Ping FOAK regarding fork seal ageing.

Last time I went out on the bike, I made a mistake which has cost me a fork
seal. I didn't knock the ice from the stanchions. One seal has ruptured. I
don't like replacing one seal, as you can guarantee 10 miles later the other
bugger will burst.
I have found in my pile of bits a pair of seals I bought 10 years ago ( ish
) for doing a mates Pan. I thought they were priced singly, ordered a pair
and ended up with two pairs. They are the same size as the ones in the
Bandit, 41/53/8 ( well, the bandit needs 41/53/9.5, but a shim under the
locating ring will do ).
They're Vesrah seals. They've been kept in the box, indoors. What odds would
you place on me replacing them and having the buggers fail due to hardening
of the seal lip, and would soaking them in fork oil for a day or so before
fitting be beneficial, make no difference, or cause them to swell, thus
winding up with me rupturing them during fitting.
I have an idea that soaking them would help, they'd be OK, and I'm
needlessly whittling. After head bearings, fork seals are my least favourite
job on the bike. Money is an issue at the moment.

 

http://www.gear4bikes.com/acatalog/Suzuki_Fork_Oil_Seals1.html says the
seals cost £10.49 so you would need to be in some dire straits if you can't
afford a new set. Are you already living on Tesco Value Super Noodles and
Aldi baked beans?

 

As Wessie says, if you're worried, just buy a new set. Actually, I
reckon the NOS ones would be fine. But there's only one way to find
out.

 

Suck it and see. Or rather blow it and see in this case.

 

Ten years would be a bit too long for me to feel comfortable, buying a new
set on the other hand doesn't guarantee you that it hasn't sat on a shelf
for the previous ten years, although unlikely. Personally I'm pikey enough
to skimp on such things and then occasionally regret it afterwards.

Morally questionable alternative: Flog the old set on eBay and buy a new
one. Call the seals "vintage" for extra money (bonus: more honesty).

No-cost suggestion: Drop Vesrah an email regarding their product's expected
shelf/service life?



P.S: Ten years ago was.... oh, just 2000? They'll be fine.

 

The snow in January, followed by my clumsiness resulting in amputating the
tip of my ring finger, total dislocation of the upper knuckle, and splitting
the hand in half internally killed my 1st quarter earnings. In short, I had
none. The benefits agency decided I could still work, despite effectively
having no right hand, and working as a motorcycle instructor.
The appeal failed too. I was asked 'can you drive?'. I replied yes. 'Get a
driving job then'. I gave up at that point. I still have limited movement in
that hand, and the cold is painful.
A shit summer followed, with bookings down 50%. Now this round of snow and
ice has knocked it on the head.
All my fault, as I should have saved, should have formed a contingency plan,
but yes, things are that bad.
**** it. Next year is a new start and all that. I'll wind the business up in
March and look for a new, less weather reliant way to earn a crust.
Ultimately, all I need is sufficient to pay the mortgage + bills, feed the
family and have a few quid left over.

 

Thanks for the replies. Geo is a genius!. Why the flying **** didn't I think
of that. <fx:- slaps own forehead and says Do'h>
One email to vesrah on its way. I have enough half full bottles of fork oil,
and no work on, so ultimately, all I have to lose is my own time. Time is
the one thing not in short supply.
Funds and enthusiasm have just about run out.
Thanks Wessie, TOG, Dave and Geo.

 

Sorry to hear about your situation. Glad you are being realistic about the
bike training business. Even before the recession hit it was obvious the
way things were heading. The "baby boomers in mid-life crisis" bubble has
well & truly burst. As happened in the last dip in sales, BMW seem to be
bucking the trend topping the sales chart with the R-GS and a 13.8% [1]
increase overall, compared to 2009. This just goes to show, if you want to
make money from motorcyles, you need to find a niche market where the main
customer base is made up from old farts. Perhaps you could find something
between the polar extremes with BMW at the premium end and TOG at the
Steptoe end?

[1] http://www.performancedirect.co.uk/motorcycle-insurance/BMW-Motorrad-
performing-well.aspx

 

They'll be fine, just squirt them with silicone spray before you fit
them.