Coating wearing off fork tube

omalley wrote:

Forgot to confirm, is that chrome (stock) or TiN/DLC/etc? I would think you would need a new tube. Some or all of the suspension shops can...

Forgot to confirm, is that chrome (stock) or TiN/DLC/etc?

I would think you would need a new tube. Some or all of the suspension shops can get you a new solder without the axle lug, saving you money over the stock part which you can only get with the lug. You could theoretically get that re-chromed but I'd think that would run as much as a new tube with questionable tolerances, etc. I would also go through that entire form leg's internals to find a cause and/or check for additional damage.

One other possible option would be to get it (and the other slider) coated with DLC but I think it normally goes over the chrome. Not sure though.

captmoto wrote:

If you have been paying for service you may have been screwed. Any reputable shop would either notify you of needing bushings or just told you...

If you have been paying for service you may have been screwed. Any reputable shop would either notify you of needing bushings or just told you they replaced them, here's your bill. Many suspension shops buff out the tubes when they service and inspect your forks and would catch something like that before it got that bad.

RMRider1 wrote:

Thanks a lot for the info, I did notice the part is only available with bottom lug. Suspension shops can get just the tube? I am...

Thanks a lot for the info, I did notice the part is only available with bottom lug. Suspension shops can get just the tube? I am thinking of sending the forks to Race Tech, sound like a good option? They say definitely replace the tube and I was thinking of having them kashima coat the tubes. I have had a local guy servicing the forks the past few years. I showed him this mess and all he said was "Wow"...Never again, I feel this is, as mentioned, a bad bushing or lack of attention to a nick in the tube.

Yes, this is a stock tube.

omalley wrote:

I've had great luck with Factory Connection, I don't have any experience (good or bad) with Race Tech. I would send both forks in, if your...

I've had great luck with Factory Connection, I don't have any experience (good or bad) with Race Tech. I would send both forks in, if your left leg is that bad your right leg can't be far behind.

Also, for future, try to hook up with someone local that can show you how to service your own forks. Bushings, seals and fluid are not complicated, just intimidating the first time.

Also, there was someone in the bazaar selling a DLC-coated leg for those forks (one only) awhile back, might want to sort through the old posts. Then you could just have the other one coated to match.

c0ncEpT wrote:

You need new fork legs at a bare minimum. That entire fork should be gone through. It will need new bushings as well. You can't apply...

You need new fork legs at a bare minimum. That entire fork should be gone through. It will need new bushings as well.

You can't apply DLC coating to a non micro-finished surface. It simply wont adhere properly. This is not an option.

If it were my bike I would look up fork swaps and see if you can swap the entire front end to a newer design. Most of the time you can find complete front ends on Ebay that are like new for a very reasonable price.

omalley wrote:

Those twin chambers, once set up, are some of the better forks ever made. For the time and money he'd have into adapting a newer set...

Those twin chambers, once set up, are some of the better forks ever made. For the time and money he'd have into adapting a newer set (plus clamps, wheel/axle, and/or other needed mods to adapt), he could have a great set of modded stock forks and none of the headache. If it were and earlier CR I'd be with you, but the forks that came on the 3rd gen 250's were great.