[TMaster]

I have a 00' SID XC fork, and I just noticed today it looks like metal scraping happening right next to the dust seals on the left leg only. The right leg coating looks brand new. :/ This fork has 2000+ miles im sure. ITs been rebuilt once a few years ago. I also have to pump it up about every few months.

Is there something internally wore out? How i can I save my FORK!!! What do i need to fix this? Or should I throw it in the gutter and go by another?

 

[captainpolution]

if you run your finger across can you feel a difference in the level of the area? like compared to the rest of the leg?

 

[TMaster]

Yes, the coating is wore off and there are hairline sratches in the tube where its wore off. This is the only area of a bike that I have never worked on.

If this is fixable, I plan on buying the parts and doing it myself. I have the service manual for the shock.

Maybe i could clean it well with rubbing alchohol and polyurethane clear coat the tube and smooth it out after?

 

[mastercycleman]

I am not funny and should stop trashing threads.

This mod edit brought to you by the letters A and Q, and by the number 4.

 

[Fly]

Seems like the inner bushings has lost its teflon coating. You could try replacing those (not too expensive) but if the staunchion is rough, it'll eat through a new bushing pretty quickly.

 

[TMaster]

Everything is smooth moving still. I emailed the local bike repair shop and sent them that picture. So i'll have to see what they say. I'm pretty poor right now. I will most likely replace the bushings, orings, and dust seals or just ride it till it blows! :/

 

[auntesther]

if it was rebuilt a few years ago, chances are its bone dry inside. I would say at the least you wanna open it up and rebuild it ( clean, regrease, rebuild)
If there is no grease its all dry surfaces rubbing which is bad

 

[TMaster]

Ok guys, I finally decided to tear it down!!! To my surprise the bushings down in the tube look good. Kinda hard to see way down in there. The left leg is real dirty inside, but the right leg is smooth and pretty clean inside. But there are some weird marks right below the wear area. What do you guys think? Replace all the upper seals? This is my first time doing a fork, so I need some advice. Im going to smooth out the tube with some 2000 grit and buff it. I could care less what it looks like.

 

[TMaster]

Well, I rebuilt the shock today! New bushings, dust seals, foam rings, pistion O-rings, and new fluid in both legs. Spent a good 5 hours on it all. I cleaned it all up nicely. Everything is very tight now, the new bushings did the trick for sure, and the new seals are very tight. I took out all the scratches on the tube with some 2000 wet grit metal sanding paper, and a milled flat alumnium block to hold the sand paper flush to the tube surface while sanding. Then I high speed buffed it with aluminum polish. I should be able to get 1500 miles out of this for sure. Only costed me $55 in parts and my labor.

 

[SKYWAYBUZZ]

How did you pull out the old bushings and how did you push in the new?

 

[davep]

Nice work!

That spot on the stantion will continue to wear. The yellow annodizing offers a MUCH harder surface than the raw aluminum. The raw aluminum will also corode and foul the oil in that leg faster that normal. Just keep an eye on it and change the oil/clean the seals regularly and you should be OK for a while.

 

[TMaster]

I only replaced the top bushings. I figured the lower ones were in better shape since there was no indication of wear on the lower part of the tubes. Plus I didnt have the special tool to put the lower ones in. The top ones i just used a small flat head screw driver to pri the edge away from the bushing, then pulled it out. I used a large socket to pound the new bushings in carefully. I also left the black seals in that go inbetween the bushing and the top dust seals.

thanks

I figured as much about the bare aluminum showing. It should last a long time though, I'll take care of it.