how bad is this

[teamorion22]

please excuse my ignorance. i know i need my fork seals replace. My bike has about 25k on it and it has never been done. Clearly they are leaking. Buy my question is can i ride it when they are leaking this bad. I don't the money to replace the seal right now. But i do have the patience to not ride if I could cause more damage that would cost me more money or maybe worse. your advice is appreciated
thanks
michael

 

[GIXERHP]

The fork oil is going to get on your brakes!

Not recommended!

 

[mike1180]

Mine went like that too.
I wiped it off after every ride and watched that it didn't get worse.
As long as it stays like that, it can wait a while.
If it starts to puddle or get onto the brakes that is time to fix it.
I wouldn't ride it if it had leaked out more than 1/4 cup or so in total, out of each fork.
The seals are cheap from All Balls, and not a bad job to change.
Good luck!

 

[dmrowe]

Mine went like that too.
I wiped it off after every ride and watched that it didn't get worse.
As long as it stays like that, it can wait a while.
If it starts to puddle or get onto the brakes that is time to fix it.
I wouldn't ride it if it had leaked out more than 1/4 cup or so in total, out of each fork.
The seals are cheap from All Balls, and not a bad job to change.
Good luck!

Good to know Mike, but what is the link to All Balls? I just typed in Allballs.com on my work computer and now I am waiting for the IS police to come drag me away!!!!!

 

[el stumpo]

Good to know Mike, but what is the link to All Balls? I just typed in Allballs.com on my work computer and now I am waiting for the IS police to come drag me away!!!!!

IS Popos

 

[MikeSomething]

My friend wrapped a small rag around the bottom of the fork and zipped tied the hell out of it. Soaked up the oil and worked fine as a temporary fix. I let mine get to the point where there was pretty much no oil in the fork, not a fun ride.

 

[kennym4]

I'd be afraid of it getting on my front tire ?

 

[Tufbusa]

From the looks of the photos, at this point you have a weep and not leaving a puddle on the floor. While it's not recommended to run it like that I have on rare occasions did this to get by for a short time until I could find time to replace the seal.

take an old Tshirt and tear a strip of cloth about an inch or so wide, wrap it around the leaking fork leg after wiping all the excess oil from the fork and tie it tightly. This will absorb the leaking oil keeping it from dripping and getting on the brake pads. I always made sure I had a rag with me to wipe any excess from the tube on stops.

This works pretty well as long as it's only a weep. This is a temporary bandaid, get the seal replaced asap! As the fork oil leaks out, the fork becomes less and less effective.

If you reapair the fork yourself, the cost is only about 30 bucks or less.

 

[MO-BUSA]

park it and fix it

 

[teamorion22]

thanks guys.

 

[BIG GUY]

I would stay off the bike until you can afford to get the seals fixed. If it is leaking that bad, it can get on your brakes and maybe even your rear tire.

 

[Blanca BusaLess]

Is a weep not something that could at least wanted time become a leak ?
Any oil up near brakes or tire would make me worry so much I could not enjoy ride.