| Author | Message | ||
     Thefleshrocket |
As I posted in my other thread, my right fork seal has started leaking after only about 3000 miles. I first replaced it at around 5000-6000 miles, and now at 9000 miles, it's leaking again. The seals haven't showed up yet but I disassembled the fork tonight to be ready for when they get here. As others have suggested, I checked both fork lowers for nicks that could cause the seal to fail prematurely. I didn't find any nicks, but I found dozens of vertical scratches on the right fork lower. They start at about 2.5" above the bottom of the polished part of the fork tube and end about 7" above the bottom. They exist all the way around the fork lower--they aren't limited to just one part of the fork. I can't feel the scratches with the pad of my thumb, but if I run my fingernail over them, it hangs up slightly over each little groove. The left fork tube has the same scratches, but a far fewer number, and less noticeable. The height of the scratches coincides with the travel of the fork bushing. I eyeballed the bushings and ran my thumb around them, and I can't feel anything wrong, but the bushings must be what's causing the scratches. So, my questions: Can the scratches in the fork lowers be repaired or buffed out, or should I plan on replacing the lowers? Should I assume that the bushings are somehow bad and are causing the problem? Should I expect that the problem would be fixed after I get new bushings and have the fork lowers repaired or replaced? Thanks! | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
I checked the left fork lower again, and while I can sort of see a few scratches, I can't feel any of them. That's presumably why the left fork hasn't leaked at all. My right fork is part number J0122.AMA. It looks like that's been superceded by J0122.AMB, which I've been able to find for $254.50. That's a complete right fork, though--I wonder if it's possible to buy just the lower. I could change out the bushing and swap over the rest of the guts to the new fork lower. | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
Just found this old thread, where Froggy posted a fork parts diagram. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/648219.html The right fork slider (including bushing, seal, etc) is J8143.1AMA, which is $132. http://www.surdyke.com/AdvPartInfo.asp?PartNumber= J8143.1AMA These guys are $136.39 but with free shipping on orders over $100. http://www.cyclepartsforless.com/product/J8143.1AM A I'll getting the lower slider unless anyone has any better ideas! | ||
| Dannybuell |
the shiny part can be buffed out. over many years every time I took my s1 (99Kmi) in the forks always came back looking brand new. I have only had the CR in once and they came back shiner as well. | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
I've read about people using nail polish or epoxy to fill in nicks and then sand them smooth, but there are a TON of scratches all around the tube--it would probably take hours to buff the whole thing out. At this point, the fork lower for $132 would be the way to go so I can just bolt it in and be back on the road. Do you guys think that if I replace the fork lower and the bushing, the problem will be solved? Or is it possible that something in the fork upper is causing the lower to be scratched? I'm just wondering if I only buy the lower now, if I may end up having to buy the whole damn fork tube in a few thousand miles. Thanks! (Message edited by thefleshrocket on October 03, 2012) | ||
| Kevmean |
The slider only really contacts the bushing and seal, it sounds like grit has either got into the fork somehow or you are riding in a very dirty environment where dirt is sticking to the tube and getting trapped in the seal or wiper. |
