chrome pits in slider tubes

[billbeemer]

how would i fill in small chips in my front fork sliders? afraid if forks bottom, chips will cause seal problems.

[riceburner]

Polish them as best you can with chrome polish.

To be honest it's not that huge an issue because the Telelever system doesn't use a pressurised fork leg system. The tubes and sliders are merely there to position the front wheel, any oil in there is merely for lubrication of the sliding surfaces, and you're NEVER going to weep it all out (unless maybe by turning the bike upside down for a month...).

I know that having a weepy fork oil seal is bad (mmmmkay), but apart from the dangers associated with getting oil on the discs/tyres ( in minimal amounts in this case anyway), you shouldn't have any diminishment of performance of the front end).

[CycleRob]

billbeemer, They must be removed or they will chew up the seals in one big-bumpy ride. With customers bikes I used an industrial grade razor blade sweeping rapidly at a shallow 5 degree angle to lop off the rust pit high crater ridges. The tubes can be rotated in place by a firm hand grip to access the hidden part - - that's a normal part of their movement as they pivot minutely with the TeleLever movement. After all the high points are removed, use 1,000 grit sandpaper to feather edge the transitions so the seal can slide over them without damage and hopefully without leaking. Auto parts chain stores sell the 1,000 grit paper for autobody painters.

Final drive chains (lube/adjust) and forktubes (cleanliness) are the 1st and 2nd most neglected parts of most M/C's. That neglect is a sure way to rack up big and unnecessary repair bills. I always forewarned customers picking up their bike after servicing that if you only clean ONE THING on your bike, the forktube seal travel area should be it. That is especially true on USD (UpSideDown) forks where a replacement forktube is $400--$1,200 EACH!

[spoon]

My feeling is the pits and any roughness must be removed. Even though the forks don't do any damping chewed up seals will let oil get all over things (brakes). If you can find a repair shop that deals with hydraulic cylinders they may be able to repair or replate them. you might also try to fill the pits with a metal filled epoxy. Then filed/ sanded to a smooth finish so you will have freckle looking spots where the pits used to be. I have done an electroplating repair using a technique called "brush plating". No matter how you do it the sliders have to be sepreated from the lowers. The sliders have to be clean (clean), I mean clean of any and all oil and other stuff. The finished product has to be smooth or the seals will be history in a short time. Have fun. ( This is not that hard of a job no matter what method you use)