Motorcycle Repair: shock leak, wheel and axle, fork oil

Question
1996 Electra Glide Classic, on the stand side,front shock,bottom end,has an oil leak, is there a seal for that or is it shock replacement, it started leaking before i stored it for the winter, i took it out this week and the oil soaked pad was pretty much soaked, thankyou in advance Mike, i read your column all the time, i have it saved in my favorites.

Answer
There are 3 places it can leak. One is where you drain it at the bottom. If that is it there is a metal gasket behind it. Two is the screw in the bottom of the fork. This holds the fork together. It has a metal gasket behind it. The last place is the seal that is between the upper and lower fork section.The fork has to be pulled apart to get to it. If it is leaking at the bottom or under the fork you can take that bolt out and replace the metal gasket. You would have to remov ethe wheel and axle to get to it. Once you remove it your fork oil will drain out. The only way to put oil back in, without tearing the front end apart, is to put it back in through the drain screw with a vaccumn pump.
Good luck and happy riding
Mike