As explained in my other post, one of my forks is having to have a stanchion replaced due to a couple of tiny corrosion pricks in the surface of the chrome: http://1000rr.co.uk/maintenance/16851-3.htm#post265519 They are like the point of pin protruding from the surface of the chrome... it's fairly obvious that the oil seals would be ripped to shreds by them. So, does anyone else have experience of this? I've never had this on any of my previous bikes. Have I just been unlucky, or is there some maintenance/cleaning procedure I could have followed to prevent this? Essentially, I'm wanting to do all I can to ensure it doesn't happen again!
Feel for you mate. Had this on my 07 Daytona 675 effectively there isn't much you can do other than replace the stanchions and just keep an eye on them in future if you store the bike for the winter try wrapping a towel around your forks to make sure that there isn't any moisture build up there. If you are like me and use the bike all year round plenty of ACF 50 on the new jobbies will help keep them protected in the long run...
Never had to replace any fork tubes due to corrosion myself but did have a similar issue with small chips of corrosion on my last bikes forks! I essentially used a scotchbrite pad and cleaned off the offending rust spots, there was one bad spot that I took a small machine file to before going over it with a scotchbrite pad then using some metal polish to provide some protection to the area! I have heard some folks use a small dremel bit to clean up the area and then use some chemical metal to fill the groove in the tube then sand it flat again so the tube is smooth. Not used before but Reactive suspension carry out stanchion recoatings which may be cheaper than buying a whole new tube. I never had an issue with the repaired spots, kept the bike 3 seasons after renewing the seals and they never leaked and the stanchions looked fine! You will never be able to prevent the chips unless the bike is never used as its caused by stones hitting the tubes and damaging the coating then the metal under the coating rusts up.
Nick, I wouldn't recommend using anything cotton to cover your bike through the winter as the cotton actually attracts and holds moisture which would then keep moisture in against your bike rather than keeping it away!
Yeah was a poor choice of words by me there I'm afraid I can't think of the type of material that it's called but was told by a mate if leaving the bike cover them up. I tried scotchbrite on my knackered ones didn't do a thing would've had to resort to the grinder lol. So you don't advise covering them then?
I agree with Shiny, unless its poor prep at manufacturing process, which with a 6/7 year old bike, its unlikely as it would have shown before, its usually stone chips. Had this happen years ago on a CB500 commuter, the issue with re chroming is that they then have to be ground to exactly the correct dimension, its not a cheap job. I just bought new tubes and seals and fitted them. Peeps used to use the old rubber banjos to stop this, but like chain covers (remember them?), they have disappeared. TBH they would look a little cack on a superbike, but that's about the only stonewall solution to avoiding stone chips.
Cheers Gents... as said, re-chroming is not really an option as the cost would be greater than simply replacing the stanchion. Regarding chips... these spots were proud of the surface, not chips. I suppose its likely that it was a tiny microscopic chip that allowed contaminants under the chrome, rather than a manufacturing defect. When I get them back, I think I'll fit some off-road-style gaiters to stop it happening again...... ;-)
I'm not objecting to using covers on the bike was more the fact "towels" are almost always made from cotton which is a big no no IMH due to the above reason. Most bike covers that are available are of the breathable variety and obviously the indoor covers breath better than the outdoor ones as they also have to keep water out which also tend to keep any water in also even with the vents! Any bike will condensate in a garage unless it's a heated unit, this tends to happen more so when the temps vary pretty wildly such as goin close to zero n under at nite but temps rising to about 10ish degrees during the days. The bikes metals cools with the temps at nite and during the day they stay colder than the ambient temps around them and cause condensation similar to the nice cool pint or non alcoholic beverage you have down the pub! This can be limited or reduced at least by making sure the garage is water tite and airing the unit out now and again with a breeze tends to help reduce this also.
