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Genuine question.....
I've been servicing my forks recently (revs and rebas), and as far as I can see, no real 'harm' would come to the function of the fork if the stantion were worn/scratched, what with the 'working gubbins' being [b]Inside[/b] the upper legs.
And the air system is completely sealed anyway, so theoretically you could file a big spot on the stantion and it would have no I'll effect......
Now, I'd be the first to fret if I [b]Did[/b] scratch the forks, but is this fuss over very little??
I know you want to keep grit etc out of the 'inner lowers', as theoretically you could then scratch the air shaft, but is this the only reason?
I mean, the oil ring/dirt seal don't keep anything 'in' do they, it's not like an o ring on the air circuit....
Discuss...!
DrP
think its more about muck in the oil causing notchy performance
In most forks, the seal keeps open bath oil in and dirt out.
A scored stanction will allow lube oil out and dirt in, leading to premature wear of the insides, starting with bushes, stanctions and then shafts and seal on the spring and damper and possibly inside of these components too.
In really bad cases the lube oil gets everywhere on the stanction and can run down the legs and cover the disc/pads.
A scratch is not the end of the world though, no. Smooth it off and keep on top of lower lube and service.