Topic: Rust on fork tubes

[historicjake]

I'm wondering how bad my forks are.  I know that the rust above the headlight ears is "normal" but what about below.  Can't post a picture, camera is not here, but I have a bit of rust behind the gators.  None in the range of motion of the shocks...but not sure it has ever bottomed out.  Wire brush it clean?  Seal it with something?  Buy new tubes, and if so where?  Forking by Frank? 

How come all the F bikes without gators look so rust free and mine so bad?

[Bob Wessner]

How come all the F bikes without gators look so rust free and mine so bad?

My guess would be because they are visible and accessible and get cleaned as part of routine maintenance.

[Glenn Stauffer]

If the fork tubes are rusty in the range of motion, I'd consider replacing them if the rust is causing the seals to wear and leak.  Otherwise, I'd steel-woold the rusty areas and oil things up well and forget about it.  You're going to get moisture under the gaitors and that will lead to rust.  If there are no gaitors, any moisture is going to evaporate before it does harm - think about chrome fenders, they don't rust just because they get wet unless they stay wet.

[historicjake]

Thanks for the input.  Took them apart and I'm happy to say the corrosion is above the range of motion.  Put them back on and upgraded to progressive springs, new seals etc...

Hope I notice a difference, but it has been so long since I rode it I don't know if I can remember the before...