Fork Gaiters

Hi Boys and Girls.

I am getting a bit bothered about the amount of salt on the UK roads and the possible damage to the chrome part of the forks because of it and the potential of oil leaks. Bought these fork gaiters (link below) after measuring the forks and spent about an hour fitting them securing the top and bottom with cable ties, just the ticket! They work just fine and, in my view compliment the look. Just thought i'd pass on the message. Best regards everyone. Oh I forgot to say that after owning my Swing now for about 3 weeks - I love it!!!
(If the link doesn't work, copy the 12 digit number and paste it in ebay search)


Mark

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221153863275?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

I don't think you will find the chromed section is the problem area. Due to the process it is impervious to corrosion. In the RN we had undercarriage and rotor shaft that were what you call chrome we called fescalised or something similar. The coating is so dense it will not allow anything to penetrate it. I once dipped a chromed section in Nitric Acid and nothing was affected.

If you treat your exposed metal on your Wing with ACF50 or FS365 both rust preventers you wont go far wrong.

From experience the metal under the rubber seal on the front forks ARE prone to corrosion. The rubber splits exposing the corroded metal.

Hi Doug.

Ah yes, the Senior Service! I'm just about to retire after 37 years in the RAF and 25 or so years on SAR (both Wessex and Sea King). I just remember my old biking days and the fescalised bit always used to get a bit rusty in places, well more like rust pin holes and eventually cause the seals to fail (foreign grade chrome vs Aircraft grade). I know what you mean about the other type of corrosion under the seals, I've seen that before. I know times have changed and quality has improved over the years, anyway, they will be much easier to remove if I change my mind - snip the cable ties and carefully remove with a sharp blade! Haha!!

All the best

Mark

Hi, Mark, last time I mentioned fescalising to someone they just looked blankly!!!! Apologies.

Like you I spent some time in SAR. Eight years at 819, HMS Gannet, Ayrshire. SAR Aircrewman. Been left 20 years now but the smell of burnt aviation gasoline from the exhaust of the Wessex and mighty King still wafts by.

The FS365 stuff is great stuff. Better than Dubs 40!!!!!

Sorry i cant add to this nostalgia as i have never been an air crewman, mind you if you keep yer bike clean and gie it a regular check ye should have nae trouble. Did youse fleet air arm heroes no check yer choppers afore ye took off?

drewsieboy wrote:

Sorry i cant add to this nostalgia as i have never been an air crewman, mind you if you keep yer bike clean and gie it a regular check ye should have nae trouble. Did youse fleet air arm heroes no check yer choppers afore ye took off?

Haha, I love it!

Fork covers---in US---Dennis Kirk about $20, wrap around=not pulling fork legs off. Work great, have been using them for years. Squirt of WD40 around top part of seals after washing. I ride/have ridden in Salt/Mud/dirt.....no seal trouble in years

Fork gaitors are a great way to protect the seals. Although fork legs may be hard and resistant enough to withstand stone chips, salt and dead insects, all this junk will keep sticking to the legs for a certain amount and this will work like sandpaper on the fork seals while riding.

Gaiters may not look as sexy as naked legs, they assure longevity of the fork seals.

Hi All

Curious about the ACF50 so I bought a can to check it out, arrived today and will give some of the Swing a good coating. One slight problem - done my back in, so can't do much at the mo . Need to sort myself out before the grand kids turn up for Christmas!

Take it easy

Mark

Many years ago, I had a pair of simple gaiters that were basically hemmed vinyl rectangles with a couple of snaps. They simply wrapped around the forks and rested on top of the dust seals. They seemed to do a good job but, alas, I haven't seen their like in a long time. Although, they would be very easy to make...

I am a firm believer of gaiters too. Unfortunately we only have crocks in OZ. I like the squish squish noise they make.

I have used old inner tubes( freebies) on dirt bikes , cheap and nasty but 100% effective against mud and stones.

Truck inner tubes (freebies) can be cut for superb mud flaps that dont catch on anything but resilient enough to ward of water. Great on the front of high mudguards too.

Salted roads...??????

That alone would make me ride carefully in the UK. If you came off you already would have salt rubbed in your wounds, without the ribbing.

I wonder what salted bitumen would taste like? I suppose a well seasoned limey would know. I find the ordinary stuff rather, well, ordinary.

I just realised after reading the last post a couple of times that I am starting to sound like Meldrew.


I do apologise.

Having salt rubbed in the wound isn't the problem, it's the bloody gravel mixed with it that causes the most pain!!

Have to say that after 3 scoots, I have never fallen off or dropped, I am rash free! But in my younger days have had some spectacular crashes on a CB175, boniville and aCB750! I intend to keep the swing rash free! Take it easy. Mark

Hi all

Well after only 6 months of fitting the gaiters they have split, very disapointed with the quality. So back to the naked look for me with ACF50. Now there's a thought I can't get out of my mind!!

Happy Days everyone

Mark

Cut them off and replace them with a pair of black plastic fork protectors like I have on my Silver Wing, they take only a few minutes to fit and are secured with a single cable/zip tie on each lower fork leg.

Meldrew wrote:

a pair of black plastic fork protectors...take only a few minutes to fit and are secured with a single cable/zip tie.

Meldrew does it again - says something useful, I mean.  

On your mention of these, I found them on Ebay. My two Burgmen had them fitted as standard, and not wanting the pitting I've experienced on on previous bikes, I was concerned that the Swing had no such protection.

Another niggle sorted. Ta very much.