K11 Owners Group

philosophicalzombie · Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 12:34 pm Post subject: On-bike fork seal replacement

This is my first fork seal job so please forgive me if this is a doofus question....

Is there any reason to not approach a fork seal replacement like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEL4MqHC90Q

Chris Harris makes everything look simple, but I'm not familiar with the R bikes and don't know how different the architecture is from our K bikes (mine is a 1993 K1100RS). I can see that the forks attach to the steering tree quite differently. Thanks. - Sebsi
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Blake
Mariposa, CA

1993 K1100RS Mystic Red

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2015 6:42 pm Post subject:

I'll say that what I saw in the video, the fork uppers are not the same.
When he pulled out the upper slider, there was no brass slider bushing on the bottom, like our K-bike forks have.

That brass slider bushing is part of what can damage a new fork seal if you try to re-insert the fork upper slider into the lower fork body with the seal still in place.

BTDT, I've tried this more than once(I didn't learn the 1st time) and had seals leaking within 1000 miles and was pulling them apart again.
Also while you have the forks apart/off the bike, this is the perfect time to put gaitors on the forks.
Rancho 1952's work very well. Less than $5 on Amazon.
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Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

philosophicalzombie · Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 9:48 am Post subject:

Thanks Scott. I ended up pulling the lowers and left the uppers in place, and yep, the brass slider (I assume you're talking about the split ring down at the end of the tube) was a real PITA but I figured how to kind of clamp it together to slide the (probably now damaged) new seal over it. Everything's tidy now after a very greasy adventure into ForkSealLand...a place I don't want to visit again soon.

The inside of the leaky tube was bone dry; maybe 150mL of fluid came out the drain plug, and another 25 or so when I removed the end bolt. On both sides, it was a mixture of clear and black liquids that were separated.

And yep, shoulda Rancho'd it...but lazyness won the day.

Big Red is definitely a smoother ride. I'm doing a long ride tomorrow til Sunday so hopefully the seal is sealed. - Blake
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Blake
Mariposa, CA

1993 K1100RS Mystic Red