Forum

[Michael]

Might have a leqky fork oil seal. I have changed these before, annoying but not hard job. Worst thing is that it is on the brake disk side, so kinda needs done even though I dont have the time. My question is thus... there is avwee bit of roughness on the chrome fork leg itself, tiny amount. Would this cause a leak and can I polish it out or do legs need more 'professional' work? This will take an evening I just dont have!!! Hopefully I just carelessly spilled some oil all over my brake lines instead

[Michael]

Er... leqky = leaky and avwee = wee... see, I dont even have time to type with this new baby!

[Nettshubby]

By roughness I assume you mean rust pits? If the seals pass over them then yes, they will still leak because the pits will cut the seal lips. If they are not bad, the usual "cure" is to rub them smooth with an oil stone, or even fine wet and dry with a little thin oil on, not water. If pits are deepish, i.e. Chrome flaking off, after smoothing the edges with a stone, the pits can be filled with a good epoxy and smoothed down, again with fine wet and dry and oil, but on a small block, so you don't cause a hollow in the epoxy. Leaky seals are an MOT fail, and I have a feeling that pitted stantions are if the pits are in the path of the seals?

[dottyone]

Sorry, not quite on subject but, my "other" bike has exposed stanchions which are just showing signs of deterioration, happily above the range of the seals, and I want to protect them during the looming winter months. I don't want to disassemble the whole front to fit pukka gaiters so I am experimenting with old inner tube cut into strips six inches or so deep and wrapped round the stanchion and secured with a cable tie at the top only, immediately below the yolk. It looks a little rough, but adds character to an otherwise bland Honda. I hope it will avoid woes as described in this post. Also refitted a windscreen, having already fitted a "hugger" and front mudguard extension. Now looking forward to rain, snow, salt (not)!
Aren't exposed stanchions a stupid idea!

[Norm]

Michael just to warn you there was some of the early UCE's produced that you can't get seals for, I think that was the case, something really bizare on them and the factory just said sorry can't help. MrH couldn't get them either. Thinking about it it might have been a dust seal or something but be aware there could be a problem coming

[Michael]

Cheers Norm... Replaced a seal on one side 4 years ago so hopefully this doesn't affect me. Got the seal from Mr H. It's the other side which looks ropey now, and have the seals (or at least I have *some* seals ) in the garage at the mo as spares. Hopefully an easy fix if required at all. If not, Urgh... I have fixed and bodged a lot in my time, so hopefully my record continues.

[Norm]

Michael glad to hear you can get out of the problem, from what I remember with Rays bike it was the early UCE fitted with 18 inch wheels, the forks are dumb and a they are not even detailed correctly in the manual and the factory has admitted that. I think the only way around the problem in the future would be to fit earlier forks which would probably mean complete forks not just the lower legs. It is going to get ugly for someone in the future who has problem with one of these

[Michael]

Sadly an inspection today revealed chrome that has worn right through, or perhaps was never there (?!) right at the seal, about the size of a 10 pence piece. No pitting or rusting whatsoevet, just an area devoid of chrome. Running my fingernail over the area reveals the area with no chrome is recessed compared to the nearby polished chrome... I presume this is where my oily leak is coming ftom, but have not disassembled to check yet. Can this be repaired with the epoxy trick, or will I have to get the tube rechromed?

[Gwilly]

Michael i think rechroming is a great idea especially if the parts are unobtainable for an old or exotic bike.. The resultant hard chrome will last for ever but at a cost...

However when it comes to your enfield i see the chrome tubes are readily available at a reasonable £66.00+vat each.. Buy one in readiness to swap over when the time is right..

On my Kwacker the rechrome was twice that price each and the bike was laid up for over a month, such was the turnaround..

No big deal for me time wise but yours is needed for work. Isn't it?

Epoxy is a bodge to buy time and then only suitable for minor pitting, not i think to an area devoid of chrome..


http://www.pittedforks.co.uk/price.php

[Michael]

Aye, my bike is a commuter... am on paternity leave at the minute so nit needed for another week. I have spare oils seals which may hold up for a bit, but looks like another 80 quid going on this bike or so in the form of a new tube