Yes you should use SKF seals, I work for SKF here in salt lake in the industrial seals division making molds for similar seals for the last 27 years. I see the technology that goes into seal design and manufacturing. We make awesome products. My bike also came from the factory with SKF seals, I have over 70 hrs on them and have had no leaks, changed the fork oil but because they didn't leak I didn't replace them. Did the oil change in December and been riding since then with no problem. I will say that the motion pro fork tru is worth looking at too, as it help ensure the centerline distance between the forks top to bottom stay in alignment which reduces wear and friction on the bushings as well as provides equal loading on the oil seal lip.

Yup, not cheap but I'm going back to SKF. Huge difference. These forks are known to have stiction without those seals. I knew this and test for myself. Never again.

One of my bike is similar to yours (KTM exc 250 05) and I must be extremely carefull when I uninstall/reinstall the front wheel. It sometimes takes many tries before I get it right and no binding occur, which is not the case on my Honda. But the worst thing abont these forks is that I must release the air out of them about 20 times per ride, if not more. Of course I have ''quick release'' buttons but it is very annoying having to push these while riding before every difficult sections to be sure the forks will move properly...

Did you check the torque on the pinch bolts for the lower triple clamp? If over torqued, these can cause a binding / stiction feel in the fork as well.

FLYING LOW BROTHER !!! 🤣🤣

Different question: what tank seat combo you using?

Wow that sucks, just a thought was there any change or damage to shim stacks or valving? What your describing is how the open cartridge 690 felt to me and othes before changing those parts.

So there was a problem ? For me the same everything new(tube,seals,oil) on my f800 gs 2013, but stifness only when mounted on bike if removed looks more less good. Im think maybe stem head hooked

Were the oil seals lubed before installation?

SKF seals is whats on my bike and thats what most if not all suspension services use.

the clamps in Nm? no ft lbs Nm mistake? is the 17Nm at the top and 12Nm bottom clamp? i have an SMC 2010 and have the same system, now the rebound on one is super fast while the other one is super slow. i believe your compression valve is on the bottom, open is about 25 clicks. the oil must be 5w or less. if I set the compression example to 10 clicks then it gets stuck like yours. i use ktm grease between the seal and seal. T14034 grease

Bent Fork Tubes?

Maybe it will get better with more riding time on them?

Excellent diagnosis brother... well done...

Did anyone else notice he said he might sell it? What kind of bike are you thinking about now ?

What year is your bike. Do you know where to find specs for 2010 ktm xc 300 front forks. No matter what I do they feel stiff.

@vegasromaniac

4 жыл бұрын

I ended up selling the bike and getting a yamaha, never has suspension issues since than.. Haha, best I can come up with the KTM was new springs 2x rates softer and less oil.. But still was old and not that good.. So I sold it

Same for me when using All Balls seals. Stiction is horrible. Ordered skf now and gonna throw them in. Should have done that in the first place. The internet is full of the same bad experience with All Balls seals. Next time I do my research before ordering parts!

@vegasromaniac

3 жыл бұрын

Skf do have good material

@Jrod_FPV

2 жыл бұрын

did SKF remove the stiction ?

@Payder

Жыл бұрын

@@Jrod_FPV yes!

@Jrod_FPV

Жыл бұрын

I have found that on my 2003 KTM 450EXC there is an aluminum spacer tube inside the fork. Only a couple years had this. I read online forum somewhere this is the cause of stiction so I removed mine and that did the trick!

@vegasRoManiac : I think I solved my problem. The support rings have become concave and not flat anymore. Check yours!

@vegasromaniac

6 жыл бұрын

Those bend when you take the forks apart, never when you assemble them, so if you put a straight one in, it's gonna stay straight till you take it appart again. My problem is the seals to snug, I'm gonna try different brand

@FrostyFingers

6 жыл бұрын

Vegas RoManiac if you assemble bushing/support disk/seal does it move freely then? Cause mine gets stuck after some use, when i take them of they are just as tight as yours but when i remove the lock ring they magically moves again.

Got the exact same problem! I’m using skf! Wp 48. And no solution yet

@2wheels_and_2stroke

2 жыл бұрын

Did you ever find a solution as I'm currently having the same issue on WP explore forks

@FrostyFingers

2 жыл бұрын

@@2wheels_and_2stroke yes got new on warranty

I have the same issue on my drz 400, running on ari seals. Did skf solve your issue ?

@vegasromaniac

5 жыл бұрын

Nope, bought a yamaha, never had that problem again

@cragenconstruction5518

4 жыл бұрын

@@vegasromaniac Reaaalllly, my '98 wr400 has this exact issue. Exact same pressures and everything. I just...turned my comp damp 20clicks out and fk it ima send it.

@AlanClapp2

4 жыл бұрын

@@vegasromaniac my buddy just baught a wr250r same issue, just rebuilt. Arizona bike so lots of sand. Here we go lol

All balls take a while to break in, the pivot works ones are better. One thing you can do is some nice light grease in between the seals.

@vegasromaniac

5 жыл бұрын

Good to know

I think to stiff spring.

Axle bent ?

@vegasromaniac

6 жыл бұрын

nope

oil 5wt ?? try silicon lube on seals and back to 10 wt ,10wt vs 5wt smoother on seals heavy on damping , 5 wtopposite . If works on dh bikes works on moto :)

I've noticed your suspension is too stiff. Your always bouncing around.