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Mega tour and a few issues

R

Rapier

Tuned and Synch'ed
Joined
Sep 18, 2016
Messages
81
Location
49444
I just got back to Michigan after 5 weeks on the road. From Denver to Sequoia NP and Eureka CA to Judith Landing Montana, look it up, about the most adventurous place I was, on the Missouri Breaks, 30 miles of gravel road I won't give a boring ride report. Here is the obligatory camp picture.

View attachment 12925




My first problem was the left fork started weeping a few days before I left. It took 4 weeks but finally lost all it's oil. What a mess. I'm going to try to clean the seals with one of those Seal Mate things but suppose I will still have to take the fork leg off to get it refilled with oil. I am sure it will feel great to have compression damping again but it actually was not terribly bad without as it leaked out slowly. I got used to it. If anyone thinks it's possible to fill it with oil without removing the fork leg let me know please.





Very odd problem 2. I looked down one day and a bolt that goes to the center stand pivot on the left side was almost falling out. Turns out there is a welded threaded plate on the sub frame that is gone.

View attachment 12926

I will probably machine something up that does't require welding.

I dropped it once coming to a stop and I pushed it over once attaching a side case when it was sitting up pretty straight on the side stand. That one bent the sidecase pretty badly. Have to use a hammer to get it off now.

The thing chugged along happily for over 7500 miles but with the way I had it loaded down it was cumbersome when stopped and at low speed. Too top heavy. I am going to dump the top case and put lighter bulkier things in a dry bag back there. You see in the picture a huge bag on the passenger seat but that is accentuated by the rain cover draped over it but to get on the thing I had to use the footpeg as a step. I simply have to cut down my stuff. I had two large camera bags however and those make going small hard.
 
Dang pictures don't work. Oh well. Doesn't upload a file mean post a picture. They were showing in the draft.
 
Do your self a favor & replace the left fork seal. Trust me it won't stay dry. Cleaned mine real well & after 2 days off road in the Rockies it decided to just empty itself. Someone please give me a reason for it always being that *#@%* left fork.
While the bike is a great cross country machine, it is no light weight & is tall. I have large bags but had to lower the bike a half inch so that I could keep from dropping it. :>(
 
Rapier said:
Doesn't upload a file mean post a picture. They were showing in the draft.
Click to expand...
Yes. You upload the photos, and insert them where you want them. If you edited the post before you hit post, that may have been the issue. Try uploading them again, or send them to me via email and I'll take care of it for you; Todd at GuzziTech.com
 
Probably right about just replacing the seals but it is a 13 I got in December with 570 miles. 2500 miles when it started leaking. I can't figure why the seal would be bad.
 
Rapier said:
Probably right about just replacing the seals but it is a 13 I got in December with 570 miles. 2500 miles when it started leaking. I can't figure why the seal would be bad.
Click to expand...

There is one thing I have learned very well in life. The fastest way to get problems galore in a house, a car, a boat, or a motorcycle, is to not use it! Your seals failed because they were DRY for years. The seal holds in the oil, but the oil, lubricates and keeps the seal soft and pliable. 570 miles in 4 years means that the inside of the seal hardly ever saw oil on it so it dried out.

Case in point about not using something: When I used to sell BMW motorcycles, almost without fail, the super low mileage bikes always needed a new rear main seal within a few thousand miles of constant use, because the seal had long since dried out, and the new load on it, caused it to leak.
 
GT-Rx® said:
Simple really... Quality of the seals (they skimped, so poor as delivered) and age.
Click to expand...

I see All Balls brand ones on Amazon but am sketchy if the one they list for the Stelvio is correct. At any rate are aftermarket ones the way to go and where would I get them.

I am not sure why the seals would dry out on an upside down fork since it's bathed in oil at all times.
 
Rapier said:
I am not sure why the seals would dry out on an upside down fork since it's bathed in oil at all times.
Click to expand...
See Scott's post above. There are only a few seal makers, some better some worse. All packaged by different labels. AllBalls tends to be a good company.
 
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