Topic: leaking fork seal >>> clunking front end?

[kajtek]

hey chaps,

Both my fork seals are leaking (one worse than the other), and so far the fix has been to tie a bandanna around the little hole in the fork gator that it was coming out of..

but now the front end has starting clunking over bumps. could it be that low fork oil is causing this?

I ask as if its something else i should obviously address it. if its low fork oil then its getting topped up until i have time (cough never cough wife 2 kids dog cough) to fix the oil seals..

This is for a cb400f

Also im aware that the brake pivot can have a little play which can clunk a little. Its different and i can feel this one more.

Many thanks for any info

Ashley

[ekpent]

Not very hard or time consuming to drain and replace just the fork oil with the proper amount and then check to see if there is a difference. Should take less than an hour.
   Make sure bike is on center stand and or the front is supported if you remove both top caps at the came time 

[Tews19]

+1

Fork seals are easy and helps the ride. Not to mention improve safety.

[Stev-o]

The clunking could also be a loose steering stem. 

[bjbuchanan]

The clunking could also be a loose steering stem.

That is my first thought. Front end makes less noise but the stem makes a definitive clunk. Pull the top triple and tighten the big nut thing under there

[kajtek]

Thanks guys,

I think i need to bit the bullet and change the seals. they are leaking, and they will only continue to leak.. just a little nervous as never done it before. not helped that i dont have a center stand fitted (i still have it, just at my folks house... in another country ) so need to work out a way to lift it up safely.

I will defo check the stem, i went to tapered bearings about 3 years ago and not touched it since. Is it the kind of thing that loosens over time?

Ashley

[Dunk]

Yes my tapered bearings loosened up by a bit shy of 500 miles, figures it out when I got a little shimmy on hard acceleration like it wanted to go into a tank slapper. Scared me real good. Adjustment took like 1/8 to 1/4 turn and all is well now. I believe they recommend readjustment after 500 miles.

[martin99]

+1

Fork seals are easy and helps the ride. Not to mention improve safety.

Can't overstate the safety aspect really. Apart from no damping over the bumps (very unsettling at speed) you also run the risk of impregnating your brake pads with fork oil. Better done sooner rather than later IMHO.