| Author | Message | ||
     Thefleshrocket |
My '08 1125R had a leaky right fork seal at 6K miles so I replaced it. At 9K miles, it was leaky again and a closer inspection revealed dozens of vertical scratches on the fork lower. http://badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290431/ 695173.html?1349281908 I replaced the lower along with the associated parts, the bushing, seal, spacer and dust seal. Part number J0122.AMB. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/649722.jpg Now at 9800 miles, the right lower is starting to get scored again. I figured it was maybe the bushing or the seal spacer but those parts were replaced and I have a hard time believing that the new parts would have the same problem as the originals. All I can think of at this point is that there's something wrong with the upper that's causing one of the parts I replaced to score the lower, but I hate throwing more money at this without having a good degree of certainty about the cause. Ideas? Comments? | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
Just to clarify, the scratches in the lower that I replaced at 9000 miles had scratches so deep that they could be felt when I scraped my fingernail across the circumference of the tube. The new lower, which has 800 miles on it, doesn't have scratches deep enough to feel, but they are visible. I am moderately confident that if I fix whatever is causing the scratches, the new lower probably won't cause the fork seal to leak prematurely. | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
Bump--any ideas? Surely I'm not the only person to have this happen. | ||
| Zac4mac |
That may be the issue with my Uly forks. I haven't seen any scoring, but they are leaking again. I rebuilt them a year ago with no manual, put way too much oil in them and blew the seals almost immediately. Got the suite of manuals and re-did them a couple of months ago but didn't polish the tubes. They are leaking enough to make a mess at the bottom of the forks. Not fast enough to make it down to the wheel yet... Next time I do the seals, I'll polish and look for junk in the outer tube or slider causing it... Thanks for the idea for the scoring and its source. Z | ||
| Dennis_c |
I got these for dirt, road grime.   | ||
| Oldog |
Flesh, I have not had the 1125 legs apart yet but the bushing that the chromed leg rides in would have to be damaged or loaded with grits. the upper bush ( trapped on leg ) slides on the aly, the lower bush ( trapped in outer ) is what the chromed slider runs on with the older forks (tuber & xb) looking at the book it looks like there is no lower bush in the outer leg so you need to check the ally mating surface. There is a note in the book on inspecting both parts for wear and scoring. the legs are hard chromed so im kinda surprised that you have wear on that... | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
I'm positive that the problem isn't due to grit or dirt in the seal. My 1125 doesn't get ridden in dirty areas and I think it's seen rain once since I changed out the fork lower and the seals. I'm going to pull the fork tube apart and see if there's anything obvious that could be rubbing. I've replaced everything (including the bushings) except for the upper and the cartridge internals. | ||
| Kajunman |
Dennis_ c, Where did you get the fork protectors? Thanks, kajunman | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
I finally pulled my fork tube apart. The only parts that should rub against the lower (the part that is getting scratched) are the fork seal, dust seal, and bushing. All of those parts were replaced at the same time the original, badly-scratched lower was replaced. All I can think at this point is that there's some sort of defect with the upper that's causing the bushing to not sit exactly flat and maybe the leading edge is what's scraping the lower. Sounds like a long shot, though. | ||
| Oldog |
Do you suppose that there is an issue with the hard chrome? the lower legs are supposed to be HARD relative to the bushings and seals, also is there a lower bushing in the leg just behind the seal? | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
Unfortunately it's not an issue with the chrome lowers--my first lower got scratched up the same way. I am just about positive that the upper is bent or out of spec somehow. When I slide the upper over the lower, I can move the upper around. I can see it moving and feel it clicking as I move it back and forth. Also, the top of the lower is scratched too, so both the bottom and the top of the lower are rubbing against something in the upper. | ||
| Oldog |
On the older bikes ( tuber & XB ) there is a replaceable bushing in the upper tube behind the seal, is that not present? | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
Yup, the bushing is there. When I replaced the original fork lower (the one that was badly scratched up at 9K miles), I also replaced the fork seal and the bushing that is in the upper. My guess is that the part of the upper that the bushing is seated on is too loose, so that the bushing is not sealing firmly against the tube. | ||
| Oldog |
Thanks Flesh, The FSM does not show the bushing there so that there are 2 bushings 1 behind the seal,( above it ) stationary in the upper 1 at the top of the lower leg trapped and moving with it, inside the upper this slides on a finished surface inside I am guessing here but there was a rash of issues with seals and lower bushings some time back on the XB bikes, I wonder if this is similar. The coating would wear on the bushings | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
Sorry, maybe I misunderstood. There is only one bushing that I am aware of. If I recall correctly, it goes like this: -dust seal -seal -spacer -bushing And that's it. No second bushing that I know of. | ||
| Oldog |
The fsm drawing shows one bushing on the slider at the top of the lower leg inside the fork it runs on the aly and spaces and centers the lower legs' top end. There is on the older forks a bushing IN the Upper tube behind the seals it stays put. There was a KV piece where I documented a rebuild of the front forks including bushings and seals, Goingwindward, added a section on XB springs etc. can't find it any more, While its not 1125 specific it would clarify what I am on about. | ||
| Thefleshrocket |
I got the new upper a couple days ago and checked it more closely. You're right--there is a bushing in the upper, close to the middle/upper part of the inside. It's clearly not user-serviceable given how far in the upper that it's mounted. The bushing in the new upper felt like it had a better grip on the lower when sliding it in and out. Presumably and hopefully, this should resolve my problem with the lower repeatedly getting scored. | ||
| Dennis_c |
kajunm at Iron Pony Motorsports at about $15 to $20 they have different lengths. WWW.IRONPONEY.com I live about 20 miles from them so I can pick them up for you if you cant find them. |
