Fork seal

[reillypadraig]

Just noticed yesterday that there is oil all around my seal and up the fork, it not running down the fork yet or anything, but I can feel it gone even in the handling and feel every bump in the road now. Just wondering how long have I got before is running down the fork and onto my tyre on my favourite corner

[darrsi]

You need to get it sorted otherwise your handling will just get dangerously worse, until eventually you'll lean and the bike will feel like it's dropping from under you, or just as bad you'l get oil on your discs or pads.
Check the fork stanchion for any chip marks near to where the seals are. If you get a stone chip it can create a small jagged sharp edge that will cut into the seal every time the forks go up and down on braking causing a leak.
If you find a raised edge it'll need smoothing out carefully, don't go mad on it otherwise it'll still leak from the same spot, and then turn the affected area of the stanchion towards the rear so that it's not unsightly.

[reillypadraig]

Suppose just replace seals on both and oil get it over and done with.raining for rest of week anyway so have the time

[Foxwood]

Yeah, it's not a hard job to do. Just make sure that you add equal amounts of fork oil to the forks.
 
I've heard about a quick fix, that might buy you some time. By using the thinnest valve clearance measurement tabs, you can possibly get between the seals and stanchion to (re)move the crap that is causing the leakage. Never tried it myself, but sound's plausible. But since you've got the time, better to just change the seals altogether. It'll be a matter of time anyway, before you have to.

[darrsi]

Make sure you get the correct oil level amount from the book, the 98/99 forks take more oil than later years because they don't have adjusters, so less metalwork inside. 

[reillypadraig]

Thanks got the heads up!!