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Anyone have any experience with TNK fork tubes?


SR71BLACKBIRDXX

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This will be the 3rd time in 4 years my fork(s) have started weeping. They have a few very light pits. Like you can barely catch your nail on them. But yet I can't seem to keep them sealed. I'm not talking running down the fork leg, but it starts to collect on the dust seal. I've tried 0000 steel wool. Tried the epoxy thing. Tin foil.. nothing seems to work. Went so far as replacing the bushings, which only had 5000 original miles on them and looked brand new. No dice. 

 

To the point now where its like do I get them re-chromed, or get aftermarket. Not a whole lot of options for 25 year old junks. Race Tech sells TNK, and there might be a couple other Chinese crappers out there. I'm sure getting them redone would cost the same.. maybe more. 

 

Anyone with similar problems? 

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Have you tried cleaning the seals?  It's worked for me on the leaky/weepy forks I've tried.  They sell tools for it, a common DIY tool is a piece of photo film.  I think I used a plastic water bottle to make mine.

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 I got similar problem on my VFR1200f. Aftermarket or OEM seals- same result- there is some weeping. I got closer look at inner tubes and sure enough, vertical scratches. 

 

 I ordered pair of chinesum inner tubes, we'll see how it goes. Supposedly they are not that horrible. 

 

They are available for XX as well. 

 

 

Screenshot_20230519-105950.png

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55 minutes ago, superhawk996 said:

They sell tools for it, a common DIY tool is a piece of photo film.

 

So unobtanium?

 

I've also had major improvements from using a thin plastic sheet, my last attempt was with overhead projector plastic.  Jeezus Christ, how long have I been pack ratting that shit?!?

 

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Never tried cleaning them. Don't think I've ever had a problem like this other than on a dirt bike. I've got new seals and oil ordered already. So I guess I'll throw them in. I don't mind spending the money on tubes as I'll probably die with this bike. Just boggles my mind that the smallest imperfections would cause a leak. I've owned bikes with 40k+ miles that were perfectly dry. 

 

 

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4 hours ago, SR71BLACKBIRDXX said:

Never tried cleaning them. Don't think I've ever had a problem like this other than on a dirt bike. I've got new seals and oil ordered already. So I guess I'll throw them in. I don't mind spending the money on tubes as I'll probably die with this bike. Just boggles my mind that the smallest imperfections would cause a leak. I've owned bikes with 40k+ miles that were perfectly dry. 

 

 

My Ducatis were leaky with perfect looking tubes and very little use.  Supposedly they use low tension seals to reduce friction, this probably lets more dust in while also being less forgiving of dust.  I cleaned them and no more leak.  I think one of my Birds also leaked 'till I cleaned them.

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3 hours ago, blackhawkxx said:

Have you asked Joe if he has a nice pair?  

 

He's got some shit, that's for sure. Doubtful he has what I'm looking for though. Any fork tube that's been laying around is bound to have some issues. Mine still look pretty good. Literally pin pricks here and there. I should try cleaning them first. It just never occured to me. Leaking in 1500 miles? Doesn't make sense.. unless the seals are just that sensitive. 

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What's the bike and what brand seals are you using?

 

I've had some old rusty tubes that didn't leak and perfect modern ones that did (fuckin Ducati).  I've also had some leak after sitting a long time and then stop when being ridden regularly.  One of my Ducs started leaking again within a few hundred miles of cleaning them, but it had been many months.  Re-cleaning cured it.  Annoying, but way less work than replacing seals over and over.  According to the Duc forum the solution was aftermarket seals or regularly clean the factory ones.

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when ive changed fork oil on my 99 i clean the forks first with either 1500 or 2000 grit (cant remember which now)wet dry sandpaper with wd 40 as lube to smooth out any high bits that might catch the seals..seals just recently started leaking after 300,000 + klms.

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11 hours ago, superhawk996 said:

What's the bike and what brand seals are you using?

2000 VFR and oem seals

 

23 minutes ago, poida said:

seals just recently started leaking after 300,000 + klms.

 

Yeah well mine were leaking when I bought it. 3200 miles. Then started leaking again @ 5000 miles. Now weeping again at 6300 miles. Can't imagine there's much crud in there, but definitely worth a shot cleaning them first. 

 

Edited to add...

 

Running 7.5w oil instead of the OEM 10w should make zero difference... right? 

Edited by SR71BLACKBIRDXX
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Cleaned the seals out the best I could. Didn't see any shit come out. Wiped them clean and rode it for two days. One tube  slightly wet to the touch, but not pooling up on the dust seal like before.  I'll leave it for now. Hopefully it doesn't get any worse than that. I guess it's not the space shuttle

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