Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: SVonhof on May 16, 2018, 05:45:09 PM

Title: I guess I need to have this fixed
Post by: SVonhof on May 16, 2018, 05:45:09 PM
I noticed this while putting the bike in the garage after my ride home from work today:
(https://s26.postimg.cc/tkaxqpm0l/left_shock.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/tkaxqpm0l/)
(https://s26.postimg.cc/mh32b3oat/right_shock.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/mh32b3oat/)

Right shock is obviously leaking at the seal. Bummer. I washed the bike about 6 weeks ago (only ridden it maybe 12 times since then) and cleaned that real good, so it is fresh.
Title: Re: I guess I need to have this fixed
Post by: maxtog on May 16, 2018, 09:12:52 PM
http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=8987.msg287337#msg287337 (http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=8987.msg287337#msg287337)
Title: Re: I guess I need to have this fixed
Post by: jwh20 on May 17, 2018, 05:26:58 AM
Before you spend a lot of time or money replacing the seals, try Seal Mate:

http://sealmate.net/ (http://sealmate.net/)

They've never failed to work for me.
Title: Re: I guess I need to have this fixed
Post by: bob h on May 17, 2018, 05:44:42 AM
+1!!!

Worth a try; inexpensive, and it's worked for me several times!
Title: Re: I guess I need to have this fixed
Post by: Rhino on May 17, 2018, 07:48:13 AM
Every bike I have ever owned with inverted forks does this occasionally and most of the time using something like Sealmate tool (in the past I've used a piece of 35mm film) fixes the problem easy peasy.
Title: Re: I guess I need to have this fixed
Post by: SVonhof on May 17, 2018, 07:58:51 AM
Sealmate on order! Should be here Saturday and I should be able to get to it on Sunday or Monday.

Thanks for the info! Looks like a great, inexpensive fix!
Title: Re: I guess I need to have this fixed
Post by: connie_rider on May 17, 2018, 08:34:26 AM
I'm going to get one too and throw in the toolbox for when I need it.

In my dirt biking days I can't imagine how many fork seals I changed.
Wonder how many $$ I would have saved by having one of these...

Ride safe, Ted
Title: Re: I guess I need to have this fixed
Post by: Tree on May 17, 2018, 02:35:39 PM
A thin, flexible, sturdy piece of plastic is all you really need.  Cut up a plastic milk jug and soften/round the edges and go to town.  Insert it far enough to penetrate the width of the seal and go around the tube.  Bounce the front end a few times and repeat once or twice more.

Of course, I found out about this stupid-easy fix after I paid for a complete seal replacement.  8)
Title: Re: I guess I need to have this fixed
Post by: Poseidon on May 17, 2018, 05:08:37 PM
A thin, flexible, sturdy piece of plastic is all you really need.  Cut up a plastic milk jug and soften/round the edges and go to town.  Insert it far enough to penetrate the width of the seal and go around the tube.  Bounce the front end a few times and repeat once or twice more.

Of course, I found out about this stupid-easy fix after I paid for a complete seal replacement.  8)

Plastic 2 liter coke bottle works also for those lactose intolerant fork seals out there. lol
Title: Re: I guess I need to have this fixed
Post by: 2talltim on May 18, 2018, 07:12:45 AM
He has a 09 I would think it's seal replacement time if they haven't been done already. Esspecially if the fluid/oil hasn't been changed regularly. Seal mates are great in a pinch or on the road but it's usually not a long term fix unless its just fluke. But what do I know?  :loco:
Title: Re: I guess I need to have this fixed
Post by: PH14 on May 18, 2018, 10:41:21 AM
He has a 09 I would think it's seal replacement time if they haven't been done already. Esspecially if the fluid/oil hasn't been changed regularly. Seal mates are great in a pinch or on the road but it's usually not a long term fix unless its just fluke. But what do I know?  :loco:

I don't know, my 2009's forks don't leak.  :popcorn:
Title: Re: I guess I need to have this fixed
Post by: SVonhof on May 20, 2018, 04:50:53 PM
Got the SealMate on Friday and today I had time to work on it. So far so good. The hose clips were a pain and I got the two rear ones off without breaking or cutting them, but the forward one (right side) there is no way to get in there even with the long needle-nose plyers I have, so I cut it.

I will report back after a few rides (didn't feel like riding it other than around the block today).

I also mounted the light mounting brackets from n3nman on the other forum mounted. Need to get some good hook-up wire and shorter bolts before I can mount the lights onto them, but they went on easy.
Title: Re: I guess I need to have this fixed
Post by: jwh20 on May 20, 2018, 07:10:58 PM
Got the SealMate on Friday and today I had time to work on it. So far so good. The hose clips were a pain and I got the two rear ones off without breaking or cutting them, but the forward one (right side) there is no way to get in there even with the long needle-nose plyers I have, so I cut it.

I will report back after a few rides (didn't feel like riding it other than around the block today).

I also mounted the light mounting brackets from n3nman on the other forum mounted. Need to get some good hook-up wire and shorter bolts before I can mount the lights onto them, but they went on easy.

You might need 2 or 3 "treatments" with the SealMates in some cases.  So don't give up after one try if the leak continues.
Title: Re: I guess I need to have this fixed
Post by: SVonhof on May 21, 2018, 12:32:07 PM
You might need 2 or 3 "treatments" with the SealMates in some cases.  So don't give up after one try if the leak continues.

Got it, thanks!
Title: Re: I guess I need to have this fixed
Post by: SVonhof on May 29, 2018, 06:55:33 PM
FYI, so far so good. Rode to and from work today which included some good compression of the forks several times and the tubes were nice and clean when I got home.
Title: Re: I guess I need to have this fixed
Post by: maxtog on May 29, 2018, 08:03:49 PM
Yep, it really works.  I was amazed.