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| entillzar | | Set |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 02/07/2013 | | Posts | : | 3 | | Location | : | Atherstone, Warwickshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 06 Jul 2013 - 18:17 Post title : Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) | | | Hi Folks,
First post so I hope its worthy,
I have noticed that quite a bit of water can collect and sit inside the chrome fork shrouds between the drain hole and the bottom of the shroud and start rusting!! not to mention perish the fork seals, rotting the fork tube and seal clip....
Having studied the situation, This is mostly due to the drain hole being on the inner sides of the forks and not at the bottom (where I would say should be the logical place to allow water to drain out).
NB: if the side drain hole becomes blocked (and it aint big anyway) the whole shroud fills up!!
I found this out purely by accident after washing the bird and parking up in the garage for a week or two, on my return I sat on the bike and needed to haul it backwards a little, so I yanked up on the bars and red rusty soapy water shot out the top of the shrouds....
now I own a couple of classic bikes as well as my 1700 Storm(abs), one is 42 years old, has full metal fork shrouds, and a drain hole at the lowest point at the bottom back of the piece that sits on top of the lower forks, now this makes sense.....
so why would Triumph miss this kind of important detail do you think?
Anyone else noticed?
my work around is this, after washing or riding in the rain (UK weather) I sit on the bike and pump the front end up and down several times, dry off and repeat until nothing more comes out, I also keep a regular check that the drain hole is clear of crud.
However, I am still not convinced this is entirely sufficient but as the shrouds are fitted so tightly I as yet have not figured a way to lift them off the fork lowers without causing damage to the chrome.
anyone taken them off without damaging them?
finally, my concern is this, due to the shrouds hiding this issue, for anyone who hasn't noticed are their fork tubes and seal being compromised?
In any case, this could also cause an on road failure, under load/braking and likely to cause injury to the rider.
Cheers, Slade
| Cheers Slade
T'Bird Storm 1700 (abs) '11
Honda 350Four '71
Honda 550Four '77
"MY garage is My Cave for Bikes, Tools and Parts thereof, Not for parking YOUR car in"
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 06 Jul 2013 - 18:24 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: entillzar) | | | Hi and welcome. It is a good point for a first post. To be honest I never even thought about a problem or even that there is a drain hole in them. I shall certainly give mine a check. After riding for over a week in heavy rain in Euroland I can only assume these thing will have filled to the brim.
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| davetac1 | | Thunderbird | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,379 | | Location | : | Haverhill, Ma., United States |
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| | Posted : 06 Jul 2013 - 19:09 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: mat1600) | | | Just exactly where is this drain hole??Like Mat,I didn't know there was one either.Ya got any pictures of it??? Dave!!!
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| entillzar | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 02/07/2013 | | Posts | : | 3 | | Location | : | Atherstone, Warwickshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 06 Jul 2013 - 20:35 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: entillzar) | | | Hi,
Ok, please understand I have a 2011 storm, don't know if the earlier years or current 1600 is the same but as they share so many parts i'd say its worth a look.
So if you look at the top edge of the lower fork on each side where the shroud fits to the top of it, follow it round to the flat groove cast into the lower fork, not the shroud (looks a bit like a small screwdriver pry point) and that's the drain hole. they face each other on the opposing leg.
now you've found it imagine a horizontal line going from it towards the radiator level with the ground, notice how much of the shroud is below that line......
that's your water level line/content inside the shroud....
here's the tester.. poor soapy water down the fork leg and see if you get a trickle of water from the groove you found earlier, if it doesn't its blocked.... now sit on the bike, front brake on and pump the front end up and down....see what comes out.
when I found mine blocked I got my pressure washer out, and with the nozzle up close to the groove, did short sharp blasts until the soapy water bubbled out the top of the shroud.
please note, the left leg will be the worst as our bikes sit full lock left on the sidestand.
once unblocked the next stage is only for the strong/brave or mad (maybe all 3 tbh) as I do not have an airline at home to push the remaining water out.
after doing the front end bounce, to ensure I got all I could out of the shroud, I stood the left hand side of the bike, side stand down as a pivot, grabbed the bars, full lock right, pulled the bike up and back so the front end was clean off the ground.
I found the balance point of the back wheel and side stand, then waited for the water to drain from the left fork.
once happy i then turned full lock left and waited again.
drastic, not for the faint hearted but effective.
and a dance I have got quite used to after every wash........
| Cheers Slade
T'Bird Storm 1700 (abs) '11
Honda 350Four '71
Honda 550Four '77
"MY garage is My Cave for Bikes, Tools and Parts thereof, Not for parking YOUR car in"
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| mat1600 | | Thunderbird | | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,596 | | Location | : | Bridlington, Democratic Independant State of Yorkshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 06 Jul 2013 - 23:37 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: entillzar) | | | I'm guessing your not 5'10'' and weigh in the same as a wet cabbage. 
| My first natural instinct is to breathe. My second is to evade tax's.
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| Agent86 | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 17/02/2012 | | Posts | : | 361 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 07 Jul 2013 - 02:38 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: mat1600) | | | Sounds like a ok idea just hope the side stand has enough strength to cope with this ritualistic dance you & your steed enjoy after a wash. Funny how some people are very astute & notice everything from big to the smaller details, minor things most miss, & this also applies to life in general. Must admit I hadn't noticed the trapping of water but will check it out next wash. Good pick up.
| Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity .
2012 storm, re - ground cams, ported head, power commander, short tors, high flow filter & Meerkat cat bypass..
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| rabbi | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 28/02/2012 | | Posts | : | 926 | | Location | : | Geelong, Victoria, Australia |
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| | Posted : 07 Jul 2013 - 02:44 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: entillzar) | | | Yeah I was wondering myself why I was getting a bit of water on my face on a dry day going on a ride after I had washed and chamois the bird earlier, they do collect water and when the fork compresses the water is forced out, normally I just use my petite 110kgs to rock the bike and force the water out.
| "Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably why so few people engage in it"
Henry Ford
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| ThunderRat | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 08/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,056 | | Location | : | Castle Hill, NSW, Australia |
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| | Posted : 07 Jul 2013 - 06:19 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: rabbi) | | | It gives me the shits as I notice it after I wash and polish the bike and then get water marks on the chrome. I get my garden leaf blower and let the air blast get the water out. It also get the water out of the engine cooling fins and other hard to reach places.
| "I started life with nothing and still have most of it left"
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| davetac1 | | Thunderbird | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,379 | | Location | : | Haverhill, Ma., United States |
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| | Posted : 07 Jul 2013 - 14:59 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: ThunderRat) | | | Stop stealin my secrets!!  That's exactly what I've been doin on ALL MY BIKES for a number of years now and for the same reasons you mentioned.It works pretty good,doesn't it??? Dave!!!
| | Post edited by davetac1 on 07 Jul 2013 - 16:04 |
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| ThunderRat | | Jupiter | | | | Reg. Date | : | 08/03/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,056 | | Location | : | Castle Hill, NSW, Australia |
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| | Posted : 08 Jul 2013 - 09:23 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: davetac1) | | | I now even have a battery powered blower which is perfect for getting water off the bike and it only takes a few minutes.Let's keep it as our secret!!!
| "I started life with nothing and still have most of it left"
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| wizard | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 07/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 430 | | Location | : | St Neots, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 08 Jul 2013 - 20:17 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: entillzar) | | | I too have noticed this as mine actually spits red water on to the tank every now and then.
I have found I can drain one side by pushing the lead end of a very small plastic cable tie up the groove under the shroud, this releases the miniscus of the water and it drains out (usually about an egg-cup full in there). Unfortunately this doesn't work for some reason on the other leg (dont have an airline so haven't found a simple way of achieving this yet).
I spray WD40 in there from time to time to reduce the corrosion, not ideal but better than nothing.
Dont push anything metal or sharp in there or you will scratch the ally leg or chrome shroud then you will have more corrosion
| It is the job of every senior manager to agree to a task then find someone who hasn't got time to do it!
1981 Yamaha RD50MX
1982 Suzuki GP100E
1978 Honda CB400 Dream
1987 Kawasaki GPX750R
1989 Honda CBR1000FK
2010 Triumph Thunderbird 1600
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| davetac1 | | Thunderbird | | | Reg. Date | : | 06/09/2010 | | Posts | : | 8,379 | | Location | : | Haverhill, Ma., United States |
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| | Posted : 08 Jul 2013 - 21:52 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: ThunderRat) | |
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| gwight | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 26/04/2011 | | Posts | : | 761 | | Location | : | Broken Hill, N.S.W., Australia |
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| | Posted : 08 Jul 2013 - 23:06 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: ThunderRat) | | | ThunderRat wrote:
It gives me the shits as I notice it after I wash and polish the bike and then get water marks on the chrome. I get my garden leaf blower and let the air blast get the water out. It also get the water out of the engine cooling fins and other hard to reach places. |
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I noticed this quite awhile ago, water stains etc., started using duct tape prior to washing (sticky mess on forks), then started using plastic film with insulation tape over it. There's no drain point that I can see, the flat groove in the outer tube is the location for a pin punch to remove the Chrome Cap prior to removal. Guido.
| | Post edited by gwight on 08 Jul 2013 - 23:21 |
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| entillzar | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 02/07/2013 | | Posts | : | 3 | | Location | : | Atherstone, Warwickshire, United Kingdom |
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| | Posted : 20 Jun 2024 - 09:34 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: entillzar) | | | Well, well we'll, how time flies!! We are now 9 years down the line from my o.p. and the little hole became blocked up after parking the bird under a tree, managed to pop the shroud off and wow, loads of rust inside but no damage to original seals and dust cover, quick wipe over, scrape the rust out of the shroud and tapped it back on.
I am however going to pull the front end off this winter and replace the shrouds with gaiters, now that the old girl is getting on a bit need to protect the forks better.
Still running NoCat1700Map18lesspoping.hex tune after all this time
| Cheers Slade
T'Bird Storm 1700 (abs) '11
Honda 350Four '71
Honda 550Four '77
"MY garage is My Cave for Bikes, Tools and Parts thereof, Not for parking YOUR car in"
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| Leethal | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 6,572 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 20 Jun 2024 - 21:53 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: entillzar) | | | And your third post at least you remembered your password 
Welcome back
| Experience is something you get just after you needed it 
1600,Foran Razorbacks, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Nitron R3 shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
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| LeT | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 12/09/2023 | | Posts | : | 5 | | Location | : | Switzerland |
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| | Posted : 21 Jun 2024 - 20:08 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: entillzar) | | | I drilled 3mm holes in the shrouds so, when fitted, they sit level with the top of the fork lowers. After washing, the water drains out by itself. I squirt some WD40 down the gap between the shrouds and the stanchions for good measure. The holes are barely noticeable because they are at the back of the forks. I decided it was worth it to save the rust problem I've read about here and on other forums. The inside of my left shroud was pretty horrible so I'm glad I did this.
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| mexicanbob | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 11/08/2014 | | Posts | : | 106 | | Location | : | Eskdale, Victoria, Australia |
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| | Posted : 24 Jun 2024 - 10:30 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: LeT) | | | What a coincidence, washed my bike a week ago and noticed
yesterday there was rusty water mark down the left fork leg
Guess I'll have to drill some holes 
| Badges! We don need no steenkin badges
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| mexicanbob | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 11/08/2014 | | Posts | : | 106 | | Location | : | Eskdale, Victoria, Australia |
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| | Posted : 28 Jun 2024 - 06:00 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: entillzar) | | | How do you "pop"the shrouds off? I suspect with a flat nosed punch ,or would screwdriver leverage in the detent below the shroud do the job???
| Badges! We don need no steenkin badges
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| Leethal | | Zeus | | | | Reg. Date | : | 24/01/2011 | | Posts | : | 6,572 | | Location | : | Australia |
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| | Posted : 28 Jun 2024 - 06:24 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: mexicanbob) | | | It is pretty difficult with the wheel and mudguard on. I made a tool from brass so it doesn't damage the chrome, it locates in that detent and requires a firm tap with a small hammer to get it started. i use a piece of shaped pine to tap the shroud back on, again without damage. Drilling a hole would disturb the chrome.
I always use my garden blower to get the water out of that spot after washing the bike.
| Experience is something you get just after you needed it
1600,Foran Razorbacks, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Nitron R3 shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
| | Post edited by Leethal on 28 Jun 2024 - 06:25 |
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| mexicanbob | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 11/08/2014 | | Posts | : | 106 | | Location | : | Eskdale, Victoria, Australia |
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| | Posted : 28 Jun 2024 - 13:07 Post title : Re: Front Fork shroud drain hole - 1700 STORM (abs) (Re: Leethal) | | | Thanks Lee I'll give it a go tomorrow
| Badges! We don need no steenkin badges
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