Never Leak Fork Seals

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Tornado

Tornado

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Came across this channel with a video on a MK3 Commando fork seal replacement....they use a never-leak type seal called Leak Proof Fork Seals, made for Nortons...looks interesting, but no source given. Anyone heard of them?

 
www.accessnorton.com

Roadholder Mk3 reseal rebuild in place

In progress , Mk3 fork reseal in place. Have RGM springs #067723P Leakproof 06-5483/A seals appear too thin compared to OEM. bottom circlip requires training to remove. Have PJ1 fluid for fill 20w Fork tube not disturbed, still clamped in place. any advice?
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com
www.accessnorton.com

Leak proof fork seal which side up?

Hi All, Can someone help with this? Does the solid side face up or down? The instruction I got with the seals were unclear. Thanks,
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com


Leak Proof Fork Seals | The Best Fork Seals On The Planet

leakproofforkseals.com leakproofforkseals.com
(The standard seals fitted to Triumph T140 etc. forks from '78)
 
Leak-Proof fork seals have been around 45 years that I know of. Save your money. Too much stiction, too much wear on the chrome. Been there, tried that.
JMWO
 
Yes I found more stiction too. Norton fork can be a real challenge to get working smoothly and with minimal stiction. These seals don't help.
 
These seals need to float in the housing and are designed that way, if they don't then they will increase stiction, see LAB's second link in his post. The ID is a tight fit to provide the seal on the stanchion, the OD is a looser fit than standard seals and the seal is thinner so the seal moves up and down in the housing so that initial fork movement stiction/resistance is not the seal ID but the seal OD movement. Fitting the seal so it can't move means you get excessive stiction as the ID to stanchion fit is tight.
 
I've not used Leakproofs on my Commando but have them on my T140 and T160* although I haven't directly compared seal types they seem no worse than ordinary seals for stiction or leakage.

*(Non-standard on the T160)
 
I tried them once and found the stiction to be considerably more than the standard seals. I removed them before even going out for a ride. ;) Maybe there was enough "standard variation" in Norton forks to allow them to work well in some cases but not in others?
 
MexicoMike said:
I tried them once and found the stiction to be considerably more than the standard seals. I removed them before even going out for a ride. ;) Maybe there was enough "standard variation" in Norton forks to allow them to work well in some cases but not in others?
Click to expand...
They sucked on 2 Jap bikes for me. XS1100, ZG (GTR) 1000.
 
I hate to have to admit this but i hadn't touched the forks for 10 plus years .. The bike rode well and handled most of the big bumps quite well . This winter i did a full service ..front to back , top to bottom on almost everything .. When i drained the forks i got 5 1/2 oz from the left fork and 1/2 oz from the right fork .. Flushed the forks out with varsol and blew them out with air .. Never had ANY indication of oil leakage .

Now the obvious answer from you would be ...... You never filled the fork , however that really can't be as i had just installed new seals so the forks were all apart and thoroughly cleaned . If i didn't put the oil in , where did the 1/2 oz come from ..

My point being ... what good are leak proof seals if you can't see the oil disappearing with seals that do leak ??
 
Ron Hulton said:
My point being ... what good are leak proof seals if you can't see the oil disappearing with seals that do leak ??
Click to expand...
Oil can also leak past the damper bolt so slowly that it may go unnoticed.
 
"Oil can also leak past the damper bolt so slowly that it may go unnoticed."

Hmmm...never noticed that happening! :rolleyes:
 
MexicoMike said:
"Oil can also leak past the damper bolt so slowly that it may go unnoticed."

Hmmm...never noticed that happening! :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Seen a weep from mine after dismantling my forks and renewing the fibre washer for dampner rod.
 
Well this begs questions on an appropriately timed issue for me.

I had to replace the fork stanchions when I rebuilt the bike half a dozen years ago.

At that time I installed leak proof seals. They weeped straight away and then they leaked.

After a year or so I installed Ariette seals when I put in Turcite bushes. They leaked worse straight away. I may have taken off too much around the edge, but they were a bugger to get in so I dont think that was the issue.

So I promptly put stock seals back in and they started weeping last year, and blew out on the club ride last weekend.

Looking for tips/tricks for install as one common denominator seems to be yours truly.
 
I used them once after a short time they leaked worst than the original seals that lasted over 30 years before I replaced them, new set of standard seals and added gaiters and still no leaks.
 
I was a mechanic for 45 years and watching the video gave me the willys to see them pushing on that rubber seal with a screw driver. You should always use a driver on a seal when possible. In this case they could have used the old bushing to drive the seal in, or make one to fit using PVC pipe. Just my thoughts.
 
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