Seal Saver

[Wolf]

Just thought I'd post my experience with the sealsavers (short) On my 99SX250 with the right side up forks.
In dusty dry conditions I had no problems, as a matter of fact the fork wipers looked clean everytime I pulled the sealsavers off.
Then I rode a Hare Scramble with a few minor mud holes and creek crossings. The wet mud worked its way into the sealsavers and stayed there. It tore up my seals within one hour. When I pulled the seal savers off mud was packed in there all the way around the fork, thick and solid. Result: blown forkseals. No big deal, but an inconvenience! :uh:
No, I will not put them back on, I think they failed. This might be different with the full length ones or with USD forks.

 

[biglou]

Wolf-I've been running mine on the USD forks on both bikes essentially since they were new. Got about a year on the kTm and 3 months on the YZF. Knock on wood, no blown seals yet. I don't think, however, that I've punished either bike as severely as you have described. (Lou no like mud very much!)

 

[Wolf]

Lou, you've been to Wardy's now. Didn't you find any mudholes there?
Boy, he must have taken it easy on you!

 

[biglou]

LOL! Oldguy was on point the first day there. He would get stuck in the mud holes, and then point out the correct line when I came up behind him! True story!

 

[Wolf]

:)

 

[CAL]

I had short Sealsavers on my DRZ the entire time I had it (about 8 months). And I definately rode in plenty of mud (and never cleaned under them). Never had a problem. I've been running those same Sealsavers on my 426 for 5 months now with no problems. Sorry you had problems with them. So far I love mine.

 

[Lorin]

For conventional forks, I would use the rubber, accordian booties like the kdx uses. For inverted forks, the seal savers work extremely well.

 

[2001yz250]

Which is best to use on upside down forks, the full or short length. I'm definately ordering some. 2 weeks is too often to have to replace fork seals.

 

[Lorin]

I was instructed to use the short ones on my inverted forks due to the potential of the full-length ones bunching up and getting caught in the brake rotor, etc. I purchased the full length ones, and cut them in half. One set for the bike, the second set for spares.