Fjr 1300 forks rebuilt - get it done now

[Fjr doc]

More than likely this has been discussed 100 times and many million threads already. But I thought would make one thread to emphasize the fact and just push someone sitting at the edge thinking whtr I should or not etc

Mine only had 14k miles on it. Bushing all chewed up, oil was like exfoliating turbid crap. The infamous fjr fork oil turning to crap from the scrappy bits is true, very true

Because of my low confidence in this work I took it to the local shop (not much around our area) for 75 bucks they rebuilding with parts I bought online. This started out as plan for just changing spring and oil, and after reading all the threads I decided to splurge and get it done since I am doing half the stuff anyways.

I got the spring and oil right for my set up, asked them to do 105 air gap since spring might be tad too stiff for my weight.

Here are the parts you need if your going for full rebuilt


Here is what the bushing looks like after coating gets chewed


Decided to type this while I wait for them to get it done.

[raYzerman]

Looks to me like your bushing teflon is chewed up from the removal process. You shouldn't need bushings at 14k and it really doesn't look that bad (I assume this is the lower one). We've done lots of forks at tech days, usually would recommend changing at 25-30k. Oil gets discoloured (gray) from aluminum oxide and teflon as the bushings wear on the inside of the aluminum fork lowers. Agree with your air gap being bigger. Dust seals can be bought as a kit cheaper than separately, for next time.

[gixxerjasen]

I have no idea why someone wouldn't feel comfortable doing this job themselves.

[HotRodZilla]

Puke. I'm never doing the fork seals on another FJR, if I don't have to. I don't have a vice, the proper tools, or the patience for that messy pain in the ass. I have a job, so, I drop my bike off with my Yamaha guy, and a few hours, like magic, the forks are perfect.

Besides, I wouldn't want to Gixxerjasen my forks and have to send them off to Traxion to be replaced. Lol...

[Fjr doc]

[*]Wish I could have done it myself, end of the day they asked twice the initial quoted amount. They prolly knew I was a soft spoken gullible sucker and easy money but anyways it's done I guess. If I seen it being done I would have tried it. But read many horror stories of not having proper tools and know how and messing up bike. All the rest of the simple work on bike I am pulling it off. For the tech day in 2018 I have kept aside valve checking

[gixxerjasen]

But read many horror stories

If you've read horror stories, then you know why AJ used my name as such...

Besides, I wouldn't want to Gixxerjasen my forks and have to send them off to Traxion to be replaced. Lol...

However AJ, I will have you know that I had a lapse in judgement and went ahead for a full rebuild of the forks on my wife's dirt bike. Everything went according to plan and I did in fact NOT GixxerJasen them.

[Fjr doc]

If this would have costed this much I should send this to some GP or traction, but too late. They charged me an extra 30 bucks for some kinda polishing they said they had to do to clean out. Wth does it even mean

[thompsonian]

"Polishing" is shop term for "bend over, we're going in a bit deeper...."

[wheatonFJR]

Polishing the forks if it is pitted...so it seals better.

I had that done on my '04 by a reputable firm...when I picked them up, he asked..."you ride a lot of gravel, doncha?"

I said...only when following 0Face and petey.

[FeeJeR Fred]

Yeah, if the inner (upper) fork leg is rough at all it will chew up your brand new seals. Good that they did it. Sucks that they charged you for it. They usually just use a scotch brite pad or something similar to make sure they are smooth with no rust or big pits. That is, as long as the fork legs don't have a coating on them (like some dirt bikes do) which the FJR doesn't.

[HotRodZilla]

But read many horror stories

If you've read horror stories, then you know why AJ used my name as such...

Besides, I wouldn't want to Gixxerjasen my forks and have to send them off to Traxion to be replaced. Lol...

However AJ, I will have you know that I had a lapse in judgement and went ahead for a full rebuild of the forks on my wife's dirt bike. Everything went according to plan and I did in fact NOT GixxerJasen them.

Well, my dirt bike forks are easy. My brother has the tools, and they are not the PITA the FJR forks are. I'll do my KTM all day long. Same for the valve check. Look up a valve check on a KTM530. It's so easy, Geek could do it without f@$king it up. Hell, I reshimmed all 4 valves. These two areas are where the FJR is harder than it needs to be.

Like I said, I have a FJR fork guy. Easiest job for me ever. I don't even get oil on my hands!

[wheatonFJR]

When Zilla gets to forkin, he hands off to another man for the job.

[Fjr doc]

Hahaha

I got forked but seems like it was worth it. Waiting for Indian winter to go away. Waiting...... waaaiiittting

[HotRodZilla]

When Zilla gets to forkin, he hands off to another man for the job.

That's only when I'm with you. If you'd stop crying I'd stick around.

[Auburn]

I have no idea why someone wouldn't feel comfortable doing this job themselves.

You do need a couple of special tools to do the job. You can make them, but without them, you cannot reassemble without risking damage. Going to a tech day is a good way to get assistance if they have the tools available.