Fork Seals - Hey brother, can you spare some advice??

[beemerboy]

I've got a leaking fork seal on the right tube and have already ordered new seals ($40 US). Before I consider diving into this effort myself would like advice or recollections from YOUR attempt to replace the seals.

So, should I give it a try myself? I'm fairly good at mechanical stuff and have a modest collection of metric tools.

Please advise.

[Finnpaso]

I think, U can do it, if U have good tools.
Simply: Take front wheel away, take both chocks away, open them from up, but be careful(little pressure inside spring preload), take oils away, all inside things away, clean all, change seals(CAREFULLY), maybe also same time dust covers, rebuild reverse order, put right amount of 5W oil(here in cold Finland..), shocks back, wheel back....

Quite simply job, but take measurements and notes to paper, when open them first time.

Finnpaso

[beemerboy]

.....maybe also same time dust covers,

The local dealer says that part is no longer available but thanks for the reminder, the guys at Gowanloch in AU might have 'em!

[Phorodon]

After reading Beemerboy's dealer's comment that fork-seal dust covers were no longer available, and having a leaking fork leg and seriously shot dust-cover, I recently contacted an official Ducati stockist in UK with little hope. Lo! Parts were not held in stock, but they were ordered and duly arrived from Italy by return . I hate to suggest it, but perhaps some Ducati dealers speak with forked tongue. It's possible that some dealers cannot be bothered with ordering small cheap parts for older models (the juxtaposition of cheap with Ducati hurts my senses!) and are placing the blame for their indifference on Ducati?

[beemerboy]

It's not that my dealer can't be bothered with small stuff it's more that Ducati's abandoning its older model lines. What bothers me about my dealer is that they are quick to tell me a certain part is no longer available and they can't be bothered with helping me find a solution.

I don't believe in giving up so easily which is why I ended up getting my dust caps from Gowanloch, I'd already ordered the seals through the dealer. They later told me there were only four (4) more seals in Italy and that no more would be made. BS. Pure BS. True, maybe Ducati no longer offers them but there are plenty sources on the internet.

I've heard the same complaint by HD owners - that dealers don't want to be bothered with older HD bike repairs. Some Harley shops have established off site shops who specialize in fixing old HD's but many only want to sell new iron and bling.

I have two BMW's, one of them is a 1992 K1, of which less than 7000 were built. I can still get parts for including original plastic fairing components.

This planned obsolescence BS really gets to me and will factor into any future plans to buy a Duc or other bike for that matter.

End of rant. :rant:

[DesmoDog]

This planned obsolescence BS really gets to me and will factor into any future plans to buy a Duc or other bike for that matter.

Sounds like you'll be riding BMWs from now on then. This topic was discussed recently on an e-mail list I'm on. As much as we'd like Ducati to supply parts for our bikes forever, it's not in the cards. BMW is one of the few that supports their older bikes - but then they're also one of the few companies that build a lot of the parts for their bikes. Not to mention if you compare the financial clout of BMW vs Ducati you're going to see some major differences.

Ducati doesn't manufacture much of anything. They assemble bikes from parts they buy from suppliers. I'm not familiar enough with the company to know how their arrangements work, but my guess is they don't even own the tooling most of their parts are made from.

Their production numbers are low to begin with. Their financial status is typically shaky. There's no way a business case can be made for them to keep spares for every bike they've made. You have to draw the line somehwere. Ten years is what I've heard for Ducati.

Bottom line, they are a business, they have to make money. There is no money to be made in keeping an inventory of parts for their entire line of bikes for the past 20 or whatever years.

I guess it's a mindset. I wouldn't even think of looking at a dealer for parts for my older Ducs. Even if they have them, my guess is they're more expensive than they'll be from an aftermarket supplier. Plus, even if Ducati did supply these spares, your local dealer wouldn't be familiar enough with them to offer advice, let alone have them in stock, so you'd probably order them from a specialist anyway. Come to think of it, I've spent literally thousands of dollars on Ducait parts in the last three years, on everything from a 1966 250 Monza to a 2000 996, and have yet to set foot in my local dealership.

It's part of owning a low volume production vehicle. You have to accept that the unique parts, like mirrors and dash's and that kind of stuff, are going to be a pain to replace when the bike's 15- 20 years old. As for your fork seals, it has a lot more to do with not being able to compete with aftermarket suppliers than it does planned obsolescence. The seals are out there, we all know it, but Ducati can't supply them at a competitive price so why should they keep them on their books?

[Finnpaso]

I visited 6 moths ago local Ducati dealer and they showed to me, "how good pc systems they have these days", so i asked about some stuff, what i knew very well to be hard to find anywhere, like dashboard cover and expansion tank to 907 and they showed from pc, that both are "green coloured" in spare part catalogue, what means, still available, so surely i ordered them(knowing, that never get them), and after some months they called to to me and answered, that "sorry, not anymore available" !!! Thats it!!!! They pc systems are as "good"(BAD), as all things were in factory late 80s and early 90s

[fasterdammit]

Do you guys watch ebay at all? I see auctions for Paso fork seals left & right. I ordered a couple pair just for giggles and I think I spent maybe $9USD?

Check in the links section if this doesn't work, but here's a global ebay search for all things Paso

[Finnpaso]

I get 907 fork seals just some weeks ago from Italy(factory), but DUST COVERS are out of markets !

There are plenty of guys, who DONT want to buy from EBAY, sorry!

[persempre907]

[There are plenty of guys, who DONT want to buy from EBAY, sorry!]
Why?
Some time I'have bought on ebay, and often I'have been very satisfied.
Bye.
Francesco [/quote]

[Finnpaso]

some want, some dont!

[Rogero]

This not wanting to buy from "e bay" is pretty common problem esp with those of us who remember the 70's and beyond, but is a mind set thing which I've overcome.

It's a global market and 99% of people trading are decent and honest. As our bikes get older and the internet gets bigger we'll have to accept that we won't find that little old bike shop round the corner stocking Ducati, MV Augusta and Francis Barnett parts any longer.

[persempre907]

I agree completely with Rogero!!!
This is a new way and a new world, whether we like it or not.
Bye.
Francesco

[beemerboy]

I get 907 fork seals just some weeks ago from Italy(factory), but DUST COVERS are out of markets !

There are plenty of guys, who DONT want to buy from EBAY, sorry!

Finn,

I got my new dust covers from Mike at Gowanloch.

[beemerboy]

Desmodog,

Thanks, I don't need the B-school lesson to already have figured this out. What I wrote was in essence a rant against what is a very frustrating situation for many of us. The one bright spot in all this is that my search skills are sharper and I've made new business acquaintances from all over the U.S. and several foreign countries.

Like many of you I want Ducati to rise and go beyond their near continual bankruptcy operations. I'm not pollyannish though and understand that this company does well just to keep it's doors open.

I came very close to buying an Aprilia RSV1000 this year but in the end parts availability and dealer support were the final determining factors against the Ape.