coating rubbing off fork tubes
 

have just removed the forks off my 2010 ec300 and have noticed on the front of the fork tube on both sides that the black coating seems to be rubbing off and turning silver. this is close to the top, near the seals.

Anyone know what could be causing this, should i be worried or is this normal?

It's normal - the coating is very, very thin...

jeff

I dont think jap forks have the coating, so that will be why you wouldnt have heard about it.
On my marzocchi forks, I think the coating it Titanium Nitride, but it wears off from normal fork operation.

From what I was told it is because the bushes are slightly too tight.
Not sure if it is true but when I had my suspension done he reckons he fixed it.
I have to admit I have not noticed any more coating getting removed.
Cheers Mark

Normal, but still be sure your forks are not under any stress when the axel and Tclamps are tightened. So far the coating on my '07 Zokes is intact at 125 hrs. with carefull fork alignment, Tclamp torque and clean wipers.

Mine is wearing off my 07 but didn't start till several hundred hours of use. They still smash through stuff just as well.

thanks. i do try to set the forks properly when replacing the wheel, and used to remove the wiper and clean all the dirt out under it on my old bike, but these wipers are so tight in the forks that i have not been able to pry them off yet

The nitrate coating is not intended to be permanent only to aid in break in to reduce friction when the forks are new.

When the bike is new a good errent spray with carb cleaner will remove some of it as well so be careful.

Yesterday, I noticed the coating has came off the front of both of my forks as well.

If the coating was only meant for break-in, then are the forks chrome plated as well, under the nitride?

cannot answer your question about the chrome, but i have noticed that the original dust seals on the forks are super tight, you can actually hear them squeeking sometimes.

I took my bike for a revalve and got the mech. to replace the seals and it is a completely different bike. Apparently the rubber reacts with degreasers and dries out.

He replaced them with ktm seals as they are easier available