New scratches on front fork stanchions

[balky1]

Hi!

I've recently noticed new scratches on the stanchions, in line with the fork movement. Some are deep enough so I can feel them with my fingernails, but no oil leakage through. Any ideas why are they showing up? Bad bushings? Or something not to concern about?
I know there is oil in the forks, I've changed it 2 years ago and it didn't leak out. I know the oil is old, but I hadn't ridden it for year and a half so the oil has maybe 2-3000 km. Also, the bike has 23000 km and stock oil seals and bushings in the fork.

[chiz]

You MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN to clean the stanchion's off when you first started riding it again dragging some dirt down inside Pop the wipers up and clean out area... replace bushes grind stanchion's and hard chrome over Christmas if the scratches are a bother.
Chiz

[balky1]

You MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN to clean the stanchion's off when you first started riding it again dragging some dirt down inside Pop the wipers up and clean out area... replace bushes grind stanchion's and hard chrome over Christmas if the scratches are a bother.
Chiz

Thx!

I usually clean them often to prevent any damage from dirt to the seals. But I will remove the wipers to clean it.
Like I said, they don't present any problem since there is no oil leakage and oil seals are doing fine. If I understood you correctly, it is possible to grind the stanchions if there are deeper scratches to regain function? I didn't know that, I always thought they need to be smooth and shiny.

[FJ1100mjk]

There's much information on the Internet regarding removing (or reducing), and even filling in scratches on your fork tubes. Just Google the topic. Filter through the info to derive the best approach to what you have. A warning though, the chrome plating is not all that thick, and if you are not careful, you can "buff" right through it.

I have buffed out minor scratches successfully, that might have been problematic to the life of new seals, if they were not addressed.

Good luck!

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^^^^ Space above provided for Mr. I Always Get the Last Word In's reponse 

[chiz]

Yes you can grind and re- hard chrome at a business that does this for for heavy construction equipment They can straighten old thick wall stanchion's as well modern thin wall like the FJ that are easily dented in the straightening process has to be done by someone that specialise in this.
Chiz

http://www.nahardchrome.com/

[balky1]

Thank you all!
Now I can continue to ride peacefully, knowing there are other solutions than paying some 300-400 bucks for new stanchions, if needed.