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Leaking Fork
- kawasakibikefan
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- Riding is a passion most do not understand.
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21 Jul 2010 14:34 #384401
by kawasakibikefan
'75 Z1B
'95 KLR250
My Future Buying List:
-Kawasaki KLX450R
-Yamaha R1
-Suzuki DR-Z400SM
Leaking Fork was created by kawasakibikefan
How bad is it to drive with one fork leaking oil? My left fork has a bad seal and I am watching oil pour out when applying the front brakes. The right seal has no leaks. Could this be a potential danger going down the road? The reason I ask is I wasnt planning to rebuild my front forks till my next project time and who knows when that will be. I leave for the service in less than a month and want to get as much riding done as possible. Is it ok to ride with a leaky seal?
'75 Z1B
'95 KLR250
My Future Buying List:
-Kawasaki KLX450R
-Yamaha R1
-Suzuki DR-Z400SM
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- otakar
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21 Jul 2010 15:19 #384412
by otakar
74 Z1-A stock
76 KZ-900 Totaly stock vice MAC pipe
77 KZ-1000A stock
78 Z1-R 100%MINT 500 original Mi.
78 Z1-R Yoshi 1103 kit stage 1 cams Yoshi pipe. Etc
79 KZ-1300 (1400)
80 KZ-1300
81 Scratch built GPz1150R
82 KZ1000
Replied by otakar on topic Leaking Fork
If you keep on adding fluid to keep it the same in both forks than it is OK but if you run too low on one fork over the other they will want to work independently and you can potentially snap the lower axle mount on both of them. This is because one will be softer than the other and also the rebound time will be different. Imagine it like trying to do push-ups with a dislocated shoulder or elbow. Sooner or later you will fall on your face when the soar arm gives out. That is not a joke but a realistic analogy. It should not take you more than an hour or hour and a half to do the forks and the seals from Z1E are not expensive.
74 Z1-A stock
76 KZ-900 Totaly stock vice MAC pipe
77 KZ-1000A stock
78 Z1-R 100%MINT 500 original Mi.
78 Z1-R Yoshi 1103 kit stage 1 cams Yoshi pipe. Etc
79 KZ-1300 (1400)
80 KZ-1300
81 Scratch built GPz1150R
82 KZ1000
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- TexasKZ
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21 Jul 2010 16:51 #384437
by TexasKZ
1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough
Replied by TexasKZ on topic Leaking Fork
And there is always the possibility of having fork oil blow onto the front brake. At least it wont squeak as you head for the back of that Buick at warp 2. :blink:
1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough
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- kawasakibikefan
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21 Jul 2010 19:13 #384480
by kawasakibikefan
'75 Z1B
'95 KLR250
My Future Buying List:
-Kawasaki KLX450R
-Yamaha R1
-Suzuki DR-Z400SM
Replied by kawasakibikefan on topic Leaking Fork
lol i have break fluid already leaking onto the front brake haha. money is tight so im basically trying to ride as is. i can still stop. If it should only take 1-2 hours I will look into ordering some parts then. I just got the engine rebuilt. I wanted to just be done with working on it the rest of the summer but o well. it is 35 years old.
'75 Z1B
'95 KLR250
My Future Buying List:
-Kawasaki KLX450R
-Yamaha R1
-Suzuki DR-Z400SM
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- RonKZ650
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21 Jul 2010 20:03 #384501
by RonKZ650
321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
Replied by RonKZ650 on topic Leaking Fork
I'll tell the story of my cousin and his 1981 CB900F Honda. The fork seals leaked all over and made a huge mess, but by the grace of god one day the leaking quit. (Out of fork oil). Problem was all resolved at that point.
321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
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- otakar
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21 Jul 2010 20:08 #384504
by otakar
74 Z1-A stock
76 KZ-900 Totaly stock vice MAC pipe
77 KZ-1000A stock
78 Z1-R 100%MINT 500 original Mi.
78 Z1-R Yoshi 1103 kit stage 1 cams Yoshi pipe. Etc
79 KZ-1300 (1400)
80 KZ-1300
81 Scratch built GPz1150R
82 KZ1000
Replied by otakar on topic Leaking Fork
A set of seals is only $7.20 from Z1E. Just make sure that your problem is not something more severe, like warn out chrome on the fork tubes.
74 Z1-A stock
76 KZ-900 Totaly stock vice MAC pipe
77 KZ-1000A stock
78 Z1-R 100%MINT 500 original Mi.
78 Z1-R Yoshi 1103 kit stage 1 cams Yoshi pipe. Etc
79 KZ-1300 (1400)
80 KZ-1300
81 Scratch built GPz1150R
82 KZ1000
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- kawasakibikefan
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25 Jul 2010 09:20 #385528
by kawasakibikefan
'75 Z1B
'95 KLR250
My Future Buying List:
-Kawasaki KLX450R
-Yamaha R1
-Suzuki DR-Z400SM
Replied by kawasakibikefan on topic Leaking Fork
RonKZ650 wrote:
So are you saying to drain the fork oil out of the good one and just ride? Sounds like thats not good on it? I mean why else would there be fork oil if it didnt do anything.
I'll tell the story of my cousin and his 1981 CB900F Honda. The fork seals leaked all over and made a huge mess, but by the grace of god one day the leaking quit. (Out of fork oil). Problem was all resolved at that point.
So are you saying to drain the fork oil out of the good one and just ride? Sounds like thats not good on it? I mean why else would there be fork oil if it didnt do anything.
'75 Z1B
'95 KLR250
My Future Buying List:
-Kawasaki KLX450R
-Yamaha R1
-Suzuki DR-Z400SM
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.