ER5 front fork noises

[buckenclaergh...]

Hi,

Got a s/h set of forks to replace the pitted and leaking ones I had on the bike (1999 Kawa ER5).

The forks came off a bike that had been on fire (I know, sounds bad), but no apparent damage to the forks other than cosmetic and got them cheap. Checked seals - looked good, no seeping and all rubber in good nick, no signs of heat damage. I think they were sat for a few years in the breakers yard.

Cleaned up and fitted them myself which was fine (didn't take them apart because they weren't leaking and the travel on them felt smooth and normal).

Rode a few hundred miles on them with no handling or suspension problems, pretty sure they are aligned fine and tightened up properly.

Just recently though I have noticed a sort of creaking sound out of the left fork as if it isn't lubricated properly, but it only presents itself after a few pumps. It's not the brakes slipping, and the forks themselves are clamped in properly.

If the issue is an absence of oil then surely I wouldn't have been able to ride on them for so long without issue/something feeling off? Any ideas what else it might be?

Got a trip coming up next weekend so need it sorted by then. Hoping to get it into a garage through the week but any suggestions of anything I can do would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Commuter_Tim]

Sitting for a few years can be enough to harm oil seals.
It's also possible the internal bushings are the napalmed ones (so no coating), in which case they could cause a clicking/creaking on fork movement.

If the forks have little oil your wrists would likely be aching by now, they could be leaking though, wipe the stanchion and fully depress the forks then check for wet forks?

My bet is on bushes though.

TL:DR: Dude it was on fire, replace everything but the alloy n stanchion!
____________________
The above post is most likely nonsensical.

I ride a Bandit 600... badly.

[Robby]

Surprised you even need to ask for step 1. See if they have any oil in.

A breakers yard would not be averse to little tricks like leaving little/no oil in a pair of forks so that any leakage isn't obvious.

Either way, a fork oil change it probably due down to time/mileage/being on fire.

[buckenclaergh...]

Thanks for the replies. No leakage or hint of oil at all after depressing the forks.

Robby - did wonder about potential lack of oil but was asking if no oil wouldn't have been immediately obvious when riding/prevented the forks from working at all.

That and I'm probably trying hopefully to convince myself they won't need taking to bits, but sounds like that's the only way now.

Have thus far not found a garage in the area who will touch forks though!

[Commuter_Tim]

A while back I may have ridden on cb500 forks for weeks until near enough dry without realising.
Wondered why my wrists hurt, the forks still depressed fine, but when I finally realised it was because the fork legs and caliper was covered in yellow oil.
It was also making a clicking noise on compression as the bushes were shagged.
Changed seals and bushes and its been riding fine and living outside for 2 years.
____________________
The above post is most likely nonsensical.

I ride a Bandit 600... badly.

[buckenclaergh...]

Nice!

I'm now hoping it's the oil level or bushes and nothing more sinister and expensive to sort