Front fork not moving freely after cleaning

daverdfw · February 7th, 2016, 10:54 AM

So I am in the process of swapping spring in my front forks. And was cleaning them last night with brake part cleaner. One of the forks move pretty freely when I tip it upside down, the chrome part slides out on its own. The other side however takes a little more convincing. If i kinda tap it it will slide it. Now its not a major deal but I am curious since I have them off the bike if there is something I should be looking at? This is a 2009 with 3500 miles. So it sat quite a bit.

RacinNinja · February 7th, 2016, 05:16 PM

If you washed all of the oil off the seal and inner bushing, it's not uncommon to have sliding issues. If it does with with a light coat of oil, then you should fully disassemble and look for scarring or scratching on the fork tube.

daverdfw · February 7th, 2016, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RacinNinja

If you washed all of the oil off the seal and inner bushing, it's not uncommon to have sliding issues. If it does with with a light coat of oil, then you should fully disassemble and look for scarring or scratching on the fork tube.

yeah there was no scaring or anything on the fork tubes. I think because I got it really clean with lots of brake part cleaner.

RacinNinja · February 7th, 2016, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daverdfw

yeah there was no scaring or anything on the fork tubes. I think because I got it really clean with lots of brake part cleaner.

It could also indicate a failing fork seal that does not have enough contact with the tube, if you still have the seals installed.

February 7th, 2016, 10:54 AM	#1
daverdfw ninjette.org guru Name: David Location: Fort Worth,TX Join Date: Nov 2015 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250 Posts: 386	Front fork not moving freely after cleaning So I am in the process of swapping spring in my front forks. And was cleaning them last night with brake part cleaner. One of the forks move pretty freely when I tip it upside down, the chrome part slides out on its own. The other side however takes a little more convincing. If i kinda tap it it will slide it. Now its not a major deal but I am curious since I have them off the bike if there is something I should be looking at? This is a 2009 with 3500 miles. So it sat quite a bit.

February 7th, 2016, 05:16 PM	#2
RacinNinja Vintage Screwball Name: B Location: Washington Join Date: Feb 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250, 2008 Ninja 250, 2019 KTM 1290SDR, 2017 FZ10 Posts: A lot. MOTM - Mar '16	If you washed all of the oil off the seal and inner bushing, it's not uncommon to have sliding issues. If it does with with a light coat of oil, then you should fully disassemble and look for scarring or scratching on the fork tube. __________________________________________________ Goin' fast on slow bikes!

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