Oil out of the front fork air line

[iowawill]

Two summers ago, my V12 had a front fork seal start leaking (left side) in the early fall. Took her to the local Kaw dealer where I bought the bike and had them replace the seals, and while at it had them install progressive springs. The following spring in early June...the same fork started leaking again. Took her back to the dealer and after going around with the service manager about how the first seal lasted 11 years so why did the replacement last a couple months of actual use, I still ended up splitting the labor cost to get it redone. Wasn't happy but so it goes. Now a new problem has arisen in that the last couple of times I've went to check air pressure in the front forks, a bit of oil has squirted out. Ideas on what might be going on here?

[lonewolf3253]

Don't know about the oil, but I run no air pressure with the Progressive springs.

[Me Again]

Most likely cause is to much oil in the shocks.

[Ditto]

I don't know if this is the problem, but I was told that with the Progressive springs you leave out the oil strainer and spacer (?) and this allows oil to feed back through the air lines. I don't run any air in my suspension since going to Progressives so I never use the valve.

[onegunguitar]

More than likely your fork seal didn't go bad,it probably had dried bugs or dirt on the tube which got stuck between the seal and fork tube. Mine was doing that as well...I cut a piece of plastic from one of those round sani-wipe containers,stuck it between the tube and the seal,worked it around a few times and it hasn't leaked since....that was about 1500 miles ago. I ended up buying neoprene fork covers from ebay for like $15 to keep the crap off of the tubes.

[iowawill]

Sounds like I'll quit worrying about air pressure and get some bug deflectors for the forks. If the forks are overfilled then I wonder if that will cause early seal failure? Anyway thanks to all who responded.

[voyager55]

http://www.abbikeboard.com/jeff/spring/spring.html

http://www.sealmate.net

[Mr Jensee]

I'm betting the shop professionals didn't take the oil filters and spacers out when they put in the progressive springs.