Honda Deauville front shocks

[tomearp]

My brother rides a Honda Deauville and he's got an oil leak on one of his front shocks.
Anyone got any tips about inspecting/repairing?

[WR6133]

If it's just a bit of misting you can try to clean the seal out with a "sealmate" (or make one for free from a milk bottle).

If that fails or it's properly pissing out then just remove the forks and replace the seals (on both forks). You'll need fork oil, seals, dust seals and if you want to go the whole hog the bushes too. Not a hard job just a pig of one.

[tomearp]

Thanks WR, don't think it's a particularly bad leak so will let him know about the sealmate thing

[wheelers]

in the old days we used camera film or negatives to clean dirt out. unfortunately if bad and have to be replaced, may well depend on how the previous/past owners have replaced them before if done. any history?
what are the stanchions like? chrome pitted or worn may need replacing or re chroming. if bad new seals will only last a short while.
could end up a £30 or a £300 job.

[Jon_W]

I would look to get it repaired as these things never get better with time as as wheelers alludes to the,repair could get more expensive. The cause could just be wear. If there is a small pit or dent in the fork leg this can be polished out without replacing the leg. If it is more serious then re-chroming is needed. Last time I checked it was c£80. Either way the front end has to come out and the forks be stripped and re-built. Not a massive task if you can get the front of the bike off the ground.