how would you handle this situation

[edpryce]

Hi all

I have a situation regarding some work on my bike i'd like some opinions on. Situation as follows:

- In October I had my fork seals replaced on my bike. I paid £200.
- I then locked the bike away for winter, having ridden it approx 10miles to storage from the garage and all seemed ok.
- I live in England but my bike was stored in wales so i chose a garage near where I store the bike that was well recommended.
- Different lockdown restrictions between England and Wales meant I was only able to collect my bike this week from storage.
- I have ridden it back to England (circa 100 miles) and have now noticed a large amount of oil coming out of the shock.

I have been unable to get through to the garage after several calls but I understand businesses that are operating are finding it very difficult at present. I have had very good experience with them so far and they may well be saints who rectify it all for free, but am just gauging some opinions as to what people would consider reasonable for me to expect.

What i am wondering is:

- Is any oil leaking from the shock normal after replacement seals? its running down the shock. Instinctively it feels dangerous.
- Would you expect a garage to do the work at their cost to rectify this? It has been 7 months, but the bike hasnt been ridden far and the mileage documents this.
- am I just relying on the good will of the garage at this point?
- It feels unsafe to ride further. Do you its reasonable to ask the garage to collect it? If i had done this journey immediately after the work the same results would have occurred. Or am I just a wally who chose a garage really far from where I lived.

Its a bit of a pain and expense for me to trailer the bike back to the garage and have them look at it. Would you just take it on the chin as a lesson learned and pay someone local to me to do it properly?

Thanks in advance

Edited by rexwexford. on Saturday 13th June 13:10

[AdamIndy]

If they haven’t touched the rear shock then I don’t see how it could be their fault. Just coincidence. Get it sorted locally.

If they have done any work to the shock then I would be getting hold of them one way or another to sort it at their expense.

[rexwexford.]

sorry, to clarify - it was the front shock that was repaired, and the front shock that is now leaking.

They were on their way out before an you could see a residue on the shock that was attracting dirt. But now there is oil running down the shock which is much worse than before the work.

[V8RX7]

I would expect it to to fixed for free after you've returned it

If you CBA to return it, that's your choice

Having had similar happen to me over the years is why I fix my own cars / bikes

[trickywoo]

Any pics?

[edpryce]

yes can add some . I stupidly instinctively wiped it off as soon as i first saw it but will take some now

[V8RX7]

It would be worth googling to see how to make / use a seal saver but on a road bike it's unlikely to be the issue but only takes 5 mins

[Far Cough]

The fork legs should not be wet and it sounds like they have balls'd up the job. Give them a ring and explain the situation when they are back taking calls. I'd expect it redone or refund and go elsewhere if your not confident. Provided only a small amount has leaked out, you'll be fine to ride it gently.

[edpryce]

OK, thanks for the replies all

i'll look into a seal saver and see how intrusive it is. Im mindful not to do anything to it that could be classed as me doing further damage. Its on a transalp but i have only been on road since the work.

No further oil has leaked overnight so there isnt much to photograph now. Here is a video which was taken after a quick wipe down with a rag so there was more oil than shown here.

I should explain, I sent it to a mate that I was talking to - im not chatting to the whole of pistonheads in the video hah

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vspdnr8y9cce2sn/WhatsApp...

[edpryce]

dripping on break cable seen here

[rm163603]

I presume there's no sign of damage/ pitting to the shiny part of the forks?

If they were damaged when the garage fixed them you'd expect them to mention it and possibly mention that the re seal might not fix it.

If they were a bit pitted and / or went a bit rusty while in storage that might explain it.

If the forks are in good nick then sounds like they nicked a seal while reassembling maybe.

[edpryce]

nope the shiny bits seem in good nick. no pitting

[Mike-tf3n0]

Ring them, tell them nicely what is happening and tell them you will email photos, ask them to come back to you when they have seen the pics. I would guess they will ask you to bring the bike back for them to look at and then to offer to fix it, if they don't that is the time to get stroppy and start thinking about trading standards, small claims courts etc. Mostly, if you are polite people will be polite back!

[CousinDupree]

Lots of non OE fork seals are defective or just not fit for that installation.

Take it back and get them to rectify the problem.