front pipe fork - chrome condition

[antonypo]

After removing the gators to replace the fork seals on my usa k4 I noticed scouring on the chrome pipe forks. After further inspection and removing the cushion fork covers, I could see why.
Someone in the past had added a chrome washer underneath the circlip on each fork. As this did not belong it has moved about over the years and scoured the chrome.
My question is when do these become illegal to ride/use? As long as the new seals do their job is it ok to continue using them as at £260 each I don't want to replace if not necessary.

Secondly, can anyone tell me the correct way up for the new fork seals? Taking the old out destroyed them and other than a slight hump on one end they look exactly the same either way up.
Thanks
Antony

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

Anthony
On the fork seal there is a spring type ring that goes at the bottom,as for the fork tubes as long as the seal don't leak they are fine.Mot ers might know different as been out of the UK for 14 years now and rules may have changed
Cheers
Bitsa

[Trigger]

Not sure were this washer is on your bike.
Forks will not pass a MOT if 1) they are bent 2) if they leak 3) if any mounts are broken 4) if they are not operating in the way they should.

[Green1]

K1 forks have a washer after the fork seal before the circlip

Mick

[Trigger]

K1 forks have a washer after the fork seal before the circlip

Mick

So do K0 and early K2

[Green1]

You just looked that up smart ass

Mick

[Trigger]

You just looked that up smart ass

Mick

Nope, i have a set of K0, K1 and K2 at Philpots which i took apart last week.

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

Trigs right after the k2 they did not fit the washer
Cheers
Bitsa

[Trigger]

What i am not understanding Antonypo. Is you say a chrome washer under the gators scouring the chrome pipe forks???
Not making sense of this washer. Are you saying that it is on the outside?

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

Agree Trig the washer was located on the top off the seal under the circlip.There is no way that it would run against the tube, the discolouring is down to old age like most of the old gits club
Cheers
Bitsa

[Green1]

When I bought mine the seal wasn't seated properly so the  circlip put a lovely gouge in the tube about an inch long.

Mick

[Trigger]

When I bought mine the seal wasn't seated properly so the  circlip put a lovely gouge in the tube about an inch long.

Mick

Good point Mick. I see what he means now.

[Green1]

I think I took the washer out last time and replaced the seals with thicker ones.
Supposedly to make them last longer
Doesn't work as they have been weeping since I fitted them.

Mick

[Bitsa (Ralph Wright - RIP)]

Sorry guys they do not leak seap or whatever unless they are knackered sorry to be blunt and will say with caution the replicas are just fine.Bought some fitted them and for a member of the grumpy old gits club I seem to be happy with them will probably bite me in the arse later.
Cheers
Bitsa

[Green1]

Knowing me I probably overfilled them I always get confused when the amounts are in CC

Mick