I am Back, but.....

[SbTx_Rider]

I did a bunch of work on my bike about a year and a half ago, new tires, roadwing, new progressive fork springs. This included a cleanup and repack of the steering head bearings. Test drove it, had a little shimmy in it. I parked it.
I decided I wanted to live and I would not ride it until I got new bearings.
Ordered new bearings.
Then family issues arose, I remodeled my mother in laws home and then we bought it. Moved into it Nov. 2019.
Then Covid struck, work at home, then on July 1, I got the video conference call that I was being released from my duties, but I was being paid until Sept. 1.
Now officially unemployed for the first time in 42 years and collecting unemployment, major bummer. I had a little over 2 years for full retirement benefits from the state. I had worked at one of the local state universities.
Never thought that they would do something like this. I hope that some heads will fall, have to wait for the regents to meet on matters and see how the state legislators feel about it. I know a few of them will not be happy. They might loose the funding entirely. Anyway....

After all of that, I finally got back to working on the bike. Rebuilt the steering head again and installed new All Balls neck bearings. Cleaned up fuel system, got a new battery.
She started right up, but accelerator pump did not work, it was stuck. Manually operated the pump. Started it up again, still no accel pump, shut it down, then major carb puke because of the stuck accel pump. Actuated the pump some more and that cleared up.

Drove up and down the drive, no carb puke!!!

Drove it to get the bike inspected and registered!
Felt great to ride it again. And all of the suspension work made it feel like a new bike.
While I was messing around and cleaning, I noticed some oil spots. I cleaned them up, I had sprayed some ratchet straps near the area, even though I was careful, you never know. The spots did not have a peculiar odor to it. I did not think about it any further.

Yesterday, I did a 180 mile ride. When to fill her up and I noticed it was smoking from the front header, smelt like burning rubber, and there some type of fluid spouge all over it.
I got home and cleaned it up right away. I was worried that it was brake fluid.

After looking at it today, I think that the fork seal blew out!!

Now I get to research on how to and replace the seals. And I will do both tubes.

Oh well... And right now, it is PERFECT daytime riding weather here in central/south Texas...

I have been researching here a little, and suggestions or tricks?
I noticed that some a re recommending all balls seals? Is that a good choice?

Thanks Guys,

Roy

[brianmac]

doo doo happens, but YOU HAVE YOUR ROAD STAR MAN! best damn bike for the $ out there. .

[SbTx_Rider]

So true!
Best thing about riding it again yesterday, I turned 60!

[Tropicalrs]

I hope the All-Balls are good. It is what I have ordered! I have not read any complaints.

[RRS_07RdStar]

I rebuilt my forks (not just seals) in the last couple of years and used All-Balls rebuild kits, I think I got off of Ebay. I've haven't had any leaks or other issues. From what I remember, the parts were of decent quality and fit perfectly. Might be a good time to think about replacing springs while you have forks apart.

Rebuild kit
https://www.allballsracing.com/38-6085.html

Seals
https://www.allballsracing.com/55-120.html

[SbTx_Rider]

Thanks,

When I last repacked the steering, I replace the springs with progressive.

Should I do the bushing kit also?

[SbTx_Rider]

I just stripped it down and the fork seal is "Blown"

Should I go ahead and order a bushing kit too?

[Engineman]

When I went with race tech springs and emulators, I also bought the whole rebuilt seal and bushing kit. Why because I wanted everything to be new and did not want to have to tear it down again for something that should have been replaced when I had it down the first time. I also had about 40,000 miles on it at the time. Have 65,000 with no issues at all.

[RRS_07RdStar]

I just stripped it down and the fork seal is "Blown"

Should I go ahead and order a bushing kit too?

I did mine because I was replacing steering head bearings, fork springs and fork oil, so I already had the front end off. Plus I'm picky, and I thought it seemed like the fork bushings had a little to much play and I had all winter of no riding anyway. I guess it depends on how many miles are on your bike and how ambitious you are about doing your own repairs. If it's a low mileage bike and well maintained, may not be worth the time. But if you didn't change the fork oil for a long time or rode with little or no oil in forks, there could be more than normal wear. The kit isn't that expensive, so its not a bad thing to do.

[SbTx_Rider]

All Balls bushing and seal kits have been ordered.
Now more reading and video research on how to get the job done.

[Engineman]

All Balls bushing and seal kits have been ordered.
Now more reading and video research on how to get the job done.

Thats more like it. You are going to feel much better knowing its done with all new parts.

[Duke]

Sorry to here about being layed-off your job.
I've seen lots of companies laying off employees that were getting close to retirement, and I feel that there should be laws stopping companies from doing this. Oil companies are big at doing just that. I think that it's chicken sh!t that they can get away with that.

"All Balls" repair kits are of good quality that I've have used, and I wouldn't hesitate using them on any of my repairs.

[SbTx_Rider]

Thanks Duke.
I worked for one of the local state universities, in the museum that had been open since the late 60's. With Covid striking, this a caused decrease in sale taxes. The State said to expect at least a 5% budget reduction. The administration that oversaw the museum, their asses puckered up. And they did not want to use any of "Their" money to support the museum. So, they effectively closed it. Just my personal opinion, but I do not think that the New president and his new administration wanted to support it. The museum was consider a "Jewel" for the State of Texas
Way to many politics involved in the whole situation.

And who said that State Universities are "Non-Profit"
Under the new administration, if your department does not make money, you go away, except football.
It is all about the money! And outrageous salaries for football coaches and their staff.
Who cares about teaching anymore?
And on-line learning, give me a break!

[Duke]

I know what you are talking about, yes, it's all about money. The haves will control, and the havenots have no say so.