Front forks - R100GS-Paris Dakar

[Paul Rochdale]

I've dismantled the front forks this afternoon. What a fiddle they were. I am currently stuck with removing the top oil seals which don't want to come out. There are some circlips just below the oil seals and these refuse to come out too. I'm tempted to leave them well alone and just put everything back together again but I know what will happen. In a few months time, they'll start leaking.

It looks like I have Progressive Springs as the top coils are closer together than the remainder.

I'm going to paint the stanchions with some light grey POR15 which is tougher than Hammerite. It's terrific stuff as the brush marks flow out well but once the lid is replaced it seems to weld itself shut. I gave a friend a small can of it and it took him twenty minutes to get the lid off which of course wrecked the lid.

 

[peepingtom]

personally id leave them if there not leaking, they may well last a few more years . after my recent dramas with unnecessary preventative maintenance on my airhead RT id say leave em but i know its tempting especially if youve somewhere warm and dry to do the work

 

[Paul Rochdale]

Well what did I say last year? Not leaking but there is a definite rattling when ridden over bumpy uneven surfaces such as sleeping policemen. First I thought it was the headstock bearings but these are fine, even a touch too tight. Then I thought of the triple clamps and these are even tighter. Then perhaps the floating disc but that's barely got any movement in it. Perhaps the brake caliper or pads but they seem solid enough. So this just leaves the top and bottom bushes in the sliders. Damn! How easy/difficult are these to remove as I clearly couldn't see much wrong with them last year when I dismantled the fork sliders? I'm pretty sure the top circlip has no holes for circlip pliers.

(Later) Ah, I've discovered this extremely thorough thread which describes the dismantling of the forks and bush removal.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=431153&page=25