I'm getting a small amount of leakage on my right fork. Not a lot, but enough to leave a dirty slurry after about 40 miles of riding rough mountain roads. The bike is an 07 with about 9k miles. I don't know if there has ever been any service to the forks. I've used a Seal Doctor with some success just through the dust seal. Next step is to try to drop the dust seal down and seal doctor the actual seal, etc. I really don't want to have to do a tear down of the forks, or loose use of the bike while I wait several weeks for the nearest (100 miles away) dealer-service to work it over.

I don't ride real hard (62 year old man mountain trail style riding). Probably get 7-8 inches of compression max (based on slurry line left on fork) out of the eleven theoretical bottom.

Is there a way to check or add some oil to make sure I'm not getting to low (without taking it all apart). Don't want this thing to get one sided and wiggy on me while out on a ride 50 miles from civilization.

 

Front end is rigid enough to not get "wiggly". It will just dump out more oil. You could try a really thin piece of plastic that would slide up under the seal to see if there's dirt that has caused the slight seepage. I'd think real damage would result in a wetter situation. Checking oil is not going to be easy I've not done it on upside down forks, so not really sure. Someone will probably comment on it.

 

I doubt that a measurable amount has leaked out. My oldest son's KLX was leaking similar to yours and had been leaking for some time. I pulled the one fork thinking It needed to be topped off. It didn't, but while I was there I check the seals and decided to change the oil in both forks. Pouring out the oil in each is when I confirmed (convinced myself) that a very very small amount had actually leaked. As Klx678 suggested a small piece of plactic might work. Some say to cut a plastic milk jug. Also, Risk Racing makes a handy-dandy little device called the seal doctor that works great to clean dirt out and away from the seals.

 

Thanks.

Is there any opinion on age of fork oil and need to change it. ? Manual refer to 2 years. Various videos on subject talk about need to change. Does anyone here on the KLX forum change their oil now and then ?

 

Milk jug. I knew there was some simple place to get the plastic, just could not remember. Thanks.

 

I've got a Risk Seal Doctor. I have used is several times over the past few years, and it has seemed to help, pulling out some crud. But I have realized I just have not been using it properly. You are supposed to pull down the dust seal to get fully at the oil seal. That is next step, will post back how that goes.

 

Fork oil does not go bad over time, but over use. I have my forks serviced when they start to leak.

 

Not every two years, more like feel. I change the fork oil in my bikes (KLR, KDX & KLX) and help out with my two sons bikes as well. A rear shock rebuild is a little more complicated, but still doable.