Fork seals

[gsa matt]

Morning lads! Ok yesterday spotted my fork seal gone on my 1150 gsa (no big deal) but the fork legs them selves have started pitting so that's causing the problem! Bike was sitting a long time by the last feller! So I'm wondering is there anyone around that fixes repairs the fork stanchions or am I looking at new ones with the new seals??

 

[Aidan1150]

If the pitting isn't too advanced I'd try giving them a rub with very fine grade wet and dry sandpaper Matt. Because the shock does all the suspension work there's not the same stress on the seals as on a conventional setup so you will probably find that this will do the trick. It worked alright for me anyway.

Steptoe has done a great thread on how to change the fork seals which is a lot easier than you might imagine. Half an hour max will have the job done.

EDIT

Here is the thread on changing the seals. The pictures have gone, but the description of what to do will help you anyway.

 

[Hairnet600]

you need the sweary canadian fella

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAQ4KdEZpxs

or speak to abe http://www.allbikeengineering.co.uk/forks.php

 

[DrFarkoff]

WHy the fuck people keep posting that GOMBEEN is beyond me He overcomplicates stuff and misses stuff out!! Its American "ShowBoating" at its best!

Anyway down to sensible things !!!

The suspension travel is about 4 inches if pits are in this area and its deep or "sharp" You "Could try cleaning out and add the old dab of superglue (or many dabs til you get it above the required level and then shave with an old foil style razor blade Folded around the stanchion and drawn up and down over the now filled in pit Then lightly sand with 800 W & D and it should be fine

IF you do the seals its quite important that as you draw out the stanchion with the little vent screw undone that you fit the Vent screw and nip it up while the stanchion is still about 2 inches down from its location .....

This creates a partial vacuum and means replacements are much "less" likely to blow quickly if you haven't quite solved the pitting issue and If you need replacements This is one option

The fork leg just has approx 400 mil of ATF in it for lubrication I think actually its 440 but I need to go and check

 

[comberjohn]

I've filled in pits on a fork using Araldite epoxy glue. Then, of course, smooth them down when they've hardened.
Before I used the Araldite, I heated the area around the pits slightly with a gas blowtorch and wiped of any oil.

 

[gsa matt]

Great stuff lads! Thanks for the help and advise!

 

[Comfy Old Boots]

I successfully managed to change mine and if I can do it without fecking it up...