Pitted forks

[plowsie]

Was on the CBR forum earlier, one specific member said this...

pitted forks is a MOT fail BTW.

Is that absolute tosh? Or true?

[Amanda M]

I know if your fork seals are leaking it's a fail - had enough ratty old bikes to know this one ;) Not sure about just pitting though. I'd have thought that if your forks aren't leaking it'd be fine :-k

[chasey]

My forks are pitted to fook and passed it's MOT.

[petevtwin650]

Pitted forks, as in the shiny sliders that go into the fork bottoms.

If they are pitted they can damage the fork seal as they move up and down also they may draw the oil out in the little pits and eventually you'll end up with unbalanced damping.

[philbut]

As Pete says, in the area of travel of the fork, pitting can mean damage to seals and leaking so could lead to an MOT failure if the examiner thought they were bad enough I guess - or if there were signs of oil on the forks indicating seal damage.

[plowsie]

As Pete says, in the area of travel of the fork, pitting can mean damage to seals and leaking so could lead to an MOT failure if the examiner thought they were bad enough I guess - or if there were signs of oil on the forks indicating seal damage.
Yeah, I can understand that, but I have never seen pitted male sections of forks (It's easier to call the two parts male and female :lol:)

[philbut]

Yeah, I can understand that, but I have never seen pitted male sections of forks (It's easier to call the two parts male and female :lol:)

you have never seen the top of my ZZR forks then ;-) It does happen, particularly where bikes aren't used that much and not kept clean - if you use them the forks clean themselves in a way by just moving over the area. The chome will eventually lift and allow rust to form, then you have to get them re-chromed really - its no good just getting out the autosol.

[petevtwin650]

Yeah, I can understand that, but I have never seen pitted male sections of forks (It's easier to call the two parts male and female :lol:)

It used to be a common sight on bikes a few years ago Plowsie, but presumably better quality plating combined with the fact most bikes are toys rather than basic tranport so get looked after better means it doesn't occur that often. A lot of older bikes used to have gaiters fitted to protect them. Of course most USD forks use the mudguard as protection. Better looking solution IMO:rolleyes:

[Kuze]

you have never seen the top of my ZZR forks then ;-) It does happen, particularly where bikes aren't used that much and not kept clean - if you use them the forks clean themselves in a way by just moving over the area. The chome will eventually lift and allow rust to form, then you have to get them re-chromed really - its no good just getting out the autosol.

ACF 50 FTW?

Also as said pitted forks will lead to the seals going fairly constantly so u'd need to replace the forks.

[philbut]

Nah, they aren't too bad, just the odd spot between the yolks, so not in the area of travel - was just an example of how they can become pitted if not kept clean.

[Sosha]

Rub with wd40, still bad knock edges off with bit of wood or something, still rubbish (in area of travel) have seen araldite employed. If all else fails rechrome.

Long as it's not leaking/ too dodgy around seals would think it'll be fine

[caz650s]

I MOT cars and unless the seal is leaking on the day of the test I would pass it .... as long as the damping effect is still ok .

[yorkie_chris]

Ah so if one fork is totally shagged then just make sure there is no oil in that side :-P

[-Ralph-]

Ask Binky, his forks are so furry they are called Tiddles...:D

[caz650s]

Ah so if one fork is totally shagged then just make sure there is no oil in that side :-P

I suppose it may be different on bikes but on cars you would advise on the pitted component but you can't fail it because it looks like it might start leaking fluid in the future .... you are only to check /test components as they are presented on the day ..... if there was no oil in one leg it would fail on lack of damping effect ...
There are lots of grey areas on mot tests ... for instance if you failed a car for faulty wipers or washers .. if they took it round the corner & took the windscreen out you would then have to pass it !!! :)