[otroz]

Hi all thanks for forum.

I love my 2009 R1200R and have had no issues with my annual service at Adelaide's M#TOA##### dealer.

But this has changed overnight. I sent the bike in for a service and to also fix the weeping front left fork seal. Not a biggie as there is but a cup of oil in there as its just more a dampner yes??

Anyhoo when i call to check on job progress and ask about the fork weep being fixeddude says there is bit of a problem there. Pitted fork hmmm these are bit of a problem could be thousands...

I assumed you pop oil in replace seal call customer bike ready - not rocket science.

Has my dealer gone to the dark side ..help.

 

[arfingdog]

Don't know about the telelever, but I bought a bike that was leaking fork oil because of what I thought was just worn seals. But close inspection showed rust pitting in the movement area which was tearing the seals. I had to replace the fork tubes to repair. If the tube on your bike is pitted, you can't just pop in a new seal for a fix, I'm afraid.

 

[v-rider]

Correct, once the tubes are pitted, gouged, or damage they'll just chew up fork seals in no time. Replacing tubes is the best fix, but I've heard of people sanding pits and even filling gouges with JB Weld and then sanding. It just needs to be done perfectly.

 

[Lee F]

I sent the bike in for a service and to also fix the weeping front left fork seal. Not a biggie as there is but a cup of oil in there as its just more a dampner yes??

I thought all the dampening was in the front shock.
Cost of 2 forks is close to $3,000 US.
If it's just a minor seep I would come up with a creative way to hold some type of material on the fork to soak up the seep.

 

[Poprivit]

Find a bearing shop and have the tubes hard chrome plated. Worked a treat for me and wasn't very expensive.
I'm in Las Vegas. Your costs may vary.

 

[Chad66]

like any fork tube on a motorcycle, the shock in the front suspension, once it's pitted it's shot. front or rear shocks don't last forever, with the OEMs being good for 24,000 miles (38,000 km). yes they cost a lot to replace. call Ted's Beemer Shop and get a good set of shocks.

 

[zer0netgain]

Out of curiosity, what are your riding conditions? I’ve never had a pitted fork tube on any of my bikes, so I’m guessing a windy and/or sandy environment?

 

[Panzermann]

I’ve made enquiries through my SA motorcycle channels and there aren’t any hard chrome places in Adelaide with a good reputation for such work.
Apparently RAD Hard Chroming in Queensland is the place to go.

Motorcycle Fork Rechroming & Reconditioning - Rad Hard Chroming

If your motorcycle forks have corrosion, pitting or scoring and the seals are leaking then these forks can no longer do their job. The options are, replace the fork tubes or let Rad Hard Chroming repair your forks with Hard Chrome to better than new. Rad Hard Chroming can refurbish both upside...

www.radhardchroming.com.au

 

[arfingdog]

Out of curiosity, what are your riding conditions? I’ve never had a pitted fork tube on any of my bikes, so I’m guessing a windy and/or sandy environment?

We'll hear from the OP, but I suspect the most common cause is rust pitting. That was the obvious cause in my case.

 

[PJensen7702]

Hoping not to have to deal with this issue I installed a set of fork gaiters very early in my bikes life (Purchased new in 2014), I had previously fitted them to both my F650 and R1150R. I was told that even bug splatter residue on the fork tubes could eventually negatively impact the fork seals. The F650 the forks were conventional forks with the dampening internally unlike the telelever equipped R1150R and R1200R were the fork legs provide wheel location and as a conduit for the dampening action between the shock/spring assembly and the wheel. The elimination of fork gaiters for styling or cost has not been beneficial for bikes kept for the long haul, eventually exposed fork tubes will succumb to the riding environment unless protected.

 

[wforider8781]

I would try a wrecking yard or beemer bone yard and get a used set.

 

[v-rider]

Hoping not to have to deal with this issue I installed a set of fork gaiters very early in my bikes life (Purchased new in 2014), I had previously fitted them to both my F650 and R1150R. I was told that even bug splatter residue on the fork tubes could eventually negatively impact the fork seals. The F650 the forks were conventional forks with the dampening internally unlike the telelever equipped R1150R and R1200R were the fork legs provide wheel location and as a conduit for the dampening action between the shock/spring assembly and the wheel. The elimination of fork gaiters for styling or cost has not been beneficial for bikes kept for the long haul, eventually exposed fork tubes will succumb to the riding environment unless protected.

All good points. Fork gaiters seemed to disappear in the 70's, styling I believe. However, even without them I'm surprised how long seals last, and the lack of damage the tubes actually receive from road debris. Most pitting is from rust which gaiters won't prevent. I usually find seals to leak after pulling the bike out of winter storage, I believe after 10-14 years the seals shrink and dry out.

I once took a set of forks to a mechanic to have the seals replaced. They had the apprentice kid do the work, he placed the tubes unprotected in a vice. I didn't notice the gouges in the tubes until I reinstalled the forks. I took the bike out the next day and once I was 120 miles from home the forks were gushing oil. I rode home with a rag in my hand reaching down to wipe them as I was riding. After a heated exchange with the mechanic he replaced the tubes.

 

[arfingdog]

....
I once took a set of forks to a mechanic to have the seals replaced. They had the apprentice kid do the work, he placed the tubes unprotected in a vice. I didn't notice the gouges in the tubes until I reinstalled the forks. I took the bike out the next day and once I was 120 miles from home the forks were gushing oil. I rode home with a rag in my hand reaching down to wipe them as I was riding. After a heated exchange with the mechanic he replaced the tubes.

I winced when you said the kid put the tubes in a vise unprotected!