fork lower - Junk?

[psycoreefer]

Guys,
I started in today planning to replace some leaky fork seals on the forks off my parts bike in order to replace the bent fork tube on another xs I'm preping for sale. When I got the fork apart I found new-ish looking seals and a mistreated lower as shown in the pictures.





I'm guessing the last guy thought that the ring was part of the fork seal and tried to remove it...what do you all think, does it make this lower junk? Or do you think I'll still be able to get a new fork seal to seat down right?

[bikerphil]

Take that mangled ring out of there but be careful not to damage the bushing below it. Put some RTV on the outer surface of the new oil seal if there are gouges in the aluminum and you should be good to go.

[lee_dutcher]

If u need forks ill sell u some for 50 plus shipping

[Rasputin]

I have pulled that ring and tapped it flat with a small hammer and things sealed well after. While YMMV why not give it a try, just be gentle with the hammer.

[mack]

Fork seals

If you use fork seals from Denis Kirk (leak proof), they don't seat down all the way like the OEM ones do. It will provide a margin for error when you try to straighten the ring. Better have a good look at the guide bushing under there while your at it. The upper fork leg bushing is readily available but the one in the lower is harder to find, but I found out that some motocross bikes use the same one and there is a trick to getting it in properly. A good test is to slip the upper into the lower while the seal is out and check for play with the tubes almost telescoped all the way out. Seems to me the allowable was 2mm but Steve probably has the exact tolerance off the top of his head.