Topic: Riding with leaky fork seals?

[fendersrule]

Hi all,

I'm almost done restoring my 78 CB750k, but there's a couple things left to do. Besides putting back on the stock air housing, I noticed the other day riding home that my fork seals are definitely leaking.

They are leaking so bad that you can see a trail of dried fluid down the tube, and it's even been getting on the front rotor which now gives me "squeeky" noises while driving around. Standing above the bike when I compress the fork, I see some "bubbling" around the fork seal, which confirms this hypothesis.

I have a good link saved on the cb 750's forum about how to replace the seals, so I think I'm probably set. It sounds like a day job for someone doing it for the first time.

Here's the catch: I'm moving in about 5 days, so I really can't work on the bike until I get finished with the move. Is it still safe to drive the bike around in this condition for a week, or should I really park it until this gets fixed?

[Steve_K]

Front brake and rotor have fork oil on them.  Braking will be poor.  Brake pads will need replacement, too.
I would park it til you have a chance to repair. 
Glad you are mostly done with your bike. 
Steve

[BobbyR]

I agree. One thing is vital to polish the fork tubes when you have them apart. If you can feel an imperfection with your fingernail, it will wear the seals out again. If the chrome is good, then just use some chrome polish to make them super smooth. Honda seals are the only ones that work for most people.

[fendersrule]

Just ordered some fork seals from Dennis Kirk. Not sure if they are OEM or not, but they have good reviews:

Anti-Stiction Fork Seals - 04070264
Part #: 140791

I assume that I can still use my dust caps. I also ordered:

Street HF Ceramic Brake Pads - 501S
Part #: 19701

I'll start on this project hopefully in a week. The most I'll do with this bike is drive it 2 miles to my new place, and then park it. No more joyriding until this gets fixed.

[BobbyR]

Usually aftermarket seals can be variable. Polishing the forks will make any deals last longer.

[Stev-o]

I don't see how the fork oil could leak on the rotor?

[736cc]

Half the fun of riding old motorcycles is adapting to their lack of brakes and other quirks. Riding around local nice and ez w/o fork seals not a biggie but it gets messy after a while and the forks go BOING!BANG! on big bumps and curvy roads. Short ride once or twice ok then its TIME TO PARK IT until fixed!