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Buell Forum » Old School Buell » Archive through December 30, 2020 » S1 forks - rebuild or replace with X1? « Previous Next »

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34nineteen
Posted on Sunday, May 31, 2020 - 09:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

On my new to me, 97 S1, the stock forks are leaking badly. I normally have no issue pulling them apart and rebuilding them, but from what I understand the upper bushings are NLA. I also noticed the parts are kinda spendy compared to XB forks.

So, am I better off just replacing the forks with X1 forks? I'd just hate to spend the premium fork part prices on the S1 forks and not be able to replace the "steels" and the seals. Also, it looks like the lower bushings are out of stock at St Paul. Hopefully its just temporary?

Thoughts?
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Falloutnl
Posted on Monday, June 01, 2020 - 06:23 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I ran into similar issues when I did mine two years ago. Ended up just doing the seals, but not the bushings because, like you said, those are not available. However, my forks had just done 15k miles, so the bushings were okay for another go 'round. In your case I think it's just a matter of deciding whether it makes sense to buy the X1 forks. The extra spent on that will go some way towards more expensive S1 fork parts, but yeah, it might be a good investment if that availability gets even worse.
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Upthemaiden
Posted on Monday, June 01, 2020 - 08:25 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Same situation, my seals were leaking badly when I bought my bike is 2016. I rebuilt them, didn't bother with the metal bushings, even though mine were technically worn based on the descriptions I could find online. The seals were available but not cheap. I had heard some KTMs from around the time used the same forks, so I ended up buying the comparable KTM part for MUCH cheaper. 4 years and countless wheelies later, they're still going strong.

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/476 23/807183.html?1495833141

Unless you've got the money to spend, I'd say pick up some fork oil and some KTM seals and try it out. If they're still not working, you're only out a little money and a Saturday afternoon. Then you could try spending the money on some X1 forks.
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89rs1200
Posted on Monday, June 01, 2020 - 01:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

For long term maintenance, sealmate has a great tool to clean dirt from out of the seals. Usually all that is needed, for small seepage. Used to use a strip of 35mm film for this job.
https://sealmate.net/
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34nineteen
Posted on Monday, June 01, 2020 - 02:39 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Unfortunately, my forks are past of the point of a seal cleaning. I have a seal mate at home somewhere and agree that a seal cleaning can work wonders sometimes. Mine are just done.

I emailed SPHD about the lower bushings and they replied that they are no longer available as well.

So, it looks like I'm going to get a set of seals and cross my fingers. LOL!

(Message edited by 34nineteen on June 01, 2020)
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Williamscottrobertson
Posted on Tuesday, June 02, 2020 - 12:12 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I have rebuilt two sets of 98 S1 forks. Both had copper showing on the bushings, which according to the FSM, require replacement. One bike only had 9k miles, one had 30k miles, the 30k mile ones didn’t look that much more worn than the 9k mile ones, for what that’s worth. New seals and fluid and they work fine.
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34nineteen
Posted on Sunday, June 14, 2020 - 10:23 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

It looks like the bushing are now NLA. I wound up ordering some seals from Racetech and some Harley type E oil, although the service manual was pretty adamant about “WP 5w oil”.

The forks seems to be happy and holding oil now. My bushings were in serviceable shape, so I feel OK reusing them. Is there a special tool for putting the springs and spacers back on the dampers? I was able to convince them to go back together, but it fought me.
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Falloutnl
Posted on Monday, June 15, 2020 - 07:27 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

"I was able to convince them to go back together, but it fought me."

lol

yeah such a hassle always
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34nineteen
Posted on Tuesday, June 16, 2020 - 07:19 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Is there a tool to compress the springs on the WP fork? I have the one that works on the Showas, but it won't work on the WP.
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Upthemaiden
Posted on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 - 07:43 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I haven't seen a specialized one. I made one out of some stuff I had laying around. If I remember right.... it was a steel bar through the axle hole, a piece of angle iron on top with a notch cut out so it would rest on top of the spring but I could still get to the clips, some holes drilled in the end and some ratchet straps to tighten it down. It worked fine, but next time around I'll also drill a couple holes in the bar at the bottom and stick some bolts through them to keep the strap hoops from working their way off the end of the bar. I do remember that happening a couple times. Could probably just skip the bottom bar and just stick the ratchet strap right through the axle hole to be honest.

If somebody has come up with a more eloquent solution, I'd love to hear it.
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