Runner handling problem.

[AcID ZeR0]

My friend has a Gileria(Spell?) Runner.
Recently when he goes along the front fork won't return to it's original state at the top, like if he goes over a bump the suspension will make the full travel down but it'll only come up half way he said he noticed it because it made the front end feel significantly lower.

Any idea what could be causing this?

If he stops and lifts the handle bars the forks will return to the top but when he sits down they sink down about 5cm straight away.

[mchaggis]

A lack of fork oil? Just an idea.
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I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[yambabe]

Has it got upside-downies or teles? Himself is willing to lay out money that they're USDs.

If it has USDs they fill with grease/oil and stick, then they get play in them and sieze like you have described. The only cure is to change them, preferably for teles.

Apparently teles only stick if they are bent, has he ridden into anything recently?
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[AcID ZeR0]

I spoke to him on the phone eailer They are indeed USDs and he has noticed smears of black sh;t on the forks as of late which leads me to think that he's seals have bust?

The forks are in good condition so if he buys some new seals and fill them up with oil I imagine it'd solve the problem?

[DM]

It would fix them temporarily, but I think he might eventually end up the same problem occuring. If there's a decent stretch between failures and he figures out how to refill and reseal them then it might be cheaper to just keep them as is and maintain them.

[binge]

Ive got the same problem with my speedfight front shock except its a spring shock... its completely flat as a fart. When I sit on the scooter the front fork grounds out

I was going to order 1 from SV catalouge but after they ripped me off with a "Jack up kit" I sent them a shitty email saying I wont be using them again...

<|Binge|>

[Kye]

All Gilera Runner USD forks are shite and seize up, only option is to replace them really. If you can get the right way up forks off a Runner 125 and fit them, it makes the handling 10x better, otherwise its a choice between standard or the very very nice Malossi forks, but your talking big money then, compared to the value of the ped.

Same with binge's speedfight, both front and rear shocks always loose damping, but luckily its only £30 for a RMS shock absober, which are a damn sight better than standard.
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Ducati 600SS
Vespa PX125

[AcID ZeR0]

Yeah the forks ave siezed if he was to get a new pair from the breakers how easy would they be to fit?

[Kye]

About an hour if you've never done it before, remove the caliper and wheel, whip off the mudguard etc. Take the front handlebar fairing off (where the screen usually goes) and undo the 2 nuts holding the forks on, they should then just drop out ready to fit the new ones.

Remember to check to see if the new ones already have the bearing on them, or swap it over if they dont.
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Ducati 600SS
Vespa PX125

[Kye]

Also..

If you want a guide price for forks, my friend has just paid £60 for a second hand, mint condition pair for his Gilera Runner.

New they cost over £200 I believe, but you should be able to pick a set up from eBay or breakers easy enough
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Ducati 600SS
Vespa PX125