K11 Owners Group

BorderHooner · Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 2:51 pm Post subject: Leaking fork seal K1100RS

Since I downsized home I no longer have a workbench or a vice Sad

The L/H seal is badly shot and seemingly all of the oil has dumped over the bike during the last ride out.

My local BMW stealership want £240 + vat per fork to replace the seals and associated parts :O £180 of this is to remove and refit the fork.

I thought I may as well replace both fork seals as I'm in North Africa on this bike in a few months.

I really don't have the facility currently to replace the fork seals myself - But I will attempt to take the forks off the bike and take them into the stealership to save around 6 hours labour....

Will check here if I get stuck with it - thanks

mholbrook38 · Joined: 16 Mar 2010 Posts: 11 Location: Meridian, Idaho

I paid about $180 (US) for new seals including all labor removing the forks etc. As a bonus they screwed up the wire from the ABS sensor and had to get me a new one. I also added Boots for protection of the fork tubes and new seals. I would imagine you would want the fork boots for your bike, especially if you are going to some sandy/dusty area like what I imagine North Africa to be. Supposedly with new seals and boots, you won't have to do the job again. I think the time involved was something like 3 hours shop time according to the "book".

Good luck.
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Mike Holbrook
1993 K1100LS
1982 Honda GL500
1971 Honda SL350
1979 Porsche 911SC Targa

Naked Hoof · Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: Leaking fork seal K1100RS

jpberens1994K1100RS · Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 5:52 pm Post subject: forks seals

I have a garage & hand tools, no vice and I replaced the seals, and the springs. Compressed it all but just leaning on it real hard. It's tricky, but I got it.

Put on fork gaiters, only way to protect the fork legs right.

I had replaced the fork seal last summer. Had one let go on the rough
spring roads here in the mid west.

My local Milwaukee, WI dealer quoted me $200.00 for a rebuild, parts & oil included if I brought in the fork legs off the bike. They even offered a 2 year guarantee. I did not think that was so bad, but I'm VERY happy I put in the " Works Performance " spring kit I bought. The bike is soooooooooooooooooooooooooo much better now.
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1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

Flying Duck · Posted: Mon May 17, 2010 10:34 pm Post subject:

Before you do the seals make sure the forks aren't scratched or pitted.
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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

ColoradoRod · Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 12:42 am Post subject:

I just finished replacing my fork seals this afternoon with the help of a very experienced BMW motorcycle guy. Some of the times quoted might lead a person to believe that this is a 1 hour project. I can't imagine getting it done that quickly.

From the time you roll the bike into the garage, I would think it'd take you a minimum of 20 minutes just to get the front wheel off the ground and the fenders off. From there, you'll need to remove the calipers and then the front wheel.

It'll take you more than 10 minutes worth of cuss-word experimentation to find just the right combination of threats, tongue position and the right clench to your jaw to get the snap ring out that's holding the old seal in place.

Once you get the seals in and the forks back on the bike, you'll need to allow another 10-20 minutes to remove the forks again to install the boots you meant to install the first time the forks were installed. (Don't ask how I know this--both forks, no less!)

We also came across a need to replace the bushing that goes near the bottom of the fork tubes (BMW p/n 31-42-2-310-346). I ordered the parts with next day shipping. You should also (apparently) allow for the parts supplier to NOT ship the part when promised AND THEN ship it to your old address, but then also fail to put the UNIT number on the old address so nobody has any idea where the package is supposed to go. Allow time for 4-6 phone calls with FedEx regarding the status and redelivery of the package. Overnight delivery quickly becomes same-month delivery.

Yah, it's a 20-30 minute project! Shocked

The good news is that my LT now feels like a completely different machine. When we drained the old fork oil, I'd guess it was only holding about 1/2 the required oil. It was also REALLY dirty, black. The guy who was helping me guessed that the low oil quantity probably lead to excess wear on the bushings we had to replace.

All-in-all, a good learning experience. Even if I had the money to just pay somebody to do it, I probably wouldn't.

For what it's worth...

Rod
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1996 K1100LT 26,xxx miles-SOLD
Mystic Red

gary1945 · Joined: 25 Jun 2009 Posts: 1 Location: Markham, Ontario

replaced the fork seals on my 92 LT and within 1K miles the left failed again, replaced both bushings and seems OK now - had to install slider bushing after stanchion was inserted - now the right needs to be redone - stanchion slid in too easy
Gary
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Gary
1992 K1100LT
2000 V Star 650/2004 Velorex sidecar

Naked Hoof · Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 3:25 am Post subject:

BorderHooner · Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 5:10 am Post subject:

Thank you for the response.

The reality is my garage is only big enough for 1 medium sized economy car and has been sectioned off at the middle, by the old lady who previously lived here, to turn the rear into a small home office and storage at the front - with the garage door refitted the bike just fits in nose to tail. Just taking the forks off is going to be an act of contortionism. But I will do it.
Fork covers / gaiters sound like a very good idea.

BorderHooner · Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 5:53 am Post subject:

update - the price of £240 is actually to replace both fork seals, which is easier on the wallet Smile

ColoradoRod · Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 11:52 pm Post subject:

Wow. Sorry 'bout that, Naked Hoof.

I did, indeed, mis-read your post. You never said it took 20-30 minutes.

From my entire post including a little humor, a little information, and a little self-depricating heads-up suggestion, YOU chose to get pissed off to the extent that its seems everything but my parentage is in question.

Perhaps you might consider decaf.

Have a nice day.

Rod
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1996 K1100LT 26,xxx miles-SOLD
Mystic Red

1der · Joined: 14 Apr 2008 Posts: 21 Location: Western NY

Did mine last week-end, was not so bad. It's more hype about doing the job. Just get into it and have some satisfaction when your done.
1der

kewheels · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 10:46 am Post subject: Fork Gattors

Where is can you buy fork gattors?
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96 K11RS MarRed Salt Lake City
90 R100 GS/PD RedWhite Salt Lake City

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 1:11 pm Post subject: Re: Fork Gattors

Phil Marvin · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 4:10 pm Post subject:

Hi, Kewheels,
If you want to go high-dollar, go to your friendly, local BMW dealer and buy 2 gaiters for the /5, /6 and/or /7 bikes at $21.76 each (Max's price on the fiche) OR, if you're a cheap SOB like me, go to your local auto parts store, one which preferably caters to the off-road crowd, and buy 2 Rancho 1952 or equivalent boots. The last ones I bought were Rancho clones and the pair cost me less than $9.00. I don't remember the brand nor the part number, but they work well and look good after 3 or 4 years on the bike. And since I installed gaiters, I have not had to replace fork seals!
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Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

kewheels · Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 9:31 pm Post subject: Fork Gattors

Thanks for both replies.
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96 K11RS MarRed Salt Lake City
90 R100 GS/PD RedWhite Salt Lake City