fork seals

[nolton]

At RAA X I found that both fork seals are leaking. After getting home, I found that the right side of the front tire looks like it has been rubbing the roads very hard.
Is this from the leaking seals and should I stay off it till the forks are fixed?

I need advice very soon, please.

 

[Jeffrey Cochran]

The fork seals job is the keep the fork fluid within the fork tube. And while it will effect the handling with improper fork fluid level it should not cause and rubbing of the front tire. With that being said I would not ride the bike till I had that issue ( the tire rubbing ) fixed .

 

[Rocket Scientist]

If oil is making it onto the tire it could soften the rubber and make it wear quicker.

When I have had leaking fork seals I have used a clean out method that you can find on youtube. There is a company that makes a plastic tool for the job but you can cut a thin plastic piece to do the same thing.
Worked on both a Honda Valkyrie and a Honda VTX. The leak was caused by dirt getting around the seals. Worth a try unless your seals are cracked and hard. Took two tries on one but the others worked on the first try.

I'd be worried about pushing the dirt in past the seals where it could do it's "dirty" work on my fork tubes

 

[Hov]

If oil is making it onto the tire it could soften the rubber and make it wear quicker.


I'd be worried about pushing the dirt in past the seals where it could do it's "dirty" work on my fork tubes

I used that technique Rocket 65 was referring to last year and it worked like a dream. I was 600 miles and a ferry trip from home when I hit a bump in the dark and noticed oil oozing from the right fork next morning. It was a holiday weekend and there are no Triumph dealerships in that area (Londonderry, Northern Ireland) anyway. Got tipped off to clean the fork then use a piece of plastic cut from a plastic bottle to ease under the seal, run it round 360 degrees and pull it out. Then apply front brake and pump it a few times. Wipe. Pump again. Wipe... Job done in under 2 minutes. Not the faintest sign of a leak after that for over 2,000 miles.