Leaky fork seals

[MarkJ]

It looks as though the fork seals on my track bike are leaking. The stanchions seem to be pitted, but I don't have the money yet to replace them. If I were to put some fresh seals on these pitted stanchions, how long would they be expected to last? I'll be doing about 6 trackdays this year, which is roughly 8 hours.

Also, when I bounce the front suspension, I get a little bit of a knock, I take it this is it bottoming out because there's f-all fluid in there?

[Tim..]

If the pitting is really bad it will cut the new seals up straight away. It is a bit hard to estimate the length of time without pics of the extent of the pitting. Might last a couple of meetings if its not that bad.

Rechroming isn't cheap, expect a bill of around the 200 quid mark. Might be able to find another set of forks cheaper.

Could you describe the 'knock' a bit more

Tim
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[MarkJ]

Thought as much, I'll try getting some pics on later. I might go for the araldite option. The knock feels more like a click through the clipons, happens when the forks compress a fair bit

[Kickstart]

Hi

As above on the seals. They might not even survive being strapped down for the journey to the track. You can try the bodge using Araldite (proper Araldite, not the rapid stuff) to fill the pits and then sanding it down to be very smooth.

As to the knocking, suspect more likely it would be shot fork bushes.

All the best

Keith
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[chris-red]

It's not that expensive to fix

New stantions £170
Fork oil £10
New Seals £10
New Bushes £20


It will probably take aday of your time too just do 5 track days instead of sixe and the money you would spend on fuel/tyres/entrance should cover that.

New seals in pitted forks will last no time.
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[MarkJ]

It's not really the money, it's that I have a trackday booked for the 31st and I don't get paid till a few days before

I'll get them off tonight and have a better look. I never knew some little dints in the stanchions could ruin seals so quickly

[el_oso]

i found that filling the pits with nail polish worked on my old bike. lasted a good few months and when i sold the bike there was still no signs of leaking
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[chris-red]

[MarkJ]

Sorry, it's a 92 CBR 600

[neil.]

When you've fixed them, fit gaiters so that it won't happen again.
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[MarkJ]

I haven't used it yet - I always fit protectors to RWU forks.

Think I'm going to give the araldite a go. I'm going to pop the forks off tonight and have a better look.

[MarkJ]

Right, I've got them off. The pits on them are very small, and you can only really feel them with your fingernail. Would pits this size still ruin a seal quickly?

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF0628640x480.jpg

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF0627640x480.jpg

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF0626640x480.jpg

https://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f186/markjackson13/DSCF0625640x480.jpg

For some reason the seal has been attacked on the right fork I sense trouble...