K11 Owners Group

jmatt · Joined: 25 Apr 2009 Posts: 6 Location: erin ontario canada

Started doing a winter service on the Lt and noticed the left fork seal seeping a bit. The tubes are in perfect shape and the bike only has 25k on it. Drained the oil out and it looked clean. I wonder if any of you beemer guys have used a fork oil called "seal swell" in your beloved k bikes?. I have used it for years in my 'jap" bikes and it works well. The clymer manual does not give a viscosity rating for the oil and I wondered if any one can help me with the answer.I do not think it is an inherent problem with the hardware of a BMW, as the quality of the parts seems to be top notch, so mabye the non BM oil will work ok, ill keep you informed.keep safe!
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KBRICK

Mystic Red · Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 9:59 pm Post subject:

Calls for 7 wt. but most use 10 wt. Give a link to that swell product.
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Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 10:15 pm Post subject:

jmatt,

I was in your position almost exactly one year ago. It may look imposing, but doing a fork seal replacement on our bikes is pretty easy. A year later, new seals and Rancho boots are leak free.

I would be wondering if the seal swell product works on all fork seal materials, and if this would only be a short term fix.

Your K may only have 25,00 on the odo, but (I didn't see a year of your bike) a machine that is at least 13 years old does not have time on its side.

Just trying to keep frustration to a minumum.

John
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John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Flying Duck · Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 12:04 am Post subject:

Try running a thin feeler guage around the seal. Sometimes there' dirt stuck in there. No guarantee that's your issue but it's worth a few minutes to try that before going through the effort of replacing the seals.
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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: Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:35 pm Post subject:

I'm piggybacking on this old thread because there are already tons of Fork Seal threads that pop up via the search function. Before I get the collective heavy sigh and admonition to use the search function... Yes, I searched.

Which parts from the following picture am I likely to need to remedy the weeping fork seal problem? I've seen two different answers when reading through previous posts. It'll probably be obvious to me when I take things apart, but I'd like to order the parts ahead of time and spend a single work session taking it apart and putting it back together without having to first take it apart to see what I need to order.

Thanks in advance. I'm looking forward to springtime and riding my 1100LT again!

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1996 K1100LT 26,xxx miles-SOLD
Mystic Red

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 11:14 pm Post subject:

Rod, at only 23K miles I would think that the bushings should be in ok shape.
At a minimum I would get #1 and #3. Not knowing how many times the forks may have been apart in the past I would also suggest #2.

I know that I will need to get a set of #2's if/when I have to take mine apart again. The snap ring was pretty twisted when I put it back in the last time.

Don't try and get any cheap aftermarket seals #3, go for the BMW ones as the seal has a step to it that the el-cheapo's don't have. BTDT.

I would also suggest a set of fork gaiters to prevent the weeping in the future.
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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)

Geoff · Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 10:21 am Post subject:

From my experience, when the seals leak, the only solution is to replace them. To prolong the new seals, you might install gaiters or fork tube covers to keep debris off the tubes. Search this topic. Much has been discussed here.
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2000 R1100RT
2008 H-D Electra Glide Ultra Classic

ColoradoRod · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 1:25 am Post subject:

Thanks for the reply, Scott. That was a very precise and accurate answer to the exact question I asked. EXACTLY what I was hoping for.

It's nice when people actually read the question before answering. Rolling Eyes

Best regards,
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1996 K1100LT 26,xxx miles-SOLD
Mystic Red