ot: leaking forks

 it's off topic because it regards my '02 CG125 Titan. You know, the
piece of crap that some fine folks at honda call a "basic
transportation motorcycle". It serves me reasonably well and I have to
keep it running for more 3 or 4 months, tops, while I save some money
for my Yamaha Tenere 250.

I got the bike last february and it had about 55,000 km on the odo.
Now it has almost 70,000 and I have been through *three* fork seal
sets and it is leaking again. I confess not using OEM seals, but a
good aftermarket brand, I have used it on my XR with good results.

Granted, fork has less than 10cm travel and my commute includes a
shortcut of 2km in an unpaved road - in a tropical rain forest
reservation, beautiful. Problem is this road is not exactly perfectly
graded, it is quite bumpy and the dirt biker in me refuse to go slower
than 60km/h and of course it's a festival of suspension bottoming.

When I first rode the bike I noticed a small leak and crap action. Of
course, oil was due to change and I put new seals. Couple months
later, leaked again and replaced again. Then, two months later, again.
I have been using Motul Fork Oil for Conventional Forks, Medium, 10W
at the specified amount, whooping 72 milliliters each side. Service
Manual says "ATF Type A" ...

Now, the left hand fork leaks yet again. Damn! Now I seriously suspect
the left hand fork is bent because it has been the one that start
leaking first and then the damping goes to the right hand fork and it
can't handle the bumps alone and leaks too. I don't know the past
history on this bike but it looks very well cared for, actually,
people are surprised when I say it is a 2002.

What are my options?

a) It is the bent forks, remove scorpion from wallet and buy brand new
forks - only the chromed part, with seals, etc.

b) I am a moron by riding it 60km/h on a bumpy road. Either give up
the shortcut or ride slower

c) Replace only seals and use the oil the manual says. Proper fork oil
on a piece of crap like this is waste of money and bike is rejecting
it on a "too good for me" argument.

d) Open gas tank cap and throw lit match in it. Make sure gas tank is
nearly full. Watch show from safe distance.


thanks in advance!!!

-- Tiago

 In article


How bad is it leaking? Can you just top up the oil every week and
figure that's good enough to get you through the next 3 months?

I don't know that bottoming out the suspension will cause fork seal
failure? But, could you put some plastic pipe spacers in to increase
the preload and perhaps prevent bottoming out?

Use some safety wire to tighten up the seals? (kidding)

--
Charles
'99 YZ250

 
I know I should wear riding pants, but I don't (too hot, lame excuse,
I know) and the oil leaks enough to make little oil stains on my
working pants. Up to now, "Vanish O2 Power" is taking care of the
stains.

I could endure the heat and use riding pants for the next 3 months. If
all the oil leaks out, what risks I'm taking? When it is not leaking,
it turns like it is in rails. 18 inch narrow wheels front/rear.
Surprisingly easy and predictable to handle, even in the dirt. I kind
of learned to like this bike.

The problem I see with topping off is... How much oil do I put in??
Only 72 ml in there. I tried 80ml the first time and it was waaay too
stiff and when the seal failed a little later I blamed excess oil.


ugh, more preload? It's a pain to refit the fork cap with the stock
(steel) spacer... It's a tiny little street bike, exactly like this,
only mine has electric starter:

http://imganuncios.mitula.net/cg_125_ks_titan_2003_moto_em_sorocaba_1321282=
291561948.jpg

125cc air cooled pushrod engine, one single cam lobe with rods and
rockers opening and closing two valves. Peak power 11hp @ over 10k
rpm. Amazingly well built engine, almost indestructible and I've been
trying since I first got the bike!


If this works, I'm trying...

The steel chromed fork part for this bike isn't *that* expensive, but
I'm going to toss the bike in the darkest corner of my garage in less
than three months... Or maybe I could use it as grocery runner or when
I'm going to the less "nice" parts of town... Selling is out of
question, it worth less than someone (on a tight budget!) would spend
on a weekend out of town and for that price I'd rather start a bike
collection (hi Tim!)

-- T
  -> going to a friend's help him fit a new "works" Injection Module
for his (Foreman? Fourtrax?) 420 Honda 4x4 "agriculture machine" kwad.
The dark side is sooooo alluring! LOL! This guy keeps trying to
convince me to go racing 4x4 jeeps (a Mitsubishi TR4), he as driver
and I as navigator, he used to race in the past and stopped because he
can't find a competent navigator whom he could trust and since I am a
decent enduro (motorcycle) navigator and we are friends of long
time...

 
Hi Buddy! I feel your pain, and that's EXACTLY how it started.


Like our friend Paul Neff says, the worst thing about riding a quad is
telling your father that you're gay. I wonder if JayC has had that
talk yet?

Tim H

 Tiago reports:


Are you sure there isn't a tiny, tiny nick or scratch or dent in the
chrome?  If there is, fill it with superglue next time you have it
apart.



b though d sounds like fun.


Go fast. Take chances.
Mike S.