Suspension Woes

[Lord Snooty]

I took the Inty out on Sunday afternoon for a shake down run as it has not been run since last October and I am riding it this Sunday on the DGR. I had a delightful run out to Bourton on the Water, met a mate, had a coffee and came back. As I gently pressed the rear brake on a slow approach to a junction, there was nada, nothing, hmm what is going on, there was no braking whatsoever. On the ride back the bike was crashing and banging on any uneven or poor road surface. I got it home safely, popped it onto the centre stand to take a look and the rear disk and swing arm are covered in oil, I look upwards and it is clear that the suspension unit has blew a seal and it is spilling its guts all over the brake. no wonder the ride back was so awful without any suspension damping.

I had intended at some point to replace the shocks with Hagons so this has brought this forward, so I am off to Hitchcocks on Thursday (can't get there any sooner) to get a pair and of course I need a new set of brake pads as they are obviously totally contaminated. I will fit them on Friday so hopefully it will be good to go for Sunday.

The bike is still under warranty but if I claim they will only provide me with another OEM shock which are budget to say the least. I am thinking of calling Watsonian-Squire the dealer I bought it off to see if they will at least provide me with the brake pads by post. I just don't have the time between now and Sunday to get over to them to get the bike sorted.

 

[ChasF]

Even with a budget OE unit sounds like an unfortunate case of ‘infant mortality’

I remember when I bought the R100GS back in 1989 from SPC in Alton, when I told the we were planning to travel to South Africa and what would they suggest I might need to improve for such a trip they immediately sold me up to the ‘sport’ White Power unit as the OE unit ‘won’t even get you to Dover’. I wish they hadn’t as the WP was much to stiff for our use and was pissing fluid by the time we got to Cape Town.

Should have bought a spare OEM one at a quarter of the cost.

 

[Lord Snooty]

Cunning plan.

I called Watsonian-Squire who helpfully informed me that they are no longer an RE dealer and that I needed to call MidWestMoto in Stourport. I did, and a guy called Mark asked me to send photos so he could submit a warranty claim, he told me there is no chance of the bike being sorted for my DGR ride on Sunday. I called him today and asked whether I could ride the bike over and he provide me with a courtesy bike - the short answer was no. So I told him to let me know when the claim is approved and he can come and collect the bike then as it is unroadworthy.

So I now have a cunning plan - I contacted a mate of mine who also has an Inty and when he bought it he immediately changed the rear shocks for Hagons and he kept the originals. I have met him this arvo at the pub, of course, he has let me have his shocks so I will replace the poorly shock, remove the caliper and brake pads, clean the disk and pads with brake cleaner and give the pads a scrub with a wire brush. Hopefully this will sort the braking out and with a replacement shock I can use it on Sunday confident that no more oil will be splattered over the brake disk. When the warranty claim is approved I will put the sickly shock back on to be replaced and also have the brake pads replaced.

Where there's a will etc

 

[Lord Snooty]

Sitrep

I fitted my mate's very kindly offered shock and cleaned up the disk and caliper with shit loads of brake cleaner. I now have some braking, not great but I can live with it until the warranty is approved. Whilst I was there I decided to fit my newly arrived Tec stainless headers to match the Cannon end cans that I have fitted. The right hand one went on easy but the left hand one is way out, the bracket on the end can is miles away from the frame fixing point - see pic. Everything is loosely fitted to enable a bit of jiggle but there is no way I can get it to close that enormous gap. So today I reverted back to the stock headers which weigh as much as a small planet. I took the bike out for a test run this afternoon to make sure it is ok for Sunday's DGR. All good.

I now wait to hear back from Tec

 

[parkys100]

Sitrep

I fitted my mate's very kindly offered shock and cleaned up the disk and caliper with shit loads of brake cleaner. I now have some braking, not great but I can live with it until the warranty is approved. Whilst I was there I decided to fit my newly arrived Tec stainless headers to match the Cannon end cans that I have fitted. The right hand one went on easy but the left hand one is way out, the bracket on the end can is miles away from the frame fixing point - see pic. Everything is loosely fitted to enable a bit of jiggle but there is no way I can get it to close that enormous gap. So today I reverted back to the stock headers which weigh as much as a small planet. I took the bike out for a test run this afternoon to make sure it is ok for Sunday's DGR. All good.

I now wait to hear back from Tec

They used suggest soaking in Coka Cola to decontaminate the friction material?
As a temporary measure until the new pads turn up

 

[Lord Snooty]

They used suggest soaking in Coka Cola to decontaminate the friction material?
As a temporary measure until the new pads turn up

Never heard of that Parky

 

[parkys100]

Never heard of that Parky

Allegedly if oil had got onto your clutch friction plate (crankshaft seal leak) ie slipping clutch.
Pour Pepsi into the bell housing (then drain)as temp fix or until you sell the car.
It can make 2p piece very shiny.
When your new pads turn up ,have a go with your old pads .
Prove if it’s an old wife’s tale or not?