Want to buy or borrow - front forks

[2aroundtheworld]

Long story - I need to replace the front fork seals but the bike is in Baja. I am leaving it here as we will be flying back and will come back later in a few weeks/months to ride back..

I am considering various plans, one of which could be to just get a set of forks in the USA, have them rebuild and bring them down with me.
If anyone has an extra sets laying around that they want to dispose off, please let me know!

Thanks

 

[holligl]

Seems easier to fix what you have already... It only takes a few hours and just a few special tools.
1. I assume you tried cleaning them. Are both leaking?
2. Find a place to do it there? Take new parts on your return.
3. Take your forks with you both ways and fix in the US.

 

[2aroundtheworld]

Seems easier to fix what you have already... It only takes a few hours and just a few special tools.
1. I assume you tried cleaning them. Are both leaking?
2. Find a place to do it there? Take new parts on your return.
3. Take your forks with you both ways and fix in the US.

Yes these are exactly the other options we're looking into.

1. They are both leaking and way passed the cleaning stage unfortunately...the entire front of the bike is covered in oil residue...
2. I am still looking into finding a motorcycle repair shop, but it would have to be upon our return. Tomorrow I will call Motos Baja in La Paz which was one recommendation. I have not found as many shops as I expected.
3. That would be the best option but unfortunately we are leaving the bikes in storage near the airport and that may be a bit difficult logistically at this time. We are here with friends and family and the timing is a bit tight.

So at this point I will probably just bring the seals back with me when we come back and fix it here. But I wanted to check anyway just in case.

 

[tntmo]

I'm sure I said to get Shock Sox!

Changing the seals is not going to add much more time to just removing and replacing suspension, and way less hassle of hauling suspension down there and hauling the old stuff back.

Worst case scenario would be to just clean it up and ride it back like that. My buddy had to do that from Alaska to Florida on his bike due to no parts availability and it didn't hurt anything except for his time, had to slow down.

Another buddy had seals leaking worse than that and cleaning them helped. Did you pull the dust covers down, clean everything up and really get all the way around the seal? I've seen it work more times than not. A business card works great, the paper traps a lot of dirt. Get a stack of them.

Best of luck, my garage is open in San Diego.

 

[2aroundtheworld]

I'm sure I said to get Shock Sox!

Changing the seals is not going to add much more time to just removing and replacing suspension, and way less hassle of hauling suspension down there and hauling the old stuff back.

Worst case scenario would be to just clean it up and ride it back like that. My buddy had to do that from Alaska to Florida on his bike due to no parts availability and it didn't hurt anything except for his time, had to slow down.

Another buddy had seals leaking worse than that and cleaning them helped. Did you pull the dust covers down, clean everything up and really get all the way around the seal? I've seen it work more times than not. A business card works great, the paper traps a lot of dirt. Get a stack of them.

Best of luck, my garage is open in San Diego.

Thanks!!! I have not noticed any change in the behavior. We will clean them and see. I may very well come see you in San Diego!

 

[Panman]

Mine looked like that after the Dalton, get a sealmate and clean them up and ride it back home.
Sealmate

 

[2aroundtheworld]

Mine looked like that after the Dalton, get a sealmate and clean them up and ride it back home.
Sealmate

I think that's the plan. It was not really possible to bring them back with me.

 

[Panman]

Pull the dust cover down and run the sealmate around a couple of times. You will fell like you are loosing lots of fluid but it will fine as there will be enough to keep things lubricated and working till you get home.

 

[2aroundtheworld]

Pull the dust cover down and run the sealmate around a couple of times. You will fell like you are loosing lots of fluid but it will fine as there will be enough to keep things lubricated and working till you get home.

Thanks I will do that when we come back next year. I will probably need to add some oil too.
At some point I could see the drip every few minutes when I was riding...the entire front of the bike was dirty.