My 1198s has what i presume is a leaking Ohlins. There is a small patch below the bottom of the shock, and the bottom left of the fairing has black dirt smeared across it; i presume this is from the leaking happening as i am on the move. Is there an easy fix, is this a leaking seal like i think it is?
certainly sounds like you have a blow fork seal i wouldnt advise riding it mate as oil can get on the tyre and the brakes, if it were me id change both sides as a matter of corse.
Before going down the blown seal route, buy a Sealmate off eBay and give the seal a clean out. Only £6. Refitting routine after the front wheel has been out is important to ensure the forks are parallel. Before torquing things up bounce the suspension up and down to settle things. Then torque up
I changed seals on my 1098 at a ridiculously low mileage as the seals blew. I have heard that there is more than one type and a double lip seal is available too. This might be worth a try as its cheap and MIGHT do the job I also on the advice of another member installed a set of Kreiga fork seal protectors Fork Seal - Kriega John
Thanks guys, i have ordered the seal mate, hopefully that will fix it. Is there an indicator to how much oil should be in the fork, for once i fix the seal?
I'm not 100% on this but the oil level needs to be measured with the preload tube & spring removed and the fork leg vertical. Oil level for the fork can go from 140-240mm the higher the oil level the stiffer the fork becomes on late travel. Talking 1098S here so check to make sure the 1198 didn't change. On the 1098 it was an oil level of 155mm. Volume Ohlins quoted was 400cc I put in 350cc to get the 155mm from my notes. Fork type is I believe FG5110. IF you "start a conversation" with me and let me have your mail I'll send the Ohlins manual I got off their site with a couple of adders if it helps. Or if you just want the manual form Ohlins you can get it here. Document - Öhlins Racing Seems to quote a different part No so I'm a bit confused by it all. Perhaps somebody with more knowledge will chime in to tell me I'm talking shite.
Got my Sealmate through the post yesterday, and got up early to do it this morning. I got the outer seal off ok, but couldn't get the seal mate up, past and in the inner seal. That thing is tough. Did what i could and put it back together. I then went to bounce the suspension as in the video, and it's rock solid, only moves a little. Would this be to the oil i am losing? Not had the bike long so i'm unaware how bouncy the suspension was prior to noticing the leak.
personally i would just get the forks re sealed and serviced by a reputable ohlins dealer. think of the time effort and cost of the other bits you would of saved.......let alone the frustration of it not going right.
As Andy states I'd take the forks out and get it to a good Duc dealer or Ohlins specialist, if your having trouble. Mind and enquire about that double lip seal. I also heard about some using a GSXR fork seals (I think, check via a search) on them. I would not do this as I've heard they can be tight and can abrade the TiN coating. The forks on initial travel are quite soft and should move quite easily. I am not 100% you need somebody who knows forks better, but I would have thought that without fluid they would be Uber springy and soft
the fact you have a patch on ground below fork just from that standing time (so imagine how much in total has gone as you said) does sound as though things are too far gone - hope your front braking efficiency isn't being affected. What the man in the vid forgot to add is that all the interior surfaces of the dust seal need cleaning thoroughly before sliding back up plus depending how 'dirty' give a good indication as to what's going on/how long since forks have been serviced.
I have to check the service history for when they were last serviced. Have decided that Sealmate is cobblers, as it won't go up past the inner seal, which is damn tight to the leg. Quite surprised oil can get past to be honest.
seal mate worked on my 1098s, bought the bike with weeping left seal, tried a homemade seal mate , that was 100 miles ago, so far so good
Don't want to scare you mate, but I had a good friend lose his life riding with knackered suspension. Get it done properly.
Stopped at my garage this morning, they are going to do it Wednesday morning, and ill have it back in the afternoon. Shame Seal mate didn't work, but don't see how it is supposed to work. I actually bent mine trying to get it up into the seal. Did you find it tricky Rusty to insert into the seal?
