Dirty fork oil syndrome

[KB112]

I just changed my fork springs with right under 10 hrs on the bike. I was happy to find that the outer fork oil looked fine, it was mostly clear with some streaks which I would expect on a brand new fork.

I have noticed that If I torque my lower triple clamp to 9nm instead of 12nm it feels smoother. Im not really sensitive to suspension, but at 12nm im pretty sure I can feel it binding. As an experiment, try loosening the lower bolts and comparing the fork action to the stock 12nm. 9nm is pretty loose so if you run it this way you may want to safety wire or put a dab of silicone on the bolts to see if they back out.

This is on a 17' 300rr RE

[isaltyko]

glad I read this thread- '16 OC forks with nasty oil coming out every 20 hrs.
at 60 hrs I looked in the outer tubes and found this

[Enmerdeur]

Get them hard anodized and put in some new bushings. I know it's a bit of a pain but it's areal fix

[isaltyko]

decided to look in the shock as well, and what do you know...
angry email to beta
I guess its time for a fox shock

[isaltyko]

Got a reply from Beta USA from a nice man named Tim Pilg
apparently this wear pattern is normal and its just the color getting worn off..
and oil contamination is because of oil.. Beta uses motul
guess I'll try it at the next change.

[nigelbates]

Not sure I believe that

[newbeta]

Well it could be "normal" in the sense that it is common

[thecat]

It doesn't take that many hours for the anodizing to start to wear.
You have to look really carefully to identify the wear, a small mirror on a stick, and a torch help. But most people will miss it as its near the middle of the tube.
Once the coating has gone you get dirty grey oil at the oil change time. This is aluminium (for us UK guys) in the oil, and the fork wears more rapidly.
Eventually you end up with front to back play in the assembled fork leg.
The wear occours on on the rear of the tube around the lower triple clamp area.
Funny thing is they still work really well, but it simply cant be right that the fork tubes wear out so soon. Mine is MY16 300RR

[twowheels]

Got a reply from Beta USA from a nice man named Tim Pilg
apparently this wear pattern is normal and its just the color getting worn off..
and oil contamination is because of oil.. Beta uses motul
guess I'll try it at the next change.

In the meantime, we offer a hard anodizing service ...

[Darkside]

In the meantime, we offer a hard anodizing service ...

for the race model marzocchi's also?