I would never separate the tubes, without also replacing the seals. But, I agree, one could and hope that it doesn’t start leaking on you. If mine starts leaking in a few hours, then maybe that is what they did. You can see the top of the tubes fairly easy without separating them. Did they use some form of inspection scope to get down inside and photograph the internal detail? I do not know. Nor do I know what constituted the “inspection”. All I was told was that they were inspected and photographed. It is my assumption that the tubes were not separated, and I assume that was based on the quality of the oil – after such a few hours since the last replacement. The contaminated springs, are/were contaminated with grease/oil from the factory. That is what Beta told me – and they were most prevalent on the 2016 models. The solution (as described by Beta) was a thorough cleaning of the springs, tubes, and internal components at the first oil change. Did my dealer do that? I do not think so, because it was not mentioned.
To satisfy my own piece of mind, I had already decided to drain some of the oil out of the outer tubes before I take it back in again. If it looks like a Chocolate Malt again, and the Dealer says he ‘inspected” it and found that the oil was as clean as the last time they replaced it – then we will know one of us is not telling the truth. I will give them the benefit of the doubt until then. Still, as I have said before, I do not see a lot of web traffic complaining about the issue. If there were, then I would have expected Beta to have issued some TSB or something describing the issue and the resolution (no matter what it was). But, other than this thread, it is remarkably quiet. Perhaps it is as others have suggested, working on your own bikes is a lost art.
Twowheels, I think you made a pretty safe bet. I also expect the fluid to resemble something other than fork oil after 25 hours or so. The bigger unknown, is what will be the Dealer’s (and possibly Beta’s) response. We shall see.
joe