851 SP2 Fork seals
 

Went to check the tyre pressures the other day and noticed the front tyre had quite a lot of slippery oil on it. I'm guessing it's from the fork seals. Is replacing these a job that a less then average mechanic (i.e. me) can do, does it need any special tools, or should I take the bike to a specialist ? Also, is it safe to ride if it's started to leak oil - for instance, I wouldn't want it to leak banked over in a corner - don't want the front end to slide now, do I !

Matthew
:puzzled:

Just wait until the oil drips on to your discs! Thats an even more interesting scenario!

When I was a callow youth I used to drain all the oil out when this happened and carry on riding ;) However it's much better to sort it. I'm a mechanical muppet and I've changed the seals in the past, but only on right way up forks. What you have to check out first is why the fork seals have failed. It could just be old age or it could be that there is rust or pitting of the stanchion.

Are you near a ducati dealer or a mechanic you can trust? I wouldn't have thought it would cost more than an hour or max two hours labour plus the cost of the seals.

Phil

the ohlins on the SP's are notorious for weeping. mine have had about 9 upgrade of seal from ohlins and they still weep. it seems the longer they sit, the more they leak, i just wipe my sliders and ride it. if they're actually dripping, then they will need doing, and you need a special tool to get them apart.
just remember, once you spend the cash having the seals done don't be surprised if they weep.:burn:

Another possible cause is merely the bike being left unridden for long stretches (ie during the pi55ing winter). If the seals get too dry it accelerates their demise. When I had mine changed, Pete at Pro-Twins suggested regularly pumping the front forks up and down if the bike is not being used, as this keeps the seals lubricated...won't help if the seals have already gone, but will help extend the life of the new ones.

Hi Matthew

The FG9050 forks on the SP models almost always leak some oil, especially if the bike's been standing. My own bike does this - but it clears if the bike's used more regularly. Some race gurus say that they were designed to 'weep' slightly, in order to overcome the problem of 'sticktion'.

Certain unique tools are needed to rebuild these forks, so I'd go to a specialist if you decide to have them stripped.

This problem with the Ohlins forks,bling as they may be,is the reason that on the SP5 they went to high spec showas.

Yep......The words ducati, cash and weep do strike a chord don't they?:lol::lol::lol:

Thanks for the words of wisdom, Gents. I'll keep an eye on it and see if it is a 'leak' more than a 'weep'. If so, a trip to a dealer is on the cards I think. By the looks of the knurled end of the forks, a monkey has had a go at changing the seals before, so this time someone more skilled should be sorting it I think.

My other problem is some other Monkey (me probably) used some thread lock on the bolts that hold the seat unit on, and now I can't get them undone to top up the coolant level - they just rotate around the rubber well-nuts - DOH ! I've done 4, but the two at the front end under the petrol tank just keep rotating. Looks like I'll have to take the tank off to get to the nuts from the top and hold them whilst undoing the bolts.

Matthew