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flash2002
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« on: November 27, 2018, 10:31:54 AM » |
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Ok, so this summer my forks started to leak not much but enough to bug me. I decided to fix with new seals it lasted a month or so then started to leak again. I took them apart today to install new seals and when cleaning the tubes notice some small scratches. Now I see why they leak the seal can't seal properly. Is there a way to polish them or do I have to buy new ones. I was thinking maybe a machine shop can resurface the tubes. Thanks
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hubcapsc
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Posts: 16779
upstate
South Carolina
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« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2018, 11:48:53 AM » |
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Pictures? I polished away some accretions on my fork sliders
when I got my bike, but I don't think you can polish away real
scratches...
-Mike
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Bighead
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« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2018, 04:25:17 PM » |
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Did you also replace the bushings when you replaced the seals?
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1997 Bumble Bee
1999 Interstate (sold)
2016 Wing
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sandy
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« Reply #3 on: November 27, 2018, 05:11:38 PM » |
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I use 600 wet/dry paper to polish the sliders. First spray with WD40 and use a twist n up n down motion to place a cross hatch pattern. Clean thoroughly and reassemble.
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flash2002
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« Reply #4 on: November 27, 2018, 11:58:52 PM » |
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Did you also replace the bushings when you replaced the seals?
Yes I did, I changed all the parts. |
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flash2002
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« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2018, 12:00:55 AM » |
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I use 600 wet/dry paper to polish the sliders. First spray with WD40 and use a twist n up n down motion to place a cross hatch pattern. Clean thoroughly and reassemble.
Sandy, it's not the sliders, it's the tubes they have small scars on them. |
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The emperor has no clothes
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« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2018, 06:34:12 AM » |
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I use 600 wet/dry paper to polish the sliders. First spray with WD40 and use a twist n up n down motion to place a cross hatch pattern. Clean thoroughly and reassemble.
Sandy, it's not the sliders, it's the tubes they have small scars on them. Sliders are another term for the tubes. |
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sandy
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« Reply #7 on: November 28, 2018, 07:12:29 AM » |
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I use 600 wet/dry paper to polish the sliders. First spray with WD40 and use a twist n up n down motion to place a cross hatch pattern. Clean thoroughly and reassemble.
Sandy, it's not the sliders, it's the tubes they have small scars on them. Sliders are another term for the tubes. Thank you Mr. Head; To me, the sliders slide up and down inside the tubes. |
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98valk
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« Reply #8 on: November 28, 2018, 07:39:08 AM » |
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u need to bring the tubes back to a mirror smooth finish. this requires a fine metal polish such as Rolite, http://www.topoftheline.com/rolapsupfinp.htmlThere are others out there and on that site. |
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1998 Std/Tourer, 2007 DR200SE, 1981 CB900C 10speed
1973 Duster 340 4-speed rare A/C, 2001 F250 4x4 7.3L, 6sp
"Our Constitution was made only for a Moral and Religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the goverment of any other."
John Adams 10/11/1798
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flash2002
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« Reply #9 on: November 28, 2018, 11:31:49 AM » |
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Ok, thanks for your help guys, I will have to figure out what to do. Before I polish I would have to get the scratches out which is not eazy. There is a specialty machine shop near my place that do all kinds of jobs, I will check them out to see what they say. If worst comes to worst, I will order new tubes.
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JimBob
Member
Posts: 61
Diamondhead, MS airport (66Y)
Mississippi Gulf Coast- Hancock county
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« Reply #10 on: November 28, 2018, 08:42:58 PM » |
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Hi Flash! There were rust 'pistules' and pits on the chromed steel Tubular Sliders (how's THAT for confusing the terminology?)...on my '97 Tourer when I bought it. Anyway, the chromed steel sliders that the seals run on. (I checked...the Honda parts list at 'Babbitts Online' calls the chrome tubes 'Pipe, Slide' and the aluminum tubes 'Tube (Outer)'.... I use chrome 'Fork Slider' and aluminum 'Fork Tube'. New sliders are Pricey (what fun is buying THOSE?) so.... what worked for me was to .... Disassemble the forks. Knock off the rust pistules (these were the rust 'projections' that were standing up above the chromed surface) with a steel scraper, then dress the pitted areas (very tiny, scattered pits) of the chrome sliders with a VERY fine sharpening stone. This left very small pits in the chrome plated surface, too small to fill with JB Weld. I cleaned the chromed surface with aerosol Brake Cleaner, which I figured would be the best way to get oily deposits out of the tiny pits in the chromed steel surface, then painted the pitted areas with Rustoleum Silver aerosol spray paint. After it had dried for a couple of days (in the Mississippi Summer heat), I sanded the silver paint smooth with #600 grit wet-or-dry sandpaper. I did NOT sand all the paint off, but I sanded it smooth, so that the new seals (and the slide bushings) would have a smooth surface to run against. Reassemble the forks with new seals (the bushings looked OK) following the Honda service manual. (downloadable for free from a Valkyrie club in Norway. link: http://valkyrienorway.com/download.html). Note: You will need something like 3 or 4 pints of fork oil..... the Valk forks hold a lot! So far (about 8 or 9 months now) it's been working just fine..... no leaks (YET!) I Hope this Helps! Jim |
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« Last Edit: November 28, 2018, 09:03:16 PM by JimBob »
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Presently running:
'97 Valkyrie Tourer, '99 Valkyrie Interstate
'08 Buell 1125R, '06 Buell XB12X Ulysses, '06 Buell XB12S Lightning
'95 Suzuki GN125, '85 Suzuki GN250, '80 Suzuki TS125, '80 Suzuki TS250
Projects: '04 Buell Firebolt, '00 & '04 Buell Blasts, '74 Suz TM400, '78 Suz TS185
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flash2002
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« Reply #11 on: November 29, 2018, 02:03:42 AM » |
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Thanks for the advice Jim but, my tubes aren't pitted they just have small scratches as if there was sand under the seal. There not deep but there deep enough to make the seals leak.
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flash2002
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« Reply #12 on: November 30, 2018, 03:02:24 PM » |
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Found a place that will fix the scratches on the sliders and only 60$ it's a lot cheaper than buying new ones. Will let you know how it turns out.
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flash2002
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« Reply #13 on: December 05, 2018, 01:31:26 PM » |
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Got my fork tubes back todayand, they did a real good job the sliders look like new. I was worried I would have to buy new ones but, these guys saved me a lot of money.  |
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pancho
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« Reply #14 on: December 06, 2018, 02:48:46 AM » |
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What kind of process did they use Flash? machining and polishing or filling? any guarantee? (dumb question) Where are they? Be good to know how to handle a problem like that,, my first thought was replacement.
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« Last Edit: December 06, 2018, 03:10:02 AM by pancho »
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The most expensive things you will purchase, are those things you would not have needed if you had listened and obeyed.
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Bighead
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« Reply #15 on: December 06, 2018, 03:21:43 AM » |
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What kind of process did they use Flash? machining and polishing or filling? any guarantee? (dumb question) Where are they? Be good to know how to handle a problem like that,, my first thought was replacement.
I would say they were in Montreal as that is where he lives,just sayin. |
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1997 Bumble Bee
1999 Interstate (sold)
2016 Wing
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flash2002
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« Reply #16 on: December 06, 2018, 01:34:34 PM » |
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Bighead is right, they are in Montreal. They are called Altech Metal Finish they do all kinds of metal work. I'm not sure what they did to my forks because, there were some good size scratches. When the guy saw them he said he will try to polish them so maybe that's what they did. Anyways they came out great, I'm happy.
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sandy
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« Reply #17 on: December 06, 2018, 03:47:48 PM » |
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Now buy fork seals from All Balls. They fit tighter and are better than OEM. I've rebuilt many sets and have used 3-4 different brands.
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #18 on: December 06, 2018, 06:17:17 PM » |
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Now buy fork seals from All Balls. They fit tighter and are better than OEM. I've rebuilt many sets and have used 3-4 different brands.
Um... All balls fit tighter? I think you're doing it wrong. (apologies in advance Sandy)  |
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da prez
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« Reply #19 on: December 06, 2018, 06:25:15 PM » |
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I have not had good luck with all balls seals. I ended replacing them on three different bikes. I use oem Honda. I do use some after market parts , but mostly oem.
da prez
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