Fork update - need a quick question answered

[UnSaniTiZ]

Hey guys,

so fifty miles ago I replaced my fork seals. The right one was leaking, and the left was fine. While doing it, I noticed some small pits on the left fork, most of which do not come into contact with the seals even at full compression. I did my best to grind down the edges and sand the pits smooth.

Anyway, I am checking my seals after every ride, as I am in constant fear of worthless fork sliders. Today, I have started to notice dusty rings on the upper end of both forks, about 2/3 of the way up from oil seal to the lower clamps. I don't think there is any oil. I can't tell for sure either way by touch as I don't exactly know what I'm looking for. Would I even be able to tell since I put in new fork oil?

Are these dust rings normal? The ejection of the dust by the dust seal, I'm hoping?

Man I hope my forks don't need replacing...

Thanks,
-UnSaniTiZ

[ohgood]

a little bit of dust is cool, just shows you how much travel you've used. dust + what looks like a little wetness = blown seal.


i used to put rubber bands on my mountain bike shocks when they were 'new', then after a while the seals started to seep, and they showed the total travel on their own by wet dust rings

[UnSaniTiZ]

I dont think it's wet... though I'm not entirely sure tbh. Thank you for the fast reply. It has helped my peace of mind

-UnSaniTiZ

[ajaxgs]

i get a light oil film on the forks ,and a dust ring  but they are not wet

[nastynate6695]

what exactly do you mean by "you ground down the edges and did your best to sand them smooth"        As far as ive been instructed you should never grind on your tubes.

[nazgulnarsil]

I've been advised WD40 + steel wool to get any pits out of the forks.

[UnSaniTiZ]

I called a guy who works at a suzuki dealerership. I know him pretty well and he knows about motorcycle. He said get a knife sharpening stone and gently grind down the sharp edges on the pits, which I did. I also used steel wool, then emery cloth, then 600 grit, 1000 grit, and 1500 grit.

@ajaxgs is a light oil film OK? I was under the impression it wasn't.

-UnSaniTiZ

[beRto]

... is a light oil film OK? I was under the impression it wasn't.

According to dgyver, a light film of oil is not OK. See this thread for more info: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=39535.0

[ajaxgs]

I called a guy who works at a suzuki dealerership. I know him pretty well and he knows about motorcycle. He said get a knife sharpening stone and gently grind down the sharp edges on the pits, which I did. I also used steel wool, then emery cloth, then 600 grit, 1000 grit, and 1500 grit.

@ajaxgs is a light oil film OK? I was under the impression it wasn't.

-UnSaniTiZ

on mine i mean very light ...if i wipe my finger accross it , i can still snap my fingers  p/o did the seals just before i bought the bike have been that way since i have owned it

[ben2go]

... is a light oil film OK? I was under the impression it wasn't.

According to dgyver, a light film of oil is not OK. See this thread for more info: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=39535.0

Yes. I agree.The forks dgyver and I rebuilt leave no oil film of any kind on the fork tubes.They are completely dry and free of any oil residue.Oil attacks dirt and dirt scratches the tube surface causing leaks.It also wears away the seal and causes leaks.

[nastynate6695]

is one just leaking or both...
and as far as the grinding thing went i had pictures of you going at it with  a file and some 80 grit..

but it sounds like you took care not to mess it up to bad.

[UnSaniTiZ]

There are rings of dust on both, but no oil as far as I can tell. Once wiped off, the dust rings do not always come back RIGHT away.

I looked at a few other bike's forks and none had the problem like I do, but I really don't think there's oil... I can't feel it at all with my fingers

-UnSaniTiZ