Scooter Forks seeping oil when tied down

[GoldenVision]

Our Honda Vision 110 seeps oil from the front forks when tied down (tightly) on our carrier.

Has never happened before.

Do you think the forks will need renewing?

 

[pappajohn]

No, but the oil seals do.
If theres visible oil around the seals it could be an MOT advisory at least.

 

[David and Sally]

No, but the oil seals do.
If theres visible oil around the seals it could be an MOT advisory at least.

Or a failure. New seals will sort it unless the forks are badly pitted.

 

[martxer]

Deffo fork seals

 

[GoldenVision]

Actually, looking closely at the forks they don't look in peak condition. I suspect they may need replacing

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[Jev88]

Jaws

You'd be my go to bike expert

 

[Jaws]

Actually, looking closely at the forks they don't look in peak condition. I suspect they may need replacing

When you tie them down do you go lower than they would normally go ?
May just want a good clean up
Anddddd
If it has been serviced by a Honda main stealer there is more than a good chance the fork legs have been over filled

As a first step I would drain the legs and refill with the correct amout ( being careful to follow the procedure for filling ........ it is easy to get it wrong believe it or not )
If possible refill ro the correct air gap rathe4r than by volume ( I say if poss 'cos very often on smallerr biked the air gap minfo is not available

 

[GoldenVision]

They don't seem to go any lower. But it was recently serviced (not by Honda) after which the ride was very harsh. Might that be a result of over-- filling?

 

[Mikemfg]

Firstly,you need too slide a piece of plastic cut from ..say a water bottle under the dirt scraper rubber.
The bit you can see on the chrome stanchion, slide it gently under it and rotate it around the seal.
Too remove grit or sludge
Grit under here will eventually work its way into the main seal...

Next don't tie it down hard,fork seals are under pressure for too long,
there designed too support the bike plus whatever the manufacturer has in the load ratings for them..

Forks when in motion are not under extreme pressure all the time .
They pressure on and off..

We used too transport bikes with a piece off wood between the top of wheel and the fork stanchion carrier,
The tyre deflates too take the pressure...

 

[Raul]

As Jaws said, the oil needs to be the correct amount, and a sufficient air gap to compress and displace the oil that moves trough the valve port. The spring takes the pressure not the oil. The oil simply moves from one side to the other of the valve when the forks are compressed in bound and rebound. The oil only slows down the spring thats all. If it leaks, is either pitted forks, failed seals or too much oil. Also the weight of the oil matters too. If is to heavy, high viscosity, and the port is small, it will put additional pressure on the seals. A 15ct oil weight is about right for a scoot. Some cowboys fill them up with motor oil and kill the seals.

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[GoldenVision]

Thanks Jaws Mikemfg Raul and for these messages. I'm not actually that mechanically minded, so I've got it booked in with a reputable garage to see what the problem is. But knowing what you've said gives me some confidence when dealing with them.