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After using the Sealmate successfully on both CBs, I often wondered how difficult it would be to make my own, when needed. It's just a thin piece of plastic with a hook shape. I always thought a properly cut plastic playing card should do the trick.
Last week I got a chance to test my idea. On the way to Utah for a meeting with Frulk and Django, I noticed that the right fork seal on the CB750 had developed a substantial leak. Bad enough that I could see a large drop of fork oil form behind the tube every 10-15 min.
At one of my gas stops I was able to buy a pack of cards and a pair of scissors. When I arrived at my destination, I cut a card into the general shape of the Sealmate and gave it a try. That's when I found out that not all playing cards are plastic. These turned out to be plastic coated paper and started to come apart after a half turn around the seal. Not to be deterred, I just cut out several of them and cleaned out the seal a section at a time.
Overall, this experiment in roadside engineering was a great success. The fork was sealed up tight and hasn't dripped for 1,500 miles.
![[Image: ee3f3fc38c4661f6e5f0d784319e5b06.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201906/ee3f3fc38c4661f6e5f0d784319e5b06.jpg)
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" ... That don't bother me at all
Playin' solitaire till dawn with a deck of fifty-one ... "
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Great 'How To", Flyn! Full marks to you.
GO...
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(06-21-2019, 12:42 PM)GoldOxide_imp Wrote: " ... That don't bother me at all
Playin' solitaire till dawn with a deck of fifty-one ... "
I cut up the Joker and the instruction card for poker. So, at least in theory, I'm still playing with a full deck.
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I stopped "playin' with a full deck" years and years ago...!
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Nicely done Flynrider
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Great tip Flyn! I nominate the clear plastic packaging that many items from Costco are encased in. Haven't tried it but I am going to save any flat pieces I come across for future reference. Thanks for the tip.
Ben
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Have not tried the seal mate but when you use it do you remove the top dust seal and have better access, can see what you are doing or just work it round and hope the edge has collected the dirt and has resumed sealing again?
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(06-24-2019, 01:23 AM)max_imp Wrote: Have not tried the seal mate but when you use it do you remove the top dust seal and have better access, can see what you are doing or just work it round and hope the edge has collected the dirt and has resumed sealing again?
Yes, definitely pull the dust seal up. You can't access the actual seal lip unless you do. You will probably find a puddle of dirty oil that you want to clean out first.
When you're done, wipe some WD40 or silicone spray on the fork tubes occasionally. That may help keep dried on mud or dead bugs from causing the problem again.
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Yep. In the photo above, the thin screwdriver blade of the multi-tool was used to gently pry the dust seal free and slide it up the tube.
It's also a good idea to run the tool between the fork tube and the dust seal. That'll keep any trapped dirt from migrating down to the actual fork seal.
Pekingduck also makes a good point about cleaning out the area above the fork seal before you start. I used a microfiber cloth wrapped around the point of the screwdriver blade and ran it around the top of the seal. This gets rid of any potential contaminants that have already made it past the dust seal.
(06-24-2019, 12:24 AM)Ben70_imp Wrote: Great tip Flyn! I nominate the clear plastic packaging that many items from Costco are encased in. Haven't tried it but I am going to save any flat pieces I come across for future reference. Thanks for the tip.
Ben
If you're referring to the clear plastic clamshell type material, I think that might be a bit thick and rigid for this application. The tool has to be thin enough to bend easily and conform to the round shape of the tube as you slide it around the seal.
If you do decide to try it, make sure the edges are super smooth. The last thing you want to do is cut or tear the soft rubber seal.
