K11 Owners Group

Frank · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:14 am Post subject: Fork seals

G'day guys and girls

Time has come to replace the front fork seals. They look like they blew on my recent trip from the Gold Coast to Canberra and back last fortnight (2700 kms/1680 miles).

1. What weight oil should I use, manual only says Esso comfort

2. Do I have to disassembly the whole works or can I just undo the bolt at the bottom of the fork and slide everything out and replace the seal.

I have done the seals on my old K100 about 8 years ago and can not remember how I did it (A.G.E. syndrome must be setting in).

Thanks for the assistance.
_________________
Ride safe

Frank
Gold Coast Australia

BMW 1997 K1100LT - White

Ulysses Member 33144
StruggleTown Tourers

Rafal · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 3:52 am Post subject:

Hello!

1 - Flying Brick tech page. I have 10W in my now, Real OEM says that it should be SAE10.
2 - You should rather disassemble all. Seals should be installed from top, after whole leg is assembled.

Old K's have different type of forks. AFAIK, even K1/K100 16V and early K1100 has different fork internals than "regular" ones. (as Clymer says)

Best regards
Rafał
_________________
Rafal
K1100RS is a real beast (in Marrakesh Red)
K75S is a real beauty - she has gone Sad

, but not to far Smile

.

Saltcreek · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 7:36 am Post subject:

Several of us have lately done fork seals successfully by removing the sliders with the forks still on the bike. I guess it depends on whether you think it's time for a total rebuild or just the seals. I wish I had ordered bushings as well. Gaiters should be considered.
_________________
Jim

1994 K1100LT Mystic Red, bfd, 37000 miles, sold Sad

2009 Wilderness Systems Zephyr 155 ST
2002 Litespeed titanium

endoman100 · Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 4:44 pm Post subject:

Changed mine on whithout taking them off the tree. But mine is a K1100RS I don't know about the K1100LT. and I use 10 weight Fork Oil
Good luck
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In the words of the stones
Time Is On My Side
Yes It Is
1993 K1100RS

kkjkeane · Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Posts: 12 Location: Sydney

Just did mine a couple of weeks ago. Left the forks on the bike, took the sliders off. I used a Philips No1 screwdriver and plenty of muscle to pry the retaining clips out, worked well, got them out in less than a minute.

I just used some fork oil purchased from Supacheap. Used a fresh beer bottle 355ml to measure the oil.

I did have bit of a saga after buying some seals on ebay AUD21 a pair delivered. They were the wrong size, but I received a refund. Paid AUD28 each from Motohansa in Sydney.
_________________
Ken Keane
1993 K1100LT

rydor · Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 8:56 pm Post subject:

Off the grid · Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 10:26 pm Post subject:

FYI I am a big bitch so I mixed 15wt and 10wt 50/50 and got 12.5wt for my former forks which was perfect for me.
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Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

Frank · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:24 am Post subject:

G'day all

Got mine off without having to remove them from the triple tree. Changes the seals and put them back on.

Filled with 400ml of 10 weight oil, left the fill caps off and bounced the forks up and down to get rid of any air trapped inside the tubes.

A slight grinding noise is coming from the forks. Mad

Going to sit back and have a beer while I think about this.
_________________
Ride safe

Frank
Gold Coast Australia

BMW 1997 K1100LT - White

Ulysses Member 33144
StruggleTown Tourers

Jim · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:23 am Post subject: fork seals

How many miles on that brick? It might be time for a fork rebuild. If you're just changing fluid, one leg takes 400, the other takes 350. It's only 400 per side when you do a rebuild.

You probably want 10W oil.

Have those forks been rebuilt? If not, you'll probably benefit from new springs and bushings.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

tibbe · Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 5:41 pm Post subject:

Hi
Just some notes it's 400cc in both legs, as you are taking the lower part of fork out, not only changing the oil. Remeber to cloean the forkleg with cleaner, lots of AL dust in there.
Remeber to mount the sealing the right way, had to redo one of my forks after only 5kkm and mount a new seal the right way.
I'm using 7.5W oil. It works for me.
Mounted rubber boots from R75/5 on my forks to protekt from dust and mosquitos that dryed and kind of glued to the fork.

Frank · Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 7:38 pm Post subject:

G'day all

Found out what the scrapping noise was. Turns out one of the retainer clips was dislodged when putting the bottom part of the fork back on.

managed to get it back in without taking the seal pout.

All good now. Very Happy

Thanks to everyone who supplied suggestions and help.
_________________
Ride safe

Frank
Gold Coast Australia

BMW 1997 K1100LT - White

Ulysses Member 33144
StruggleTown Tourers

Al. · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 4:19 pm Post subject: Re: Fork seals