Fork link bushes

[Peterp]

Should the steel bush move/swivel inside the nylon one or be tight. What allows the links to move on the bolt apart from sheer weight and force, there is no way to grease the bolt after assembly.
Sorry to keep asking questions, soon have it back together and leave you all in peace.

[Warkton Tornado No.1]

Prior to assembling into place within the fork boots, the steel tube should be tested for ‘fit’ within the bush within the link. The bush bore will only achieve it’s intended size after being pressed into the link whereas the steel tube remains at it’s manufactured size even after assembly when it is clamped by the slight flexibility of the fork boot via the pivot bolts being torqued up.

The test of fit should be snug but allow for rotation. A little bit of ‘sticktion’ is alright I believe & preferential to a sloppy fit. The steel tubes can often be polished up with a Scotch-Brite pad which will make it not ‘too polished’ IMO as the retention of some lubrication is a good idea.

As for the lubrication, ideas may differ somewhat. My current understanding is that it is generally accepted in the automotive industry for non-metallic bushes to best have a silicon type lubrication as other types can make the material swell.

I hope my response helps as I sense your trepidation in asking! It would have been purely as a cost cutting exercise that the ability to re-lube the pivots was removed from SI to SIII, but the earlier type can be fitted to later forks. I have known people do so but I’ve never felt the need due to any concern about obviating wear, although as I live in an area where potholes are breeding, time will tell. Personally, I have used Oilite bushes in the past & they have worked well, although I do know how they should be fitted correctly. They need to be assembly into their housings - in this case the fork link - whilst simultaneously being pressed onto the correct sized ‘pin’ - in this case the steel tube - which slightly deforms the bore of the bush outwardly. Oilites, for those unaware, are a sintered bronze material loaded with lubricant due to their porosity. They should never be fitted in a housing & reamed to size as such a process smears the bore & blocks the pores.

[Peterp]

Thank you again, I decided to take a couple of thou off one the steel bushes, this seemed to have worked.
I’ll get there, cheers everyone