to riding away. Just in case anyone is looking for that service. :P

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No, I dont like nascrap,

Was actually a rib at a buddy who bitched about having to remove his wheels and how big of a pain it is on his kawisuckass.

Believe I did it with a now you see them pic on bike. And a now you dont pic of bike minus wheels 7 minutes later.

I admit I had my tools needed already out ready to go.

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No, I dont like nascrap,

Was actually a rib at a buddy who bitched about having to remove his wheels and how big of a pain it is on his kawisuckass.

Believe I did it with a now you see them pic on bike. And a now you dont pic of bike minus wheels 7 minutes later.

I admit I had my tools needed already out ready to go.

Dude....re-read that. You drinking today?

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  • 4 weeks later...

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