My Gut feeling was right!

[Speedy1959]

Hi All,

Wednesday morning at 7.30am I started the fork strip down on my bike.
As you may have heard me mention it had a front left fork leak. The leak was so bad that after being parked for say half an hour, there was a pool of oil on the floor!

Remember the seals were replaced around 350 miles ago in February!
The same place that replaced the seals also replaced the battery with a make I have never heard of..

The thought that struck me was that it was then likely the seals would not be OEM but some "Pattern" ones of the internet, or from "Bobs Back Street Bike Bargains"!

Although I have done this job before on Sophie, that was a long time ago and so I took my time doing this job.

I also noticed that the "Fork Leg Protectors" (No 23 in the photo) were missing !
I bought the full set of Oil seals, Dust seals and fork Leg Protectors from Fowlers..

After a few hours of work I had the Forks fully dismantled and the seals removed.

Well what do you know.. The seals are 100% NOT Suzuki ones!
Not only did they look different with different markings and even spring grooves, but they actually felt different.
They felt like a hard plastic..
The Suzuki ones felt more "Rubbery" compared ! (Alarm bells ringing and Gut feeling vindicated).
Also, note the colour of the "350 mile old Fork Oil" !

Everything cleaned and dried and then re assembly time..

I used Morris "Suspension fluid 5 WT" (see link below).
https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/468332?glCountry=GB&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjbyYBhCdARIsAArC6LKp_gSc74HX8I9tmVAvvqE4V4HOjmjmI8KllG9s_bpSk9L1Z_t82ngaAmAvEALw_wcB

On the subject of Fork oils you really should pay attention to Andres post from some time ago about actual fork oil weights..

In a nutshell, from the Oil weight tables below:

( https://transmoto.com.au/comparative-oil-weights-table/ )


Brand                    Designation               cSt @ 40C
   
SUZUKI:                   L01                           15.5              
          
Morris Lubricants:      SUS Fork Oil 5WT           22.9

So as you can see although the Suzuki and the Morris oils are both rated at 5WT they are NOT the same viscosity! This was born out on the test ride.
I finished and had her back together and roadworthy at around 4pm.

Lastly, I did NOT use a fork tool of any sort for both removal and re installing the inner Damper assembly..

I went out for a test ride and immediately noticed how firm the front was..
In fact I got an alarming weave at high speed (That certainly woke me up). Its one of those weaves that gets worse as you slow down, before it gets better!
I reduced both compression and rebound by 2 clicks and that seemed to help.
But if I am ultra critical the steering / handling seems a bit "nervous" at higher speeds, so it still may not be set up right.
I must check the rear wheel alignment next.. Not done that yet.

S.

[grog]

Well done Mate. High speed wobble a concern, never had on 14 but have other bikes. Cant see damping causing that, alignment can for sure. My find on a bike that did it, checked everything, tyres were the culprit. Spent months on things, nearly gave up. New tyres, amazing difference.

[Eric GSX1400K3]

I can't find where you asked the question Speedy, but I checked the rebound and compression total clicks on my K3. I used to have it written down but I can't find it now.

For rebound damping adjusters at the top of the fork staunchion, I count 20 clicks from full in to full out.  I do note the last click and the adjuster turns a bit past that one then bottoms out, so I count that as "1".  I set my rebound damping at 8 clicks out.

For compression damping at the bottom of the fork staunchion, I count 16 clicks from fully in to fully out. Same as above, the click immediately before bottoming out I count as my "1" .  Compression damping I have set at 6 clicks out.

Also note on the rebound it's a click every 1/4 turn, so 5 full turns from fully in to fully out.

I have preload set at 5 rings showing above the top yoke.

[Rynglieder]

Well done for taking it on yourself.

Sometimes it's hard to find a garage that you can completely trust with your bike, when you do you have to hang on to them.

[Speedy1959]

I can't find where you asked the question Speedy, but I checked the rebound and compression total clicks on my K3. I used to have it written down but I can't find it now.

For rebound damping adjusters at the top of the fork staunchion, I count 20 clicks from full in to full out.  I do note the last click and the adjuster turns a bit past that one then bottoms out, so I count that as "1".  I set my rebound damping at 8 clicks out.

For compression damping at the bottom of the fork staunchion, I count 16 clicks from fully in to fully out. Same as above, the click immediately before bottoming out I count as my "1" .  Compression damping I have set at 6 clicks out.

Also note on the rebound it's a click every 1/4 turn, so 5 full turns from fully in to fully out.

I have preload set at 5 rings showing above the top yoke.

At Last !!!!
An answer..
Thank you very much Eric..
Thats told me exactly what I needed to know.
Thanks again,

S