EXUP Worldwide

Can anyone tell me if it's possible to mess up the assembly of upside-downers so that the stanchion gets scratched up - even 18 months later?

I had a fork seal replaced a bit over 18 months ago, and immediately afterwards the leg got scratched up bad enough to make the leak much worse than it had been. So I had to get the leg replaced - over £200 in all, and since then have been pretty good about cleaning dirt off them. Now I notice the leg's scratched up again - very fine, but all round and enough to leave a small ring of oil on the leg.

First time round I had to accept - reluctantly - might have been coincidence. But now the new leg's gone, while the old one is still original, still with original seal, with no scratches and it never leaks.

The only thing I can think of it that the last trip the bike did was a few miles back from where I slid it down the road - it was on that side, but the fork didn't hit the ground.

So what's up?

The only thing that come to mind is that there is a scratch/burr/gouge on the inside of the fork leg. It would have to be just under the seals for it to scratch.

sounds like worn bushes.

In the upper part of the fork there are busehes/sliders that wear out relatively easily, usually this results in seals having a much reduced lifespan, however it possible that they are causing the tube to bear on a point leading to the scratching identified.