Fork Savers?
#1
11-08-2006, 08:53 PM
Fork Savers?
Are those a gimmick?
I mean, when the fork is compressed, the pressure is on the spring, but there should be no pressure on the seals themselves, is that correct? There will be pressure while the compression is happening and the oil moves from one chamber to another through the valving which limits the flow and puts pressure on the seals, but after the fork is compressed, there's no more seal pressure than normal. Or am I misunderstanding something?
I mean, when the fork is compressed, the pressure is on the spring, but there should be no pressure on the seals themselves, is that correct? There will be pressure while the compression is happening and the oil moves from one chamber to another through the valving which limits the flow and puts pressure on the seals, but after the fork is compressed, there's no more seal pressure than normal. Or am I misunderstanding something?
#2
11-08-2006, 09:10 PM
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 12,584
RE: Fork Savers?
https://www.kawasakiforums.com/m_86667/tm.htm
I WAS LEARNING ABOUT THAT TOO.....
i was thinking about getting those seal savers they put on the klx on dirtbike tv.... they were moose racing brand....
I WAS LEARNING ABOUT THAT TOO.....
i was thinking about getting those seal savers they put on the klx on dirtbike tv.... they were moose racing brand....
#4
11-08-2006, 10:24 PM
Guest
Posts: n/a
RE: Fork Savers?
I use to put a 2x4 piece between the front tire and the underside of the front fender when I use to race and hauled my bike in a truck. This keeps the forks uncompressed and enables the front to stay rigid so you can tie the bike down using tiedowns. It also saves seals, because after so long compressed it takes a toll on springs/seals.
#5
11-09-2006, 12:05 AM
Join Date: May 2006
Location: White Rock, BC
Posts: 881
RE: Fork Savers?
I don't believe there is anything to worry about using tie-downs...
The comments in that other thread were made by King Cold himself, who is also selling the wheel docks, so...
This just doesn't make any logical sense to me:
The bouncing down the road / upward motion / stress on the fork seals argument just doesn't hold water.
What does happen though, is a positive air pressure gets built up inside the fork while it's compressed. I don't think this will blow your seals any faster than your average riding will (i.e. bottoming your suspension on jumps).
The comments in that other thread were made by King Cold himself, who is also selling the wheel docks, so...
This just doesn't make any logical sense to me:
When you put your bike in the back of a truck (or on a trailer) you have to keep the front suspension loaded (by the straps) to keep the front end from bouncing around as you drive down the road. The rebound of the suspension will literally make the bike hop upwards after you hit a bump in the road. The bike is still behaving as if there is a rider on the back, although there isn't. The straps keeps the front end of the bike down, but the upward force of the rebound has to go somewhere.
Basically, in order to spare you all a bunch of physics, the force of the rebound will go to the weakest part of the suspension which is the fork seal. Under normal riding they are fine, but when in transport (without the WheelDock) all the pressure will build up and the fork seal being the weakest part of the equation- that's what will blow because the rebound is being stopped by the straps- but there is still upward force. This can damage them thus requiring replacement and money out of your pcoket.
Basically, in order to spare you all a bunch of physics, the force of the rebound will go to the weakest part of the suspension which is the fork seal. Under normal riding they are fine, but when in transport (without the WheelDock) all the pressure will build up and the fork seal being the weakest part of the equation- that's what will blow because the rebound is being stopped by the straps- but there is still upward force. This can damage them thus requiring replacement and money out of your pcoket.
What does happen though, is a positive air pressure gets built up inside the fork while it's compressed. I don't think this will blow your seals any faster than your average riding will (i.e. bottoming your suspension on jumps).
#6
11-09-2006, 12:10 AM
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 12,584
RE: Fork Savers?
hey thats a good idea !!! might have to try that...
ORIGINAL: Iowaguy
I use to put a 2x4 piece between the front tire and the underside of the front fender when I use to race and hauled my bike in a truck. This keeps the forks uncompressed and enables the front to stay rigid so you can tie the bike down using tiedowns. It also saves seals, because after so long compressed it takes a toll on springs/seals.
I use to put a 2x4 piece between the front tire and the underside of the front fender when I use to race and hauled my bike in a truck. This keeps the forks uncompressed and enables the front to stay rigid so you can tie the bike down using tiedowns. It also saves seals, because after so long compressed it takes a toll on springs/seals.
#7
11-09-2006, 12:17 AM
RE: Fork Savers?
I don't know about the whole deal on the tieing down is hard on the fork seals. I know that is what I've always heard but don't quite understand the reasoning.
The seal savers are nothing more that strechy socks that wipe the dirt off of the shock piston before it gets to the seal. So the way that it saves the seal is by keeping the dirt away.
The seal savers are nothing more that strechy socks that wipe the dirt off of the shock piston before it gets to the seal. So the way that it saves the seal is by keeping the dirt away.
thanks
#9
11-10-2006, 02:53 AM
RE: Fork Savers?
I've been using a 4X4 (cut to about an inch less then full travel) for about 25 years now on different dirt bikes... seems to work great and the price has always been right...
Dave
Dave
#10
11-15-2006, 05:20 PM
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 21,060
RE: Fork Savers?
I was at the motocross track on Sunday and the kid I watch race had the seal savers on his bike, they are really cool, kind of like a neoprene wrap that go on before the forks are put back together. But his dad did say they make some wrap around ones, I'm gonna look into it. You know me always looking for a way to keep dirt from getting in somewhere. I also think I'm gonna get the rear shock cover like Tony has on his bike, he learned the hard way one time on a bike after riding in really muddy conditions. The suspension front or back can get really expensive to replace or repair.
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