Mystery leak

[Chompper26]

Ok i havent pulled it apart yet but i was wondering if anyone had any ideas what to check before i got started. I have a gl1200 limited and i have a leak thats puttin droplets of either oil or brake/clutch fluid onto my helmet visor and inside of my windshield. The mystery part is the bike isnt losing oil or brake handle pressure and the clutch has always seemed a bit soft to me even before this leak. Im just wondering if anyone has experienced this type of thing before. The fluid is coming up not down and doesnt leak while sitting at my house. Any ideas are appreciated and ill post updates after i find the grimlin in the system.

[DaveO430]

You will probably find it's coolant.

[Chompper26]

Its not green but i will make sure and double check all the coolant lines just to be safe. Thanks for the idea.

[ekvh]

If it’s on your helmet and windshield, look into your fork seals and the balancing tubes at the top of the forks. They may be releasing a shot of fluid over bumps. It could be the orings in the piece that slides over the fork top which has two orings or the fittings.

[WingAdmin]

Instead of guessing, try some tests.

First off, I would wipe your finger along the windshield, then give a quick taste - is it sweet tasting? That's coolant.

Take a rag, wipe off the fluid from the windshield, then submerge the rag in a bucket of water and squeeze it out. Do you end up with a sheen of oil floating on top of the water? Then you know it's oil, brake or fork fluid.

The most likely one (the one that vaporizes into a mist that coats windshields) is coolant. If your clutch and brake reservoirs are not going down, then the second most likely is going to be fork fluid.

[Rednaxs60]

Because of the location of the indicator, I would go for the front forks, and lastly the clutch or brake MCs. A coolant leak to get that high would definitely be noticed, but there is nothing of the coolant system that high with the exception of the overflow bottle under the shelter. Do you get the droplets when steady riding on flat roads or when the front suspension is working in dips, etc?

Regarding the MCs, check for leaks at banjo connections as well.

Check the front fork upper triple tree for leakage and the air tube between the front forks. There are two o-rings in this upper tree that could be leaking.

Good luck.

[wiretician]

The wife and I were out for a ride some months after I got the 1200, had a drop hit my visor. Pulled into a convenience store lot and checked over the front end of bike. Found that the forks were leaking. You can feel the air coming up through the fairing around the steering column, the wind flow brings the fork oil right up into your face. A quick check for this is get on bike, off the stands, hold the front brake, and give it a push forward to compress the forks. If it is leaking at the seal, it will ooze out the dust cover. Also, if you pull the dust covers up and do the test, in a quiet garage, you will hear a wet slushy sound. Another member put me on to a little tool called "sealmate", possibly seals are only dirty and need cleaned out. Throw in the search for YouTube video on the sealmate. It's pretty easy to use. Hope that helps.

[Chompper26]

Thank you all as usual for the ideas. Im ordering a full set of fork seals and progressive springs. Might as well do ot all at the same time right? Since im gonna hafta pull the forks apart anyway might as well do a bit of upgrading at the same time.

[Chompper26]

As for the sealmate ill prolly get one but the seals are probably shot at this point. So im gonna have them replaced and progressive springs installed. At least then ill know they are new and when they got put in. Only real problem is ive been looking at youtube for how to do this at home and all the tools necessary to do the job right and i just dont have them. Im sure my brother could come up with a thingamajig to get it done but prolly better to spend the money at a dealer. Assuming they will even do it at all on a bike this old.

[Rednaxs60]

Doing the work on the front forks, other than the tool for seating the fork seals - 41 mm - are general shop tools. You are more than capable. Tried some of the homemade tools for this but no joy. Bought the motion pro 41 mm tool and for the cost and time to do the work, well worth it. You do need a good pair of c-clip pliers. If you can take the front forks off to take to the shop, you can do the work.

Cheers