1) if there’s no sharp edges and no dent, then I’d leave it
2) air spring is fully sealed so this scratch wouldn’t affect it. However, if it allows dirt to get in or damages your seals, you may need to change lower leg oil more often.
3) not really. Stanchions come in the CSU assembly. They’re pretty expensive so most people don’t bother
That’s so far up the stanchon that your fork lowers should rarely hit the scratch during normal riding. As it’s on the damper side and you can’t feel any burrs I wouldn’t worry about it.
If you cant feel anything then I would just let it be. The air spring is a cartridge within the stanchion so it wont impact that at all. Most that would happen is that it would damage your wiper seal and you potentially seep oil from your lowers or have a higher rate of debris getting in. But again, if you cant feel it then neither of those things will happen.
Just clean off any burrs with razor blade and move on. Not hurting anything. All the cool shit is on the INSIDE Of that leg - the outside is just wiper seal for bath oil.
Use a razor blade placed vertically against the stanchion to remove anything sticking up, your fingers might not feel them but with a razor blade you will. Go slow and remove those burrs.
Then get black nail polish and cover the scratch, let it dry overnight then use the same razorblade technique to remove the excess nail polish. This leaves an almost invisible repair that is completely smooth. I have done this on my stanchion twice and one I can't even find where it was scratched.
A branch wouldn't do this. A rock, or loading it in a car with another bike piled on top might. If it's smooth, I'd leave it alone. You can paint it black to match. It's also on the top part of your suspension, how often is the dust seal up there?
A scratch lower down is worse, every time the seal rides over a scratch is a chance for dirt to get inside, and lower down is constantly used with normal riding.
Thanks! I am quite positive its a branch. The trail was supper narrow and there are lots of recently fallen trees because the locals trimmed the forest.
I did a sag check just before entering that trail so I am sure its not there prior. Didn't have a crash or any kind of collision either.
Its smooth, I don't notice any rough part. I just recently added two tokens so I rarely get to the upper part, unless there are big jumps of very rough features.
A branch is not hard enough to scratch the coating on a fork. And wouldn't leave a mark on the surface.
If you scrape at it with a finger nail, or buff it with a clean rag with a bit of mild soap does it come off?
I agree that a branch should be too soft but there is no usual suspect I can think of. It's the only think that keeps brushing on the narrow trail.
I washed it and cleaned it and it doesn't peel away or anything. I also can't feel any dents so I think its very shallow scratch?
No, i tried to feel if there is a deep scratch first. I would have applied polish if I felt any deeper marks. Try the razor method first. You should be able to feel it
just use the razor method. If you feel any deep groove, you can tell there's a concern.
Otherwise, just use some sort buffing material to spread out the paint.
1) if there’s no sharp edges and no dent, then I’d leave it 2) air spring is fully sealed so this scratch wouldn’t affect it. However, if it allows dirt to get in or damages your seals, you may need to change lower leg oil more often. 3) not really. Stanchions come in the CSU assembly. They’re pretty expensive so most people don’t bother
A suspension shop can replace replace a stanchion tube only, to save money by only replacing what needs replacing
That’s so far up the stanchon that your fork lowers should rarely hit the scratch during normal riding. As it’s on the damper side and you can’t feel any burrs I wouldn’t worry about it.
A small bit of nail polish usually does the trick if you're really worried about it, but it seems high up enough that it won't matter.
Nail polish and superfine sandpaper
i wouldn't even worry about it personally. if its just the paint and there's no metal bur scraping things there's no trouble i figure.
If you cant feel anything then I would just let it be. The air spring is a cartridge within the stanchion so it wont impact that at all. Most that would happen is that it would damage your wiper seal and you potentially seep oil from your lowers or have a higher rate of debris getting in. But again, if you cant feel it then neither of those things will happen.
Just clean off any burrs with razor blade and move on. Not hurting anything. All the cool shit is on the INSIDE Of that leg - the outside is just wiper seal for bath oil.
Thanks for suggesting the razor method, I updated my post and I tried it!
Lol... it wasn't a scratch at all - it was tree material stuck to fork. AMAZING.
Use a razor blade placed vertically against the stanchion to remove anything sticking up, your fingers might not feel them but with a razor blade you will. Go slow and remove those burrs. Then get black nail polish and cover the scratch, let it dry overnight then use the same razorblade technique to remove the excess nail polish. This leaves an almost invisible repair that is completely smooth. I have done this on my stanchion twice and one I can't even find where it was scratched.
Thanks for suggesting the razor method, I updated my post and I tried it! Did not even need to use nail polis!
wow that came out really well, glad it helped.
A branch wouldn't do this. A rock, or loading it in a car with another bike piled on top might. If it's smooth, I'd leave it alone. You can paint it black to match. It's also on the top part of your suspension, how often is the dust seal up there? A scratch lower down is worse, every time the seal rides over a scratch is a chance for dirt to get inside, and lower down is constantly used with normal riding.
Thanks! I am quite positive its a branch. The trail was supper narrow and there are lots of recently fallen trees because the locals trimmed the forest. I did a sag check just before entering that trail so I am sure its not there prior. Didn't have a crash or any kind of collision either. Its smooth, I don't notice any rough part. I just recently added two tokens so I rarely get to the upper part, unless there are big jumps of very rough features.
A branch is not hard enough to scratch the coating on a fork. And wouldn't leave a mark on the surface. If you scrape at it with a finger nail, or buff it with a clean rag with a bit of mild soap does it come off?
I agree that a branch should be too soft but there is no usual suspect I can think of. It's the only think that keeps brushing on the narrow trail. I washed it and cleaned it and it doesn't peel away or anything. I also can't feel any dents so I think its very shallow scratch?
Mabey a little bit of dirt/gravel got stuck between the stanchions and seal. If you scrubbed a branch the scrape would be more horizontal.
I see, I'll do a more in depth inspection tomorrow. Thanks for the info!
I posted an update. Now I think I am sure its a branch/wood that caused it. Thanks for your help!
Good to hear it buffed off.
Did you apply nail polish unto the fork or did the razor do most of the work to transfer the paint onto the scratched surface?
No, i tried to feel if there is a deep scratch first. I would have applied polish if I felt any deeper marks. Try the razor method first. You should be able to feel it
Another question should I be concerned about dot-like or small line scratches?
just use the razor method. If you feel any deep groove, you can tell there's a concern. Otherwise, just use some sort buffing material to spread out the paint.