Can you make both front shocks the same?

[Hobo Joe]

Last fall I purchased a '97 Valk Tourer and just recently replaced the front lower right fork tube after starting a seal replacement. It was worn past the coating (badly). In my research I was surprised to find that the front right fork is the only dampening fork and this particular fork has that problem (on some) with the coating being worn thus causing frequent seal leaking. The front left was spotless. I'm no engineer but if you have two forks that are doing two different jobs at the same time on the same wheel I would imagine the difference in forces being distributed to each fork would cause this kind of a problem.(again, I'm not an engineer, just spit balling here)

So my question is: Would it be safely feasible to replace both spring systems with the same spring system from a company like Race Tech Suspension or similar?

And...... GO!

[nogrey]

No idea. On things like that, unless badly engineered (which doesn't describe the Valkyrie at all) I defer to the original OEM. They spend a lot of money on R&D to come up with these designs. Just my two cents worth, and ya get what ya pay for!

[Daniel Meyer]

One fork dampens on compression, the other on rebound.

With the axle correctly installed they are "one".

Odd to see a fork worn that badly...are the slider guards in place? (little chrome cover in front of the exposed slider).

Also be sure and change the bushings with the seals.

[Hobo Joe]

Hey Meyer, the slider guards are in place. And yes bushings were replaced with the seals. When I googled the problem it returned quite a few pages where people had to have the fork replaced not too long after they bought them new! And a few that had them for years with no problem. Could be frequency of use and local road conditions etc.

Thanks Nogrey, yes she is old and you do get what you pay for but I still had an absolute riot replacing it. (Does that make me strange?) I just love my Val so much, I actually look forward to fixing her up! Even my wife loves her! And she doesn't ride. (yet) Presently doing a desmog on it!
Also Nogrey, you were looking at my other post re- possible fuel problems, I've updated that one as well.

[Daniel Meyer]

I'm gonna suggest either it was defective to begin with, or sometime in it's history it suffered some event or abuse that caused the issue.

I'll hit 200,000 miles of enthusiastic abuse on mine shortly...and I don't ride her easy...and the sliders are still in good condition.

[Hobo Joe]

That's a very good point Meyer. Hopefully I won't have any further problems.

[xman]

Daniel, Is there any preventive maintenance you can do to keep the seals in good shape?

[Daniel Meyer]

Keep the slider shields in place. Maybe clean the seals with a sealmate every great now and again.

I just tend to blow one every 50,000 miles or so and change 'em both.

[JetDriver]

Keep the slider shields in place. Maybe clean the seals with a sealmate every great now and again.

I just tend to blow one every 50,000 miles or so and change 'em both.

Hey Dan-  I love the wheel treatment, all blacked out like that!

[Daniel Meyer]

Keep the slider shields in place. Maybe clean the seals with a sealmate every great now and again.

I just tend to blow one every 50,000 miles or so and change 'em both.

Hey Dan-  I love the wheel treatment, all blacked out like that!

Takes a while to apply...but it's damn near bullet-proof!