K11 Owners Group

joeangi

Hi everyone, It has been a while since I last posted.

The K1100RS ('94) has been sitting in the garage for better than 3 weeks. It has not moved at all (I know it is a shame). Anyhow, the right front fork is leaking from the seal area. It is dripping down the fork leg, through the brakes and dripping off the bottom of the leg. I can't imagine that without the bike moving how it could be leaking out the fork seal.

Just to re-cap. All the internals were cleaned and new bushings and seals were installed less than 300 miles ago. Fork sliders were checked for any burrs, and appear to be in good shape. Proper amounts of Race Tech 10 wt. fork fluid were added.

I placed a paper towel under the leg last week, and it is still leaking....Nice clean fluid.

Anyone have any ideas? I would think that all the fluid would be down in the leg when at rest. I could see it dripping from the drain plug, or even the bolt on the bottom of the leg, but not the seal.

Also, are my brake pads now shot, as they have fork fluid on them? Do they absorb, or will it burn off while riding.
_________________
1994 K1100RS
1986 K100RS

granth · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 5:52 pm Post subject:

Can't really see how this could be fork fluid,as it is contained below the seal and the bike has not moved,so cannot be under pressure, fluid does not usually move "uphill", so could this be Brake fluid dripping down from the hydraulics ??? Question

_________________
1993(94 MODEL) K1100RS IN ASTRAL BLUE
2006 URAL 750CC DALESMAN SIDECAR OUTFIT,
RED AND CREAM.

joeangi · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 6:00 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the reply....Not brake fluid....definitely fork. I will attempt a photo tonight.

If it was brake fluid, it would have eaten the paint on both the fork leg and the wheel.
_________________
1994 K1100RS
1986 K100RS

Jim · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 6:13 pm Post subject:

I'm pretty sure you'll need new pads - I think they absorb. At any rate, not worth taking a chance - they don't cost that much.
_________________
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."

joeangi · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 6:28 pm Post subject:

I kinda assumed new pads....Didn't know if the sintered material absorbed, the disc does not rub (maybe because it is "lubricated")
_________________
1994 K1100RS
1986 K100RS

joeangi · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 10:21 am Post subject:

http://s677.photobucket.com/albums/vv134/joeangi/?action=view&current=IMG_0980.jpg

http://s677.photobucket.com/albums/vv134/joeangi/?action=view&current=IMG_0982.jpg

http://s677.photobucket.com/albums/vv134/joeangi/?action=view&current=IMG_0981.jpg

http://s677.photobucket.com/albums/vv134/joeangi/?action=view&current=IMG_0983.jpg

Hopefully you can see the leaking...you can actually see a drip off the bottom.
_________________
1994 K1100RS
1986 K100RS

Inge K. · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 11:14 am Post subject:

Looks like you have to the work all over again. Sad

Between the seal and the bushing it`s a dished washer to keep the bushing in place,
if that is mounted upside down it make contact with seal lips which can cause a leak.

Or worse if that dished washer being forgotten, the bush start to move and destroys the seal lip.

Inge K.

granth · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 3:57 pm Post subject:

I will be interested to find out the answer to this one,its very strange that it is leaking "against gravity" !Certainly the most serious fork seal leak I have ever seen.

I looked at your photobucket folder and you have done a great refurb on your bike,congratulations.
I hope this is cleared up soon. Cool

_________________
1993(94 MODEL) K1100RS IN ASTRAL BLUE
2006 URAL 750CC DALESMAN SIDECAR OUTFIT,
RED AND CREAM.

joeangi · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:15 pm Post subject:

Thank you for the kind words.

It is very strange that it is leaking uphill??? I will disassemble later this week...I thought it was all put together properly, but it is certainly not going to fix itself.

Joe
_________________
1994 K1100RS
1986 K100RS

Inge K. · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:43 pm Post subject:

joeangi · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 8:59 am Post subject:

I put in 400 cc if I remember correctly...since they were torn down.

How do you measure the fluid level in a K1100RS. The K100RS is easy as you can use a dipstick, but with the K1100, you can not put anything down the fill hole to check fluid level?

Thanks,
Joe
_________________
1994 K1100RS
1986 K100RS

robleyd · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 9:45 am Post subject:

I think what Inge is suggesting is to measure the height of the oil in the fork tube; my guess is that the oil level may be above the seal
_________________
David, owner of:
1996 K1100 LT

Inge K. · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 1:53 pm Post subject:

Jim · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 2:33 pm Post subject:

Joe - when you worked on the forks before, did you have them completely apart? They do not take the same amount of oil unless you take them completely apart and drain everything.

If you do a total rebuild, they take the same amount - 400cc, if you drain and refill, about 50cc is caught in the left leg and won't drain out.

The Clymer's states: (page 560): K1100 models, left leg 349-351 cc (11.7-11.8 oz.), right leg 399-401 cc (13.4-13.6 oz.) for a drain and refill.

I don't think you'll find any good way to measure the oil level. You need to know whether they are completely empty, or whether there is 50cc in the left fork before you fill them.
_________________
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."

Inge K. · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 3:10 pm Post subject:

RJTrucker · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 4:53 pm Post subject:

I would bet that the oil level is too high. with the spring out of the tube and the tube pushed all the way down you measure from the top of tube to the oil. On the K11RS orLT it should be 150mm from the top of the tube with the tube pushed all the way down. Also if you installed a progressive type spring the tighter coils go to the top.
_________________
Ron
1993 K11LT
1985 K100RS with over 100K on it
1985 K100RS Luftmiester Turbo Work in progress (any help is appreciated)
1974 R90/6

joeangi · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 5:23 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys, no the forks were COMPLETELY disassembled. Each part was taken apart and cleaned.

I was thinking of draining that fork leg and seeing how much fluid comes out. I would assume 350ml (if it was not leaking).

I would think that the level of the fluid is below the seals at rest. Especially if the fork is not pumped up...

Joe
_________________
1994 K1100RS
1986 K100RS

joeangi · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 5:24 pm Post subject:

Ron, sorry I did not see you in Bloomsburg....
_________________
1994 K1100RS
1986 K100RS

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 11:54 pm Post subject:

That would be my suggestion, drain the oil and measure how much you take out of each side.
If you are doing one, you may as well check the other one too.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

geovar · Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 7:43 am Post subject:

According the manual:Left Fork 0.35l +/- 0.01l of oil
Right Fork 0.40l +/- 0.01l
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K1100RS/SE 1996