Leaking and pitted Fork Problem..250 Bandit

[Northpoint]

Well Im having problems with my forks.. One of em was leaking oil so I put it in the shop to get the seals replaced and apparantly the forks are stuffed. The guy in the shop reckons the stone chips are too bad and I need new ones. Problem is I have a 250 Bandit and cant seem to find forks anywhere:argh:
I am tempteed to just put new seals in and see how long they last but it will be an expensive exercise if they leak the first time I ride it...
Any Ideas??

[breakaway]

What is wrong with it? Chrome wearing off? Then get it re-chromed. I looked into it, did some research on prices etc.

AUCKLAND INDUSTRIAL HARDCHROME 2004
246 C JAMES FLETCHER DVE MANGERE AUCKLAND
09 270 3737
Price: $450 + Grinding

OTAHUHU CHROME PLATERS LTD
20 B HUIA RD OTAHUHU AUCKLAND
09 276 9689
Price: $350 + Grinding

OTAHUHU HARD CHROME LTD
20B HUIA RD OTAHUHU AUCKLAND
09 276 4796
Price: $300 + Grinding

[Northpoint]

What is wrong with it? Chrome wearing off? Then get it re-chromed. I looked into it, did some research on prices etc.

AUCKLAND INDUSTRIAL HARDCHROME 2004
246 C JAMES FLETCHER DVE MANGERE AUCKLAND
09 270 3737
Price: $450 + Grinding

OTAHUHU CHROME PLATERS LTD
20 B HUIA RD OTAHUHU AUCKLAND
09 276 9689
Price: $350 + Grinding

OTAHUHU HARD CHROME LTD
20B HUIA RD OTAHUHU AUCKLAND
09 276 4796
Price: $300 + Grinding

Thanks for that. I think getting them re-chromed will do the trick. I was just hoping there was a cheaper option :)

[Defiant]

Geeze, the stone chips must be pretty damn deep?.......sure the shop aint just tryng to score some more work outta ya? where do you live....buy the seals and a 6 pack and i'll come round and help you change them.....they're easy to do.....pm me.:scooter:

[Macstar]

Yeah, I'd get a second opinion. Some pitting can be 'smoothed out' with a sanding block. I had a knick on my fork arm that was causing the seals to leak but was Ok after a very light sand (took 30 seconds).

[Northpoint]

The guy in the shop seems genuine. He said he could just put new seals in but they wouldnt last long. The don't do the re-chroming onsite so I don't think they are trying to get more work outa me. I think I will just have to bite the bullet and get them re-chromed...

[James Deuce]

The major problem with rechroming Suzuki forks for Bandits and Katanas of that era is the plastic collar the damping rod sits in at the bottom of the fork leg. It can't come out and a real hard-rechroming process will dissolve the plastic. Proper Hard-Rechroming is done by very few places in NZ and the only one I'd trust is the company pussy put me on to who's normal business is hard-rechroming oleo legs for top dressing aircraft. Most places that rechrome fork legs are doing decorative chroming (even though they say otherwise), which won't fix your problem.

Get your frame number, beetle into your friendly dealer or service agent and order new ones, ex-Japan. They'll take 8-10 days to arrive and cost around $375 for each stanchion.

[Northpoint]

Thanks for that. What is the company that you would recommend??

[Wasp]

do what i did - write it off and get new forks :D