K11 Owners Group

Shoganai · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 9:57 pm Post subject: Polishing Forks

EDIT to re-post:
Ok, time to do the fork seals.

My question was does anyone have experience w/ polishing the sliders?
I have ordered gaiters already.

No worries Duck Very Happy

Yeah, that's on the '"ist to get to" Or at least paint them.

Shog:

Tell Steverino to round off the bottoms of those caliper light mounts and get them powder coated.

(Oops - I hit the wrong button edited your post instead of hitting reply. My apologies. - Duck

(Some people just aren't qualified to be mods. )
_________________
1993 K1100RS aka The Shop Whore
1994 K1100RS aka Blue Streak

The long road is a rainbow and the pot of gold lies there.
So slip the chain and I'm off again,
You'll find me everywhere. I'm a Rover. - JT

Nana korobi ya oki

Jim · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 10:11 pm Post subject: Polishing forks

I use silver polish, of course... just kidding' Laughing

'

Clean them first! Those bug guts are enough to tear up seals!

I just saw something (I think it was here at K11) recently about polishing forks - can't find it now. How do your forks look? If you run a fingernail across any blemishes does your nail catch? I think that's sort of the benchmark. If your nail doesn't catch, there's not enough damage to the fork to tear up the seal.

How do the forks look when they're cleaned up?

MNB said he had his forks lathed - but who knows exactly what they did to the forks while they had them on the lathe?

Parts are a lot cheaper at Chicago - but they're shipping kind of slow these days.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 10:13 pm Post subject:

Rancho shock boots cost $6 each at your local auto parts store - PERFECT fit. Part no. is 1952.
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Shoganai · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 10:17 pm Post subject:

I'll clean it up tomorrow and do the finger nail test.

Are the Rancho's as goog as the BMW product.
_________________
1993 K1100RS aka The Shop Whore
1994 K1100RS aka Blue Streak

The long road is a rainbow and the pot of gold lies there.
So slip the chain and I'm off again,
You'll find me everywhere. I'm a Rover. - JT

Nana korobi ya oki

Shoganai · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 10:35 pm Post subject: Re: Polishing forks

rydor · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 10:36 pm Post subject:

When I get my bike back Rolling Eyes

I'm fitting a set of these fork guards, I'll let you all know how well they work. They should do an adequate job of keeping seal-destroying stuff off, while not looking as butt-ugly as the Ranchos.

Traxxion Dynamics:
http://www.traxxion.com/store/detail.asp?product_id=FGK1

Shoganai · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 10:46 pm Post subject:

I just read they can be polished with 400 grit wet/dry paper.

Any thoughts?
_________________
1993 K1100RS aka The Shop Whore
1994 K1100RS aka Blue Streak

The long road is a rainbow and the pot of gold lies there.
So slip the chain and I'm off again,
You'll find me everywhere. I'm a Rover. - JT

Nana korobi ya oki

abreeze · Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 11:05 pm Post subject:

Flying Duck · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 12:10 am Post subject:

Flying Duck · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 12:13 am Post subject:

Jim · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 10:05 am Post subject: polishing forks

Jim · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 10:08 am Post subject:

DetroitDan · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 11:45 am Post subject:

Mine were pretty bad when I bought the bike. I used 800 grit, wet with WD-40. Then, finished with fine steel wool. Covered them with gaiters - Perfect for 8000 miles over some pretty rough Michigan roads.
_________________
1973 CB350F / 1977 R100/7 / 1991 DR650S / 1995 K1100RS

"No man in the wrong can stand up against a fellow that’s in the right and keeps on a-comin’” Capt. Bill McDonald (1852-1918)

owrstrich · Posted: Wed May 07, 2008 2:02 pm Post subject:

i gotts the works pdf if you still needs it...

j o
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

BobZ(IL) · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 7:55 pm Post subject:

I used 1000 grit paper working around the tubes to create a bit of 'tooth' to the surface. Put in new seals, clean frequently with WD-40, haven't had seals leaks since. Kinda like the shiney look as opposed to gaitors.
_________________
'93 K1100LT
'78 R100S
'05 R1200GS
BMWMOA, CRBMWOA, ABC, K11OG #997

Live well, do good work, enjoy the ride.

mnb · Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 9:08 pm Post subject:

Shoganai · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 12:14 am Post subject:

Ok, Steve and I've been hoppin' and fetchin' house hunting and it looks like we'll close on a house this week. So the fork job has been set aside for awhile.

I may not get a chance to do the seals before Hungry Mother. I'm working 7p-7a this and the next 5 nights.

1. Gaiters ordered.
2. I have oil, seals, sweeps.
3. Bushings were replaced recently at the last seal job.
4. I also have two new spring retainers and one new screw plug. (one is a little stripped out, the other is good.)
5. I have the pdf from Works Performance for the adjustable dual-rate fork springs set. Plus I printed Ted's pages.

They make 1200 grit wet/dry paper.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks for all the input guys Wink

_________________
1993 K1100RS aka The Shop Whore
1994 K1100RS aka Blue Streak

The long road is a rainbow and the pot of gold lies there.
So slip the chain and I'm off again,
You'll find me everywhere. I'm a Rover. - JT

Nana korobi ya oki

Shoganai · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 5:12 am Post subject:

Quick question...
Under fork oil replacement here:
http://www.ibmwr.org/ktech/fork-oil.shtml

If I'm going to drain all the oil, and replace the springs, which volume do I use for the left leg 350cc or 400cc?
_________________
1993 K1100RS aka The Shop Whore
1994 K1100RS aka Blue Streak

The long road is a rainbow and the pot of gold lies there.
So slip the chain and I'm off again,
You'll find me everywhere. I'm a Rover. - JT

Nana korobi ya oki

tmarshall57 · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 6:41 am Post subject:

If you are completely dismantling the left leg and removing all oil contained in the innards then 400cc is correct. I have heard others say that 400cc blew their seal but I recently did this job, filled with 400cc and no problems. I had a few pits in the stanchion which I could feel the edge of with my fingernail so prior to reassembly I ran fine wet and dry with a little oil to smooth the edges of the pits. I have only done 2-300 miles or so since the job but - as I say - no issues

Tony
_________________
K1100RS Special Edition 1997
Arctic Silver/Black

Shoganai · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 8:06 am Post subject: