Lansdowne Oil Leak

lazyeye6 · Jan 16, 2019

I've had the Landsdowne fork assemblies installed for about a year. It took
a while but I have dialed them in to my satisfaction and I am quite happy
with the improved handling. My problem is that they
leak oil. Oil migrates from the cap threads, and past the adjuster O-rings weeping out
of the adjuster screws. Happens on both compression and rebound sides, though mostly on the compression side. Adjustment screw is out 1 1/2 turns on compression and
1/4 turn on rebound. I've examined the O-rings and they seem fine. Yes, I have
filled with the proper amount of 10wt fork oil, having experimented with different
oil weights. Has anyone else experienced this or can shed light on a solution?

Craig · Jan 16, 2019

There was a thread dealing with this not long ago .... got mine from JRB in ‘13 have had no oil leaking issues ..... you going to have to run a search ....

Dellis · Jan 16, 2019

Just seen this and was interested in the outcome, mine are newly fitted, only done a few miles and don’t leak. I did a search for the previous thread and drew a blank so if anyone finds it can they pop a link in this thread.

Thanks
Dave

Jungle_re · Jan 16, 2019

Just re fitted mine today. Not leaked but for some reason the compression leg has become total rigid. Can't move the forks at all even with my 130kg weight! Took wheel off and the rebound it fins but the compression is solid.

Any idea? Worked as would be expect with just air in.

L.A.B. · Jan 16, 2019

lazyeye6 said:
Has anyone else experienced this or can shed light on a solution?

I added a turn or two of white PTFE tape to the groove under one adjuster O-ring. A small quantity of non-setting gasket sealant applied to the cap bolt threads should stop the leakage.

Fast Eddie · Jan 16, 2019

Jungle_re said:
Just re fitted mine today. Not leaked but for some reason the compression leg has become total rigid. Can't move the forks at all even with my 130kg weight! Took wheel off and the rebound it fins but the compression is solid.

Any idea? Worked as would be expect with just air in.

Hydraulic lock for some reason?

Try taking the ‘needle’ out completely and see it that changes anything.

And be careful not to spray oil everywhere if it does move !

lazyeye6 · Jan 16, 2019

L.A.B. said:
I added a turn or two of white PTFE tape to the groove under one adjuster O-ring. A small quantity of non-setting gasket sealant applied to the cap bolt threads should stop the leakage.

That’s what I’ve been thinking.

L.A.B. · Jan 16, 2019

Jungle_re said:
Just re fitted mine today. Not leaked but for some reason the compression leg has become total rigid. Can't move the forks at all even with my 130kg weight! Took wheel off and the rebound it fins but the compression is solid.

Any idea? Worked as would be expect with just air in.

Needles fitted in the wrong damper assemblies (as the needles are different lengths)?

Craig · Jan 16, 2019

The thread I referred to was titled Landsdowne adjustment April 2018 ....

madass140 · Jan 16, 2019

Jungle_re said:
Just re fitted mine today. Not leaked but for some reason the compression leg has become total rigid. Can't move the forks at all even with my 130kg weight! Took wheel off and the rebound it fins but the compression is solid.

Any idea? Worked as would be expect with just air in.

Apparently its working fine now that he adjusted the adjuster. The dampers are not supplied for "your" particular
situation. You need to turn the adjusters to suit your requirement.

gortnipper · Jan 16, 2019

I had a similar leak from the adjusters. If you pull them out, there is a 5/8"O.D x 3/32" ID oring. I replaced it with a new oring, and the issue went away. Don told me that different suppliers may have slightly different tolerances, so YMMV.

Jungle_re · Jan 17, 2019

Fast Eddie said:
Hydraulic lock for some reason?

Try taking the ‘needle’ out completely and see it that changes anything.

And be careful not to spray oil everywhere if it does move !

Think it was a mixture of this and adjument 3 turns out. I took the fork out and tried to empty the oil out and it took a fair bit of effort of pumping with drain and top bolt out to get any oil out at all. I then under don advise turned the compression out 3 turns and decided to fill the fork from the drain hole with syringe. This had it working a treat then

Dellis · Jan 17, 2019

Craig said:
The thread I referred to was titled Landsdowne adjustment April 2018 ....

Thanks

lazyeye6 · Jan 18, 2019

lazyeye6 said:
That’s what I’ve been thinking.

So, I've done this and so far no more bleeding out of the adjuster. Still need to take a spirited
ride.

lazyeye6 · Jan 18, 2019

gortnipper said:
I had a similar leak from the adjusters. If you pull them out, there is a 5/8"O.D x 3/32" ID oring. I replaced it with a new oring, and the issue went away. Don told me that different suppliers may have slightly different tolerances, so YMMV.

Can you expand on the size? 5/8"OD x 3/32" ID sounds improbable.

gortnipper · Jan 18, 2019

lazyeye6 said:
Can you expand on the size? 5/8"OD x 3/32" ID sounds improbable.

Quite. 5/8"OD x 3/32" x-section.

Lansdowne Oil Leak

lazyeye6

Craig

Dellis

Jungle_re

L.A.B.

Moderator

Fast Eddie

lazyeye6

L.A.B.

Moderator

Craig

madass140

gortnipper

Jungle_re

Dellis

lazyeye6

lazyeye6

gortnipper

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