Fork surface scratches

[HighLiner]

Currently have the front end apart and I have a fork seal that looks like it might of been leaking, not wet but some crud built up like when dirt sticks to oil.  Looking at the tube itself, there are some linear scratches but they don't catch a fingernail.  Should I replace them or run 'em?

[Panzer]

If you think one is bad, replace both while you have it apart....just my .02.

[barny7655]

you will find the rotor side fluid will be a different colour than other side ,even though the same fluid put in them both , id replace both sides and a good fork oil ,cheers

[Maddo Snr]

Dismantle the forks and re-linish the tubes with strips of Al-O2 paper. 800 grit works fine. Try to get a fine finish 90 degrees to the tube and clean thoroughly before re-assembling.

Replace the seals with NOK or SKF seals only, the rest are awful (especially All Balls). Use seal grease under both the oil seal and dust wiper. Grease all sides of the seal before seating them.

Don't overfill the fork oil load, that'll pop seals every time.

[HighLiner]

What kind of grease is recommended?

[04 SE Deuce]

Buzzys Slick Honey or Slickoleum is what a lot of the pros use....both names are same product made in the same place.

I'd use OEM Showa seals and clean the tubes up.

[rbabos]

What kind of grease is recommended?

The only place you need grease is the seal OD and the area where the seal sits in the leg. This eases the press in with the seal driver so it doesn't damage the outside sealing surface of the seal. Fork oil on the lips and tube on assembly is all that's needed. Basically any grease, as it's only used sparingly, so no risk of mixing with the fork oil.
Ron

[Maddo Snr]

What kind of grease is recommended?

There's only one: Ohlins Red.

[Maddo Snr]

...I'd use OEM Showa seals and clean the tubes up.

OEM Showa seals are NOK Rick. About 1/3 of the price as a NOK seal rather than a HD OEM part though...

p.s. Using fork oil to pre-lube dust and oil seals simply sets up the very same conditions of failure that a leaking seal does...if this technique was used on a USD supercross fork it'd leak after 1/2 lap. RSU forks with 4" of travel and 38mm stanchions, poor technique matters little.

Using seal grease totally removes the void under the seal lips where crud collects and starts the seal on the way to failure. Ohlins make seal grease for a reason...

[04 SE Deuce]

Fact:  The boys at Ohlins USA use Buzzys Slick Honey...good enough for me. 

https://buzzysusa.com/#slick-honey

Slickoleum,  same product, made same place.

[Maddo Snr]

Fact:  The boys at Ohlins USA use Buzzys Slick Honey...good enough for me. 

https://buzzysusa.com/#slick-honey

Slickoleum,  same product, made same place.

Gee, that's a good ad Rick! They can use their own product free off the shelf and they still buy in something else. I'll look into that product. I'm never too stuck on a product to try something new.

The best I've ever used was Simons seal grease. Dunno what happened to Simons Suspension, they had some great gear.

Cheers, Pete.