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Message started by built2last66 on 10/04/11 at 13:53:26

Title: Front fork shocks springyness
Post by built2last66 on 10/04/11 at 13:53:26

So how do you tell when your front shocks are going bad?

Title: Re: Front Fork Spring Rate Data
Post by verslagen1 on 10/04/11 at 14:00:17

More or less, can't happen.
Even been stories of people running around with no fork oil.
Which I think would make it a bit bouncy or too soft.
never heard of anyone's spring breaking or going flat.

Title: Re: Front Fork Spring Rate Data
Post by built2last66 on 10/04/11 at 14:14:45

Mine seem a little bouncy right now.. what kinda trouble shooting can I do?

Title: Re: Front Fork Spring Rate Data
Post by bill67 on 10/04/11 at 14:42:49

When you push down hard on the forks they should pretty much come back up and stop.

Title: Re: Front Fork Spring Rate Data
Post by verslagen1 on 10/04/11 at 15:53:48

293E22273F79272A383F7D7D4B0 wrote:

Mine seem a little bouncy right now.. what kinda trouble shooting can I do?

Check the fluid height.

When I did mine, of course all disassembled, fork standing on ground... let the top tube collaspe into the bottom, the oil will be about an inch or 2 lower than the top.

Sorry, can't be accurate, I just poured the sh!t in.

But clymers should have a measurement and procedure.

Title: Re: Front Fork Spring Rate Data
Post by built2last66 on 10/05/11 at 11:17:20

Ok, here's the deal: My front fork shocks can be pushed down (and they spring back up) as far as they can be lifted, so they're kinda in the center. Am I supposed to be able to pull them UP?

Title: Re: Front Fork Spring Rate Data
Post by verslagen1 on 10/05/11 at 11:30:05

Have your forks been modified?

Or are they stock?

Title: Re: Front Fork Spring Rate Data
Post by bill67 on 10/05/11 at 11:39:53

5245595C44025C5143440606300 wrote:

Ok, here's the deal: My front fork shocks can be pushed down (and they spring back up) as far as they can be lifted, so they're kinda in the center. Am I supposed to be able to pull them UP?

With just the weight of the bike,Once you pull them all way up they should settle down about 1 inch or little more.Yes you should be able to pull them up.

Title: Re: Front Fork Spring Rate Data
Post by built2last66 on 10/05/11 at 16:00:31

303B3E3E6465520 wrote:

[quote author=5245595C44025C5143440606300 link=1317761607/0#5 date=1317838640]Ok, here's the deal: My front fork shocks can be pushed down (and they spring back up) as far as they can be lifted, so they're kinda in the center. Am I supposed to be able to pull them UP?

With just the weight of the bike,Once you pull them all way up they should settle down about 1 inch or little more.Yes you should be able to pull them up.[/quote]

I'm good to go, don't even pull up an inch.. but they seem to have gotten springy...

Title: Re: Front fork shocks springyness
Post by verslagen1 on 10/05/11 at 16:08:51

did you check the oil level?

Title: Re: Front fork shocks springyness
Post by built2last66 on 10/05/11 at 16:53:57

2A392E2F303D3B39326D5C0 wrote:

did you check the oil level?

I have no idea how to do that, I just went out and looked the forks over and didn't see a gauge... and nothing in the OM.... :D

Title: Re: Front fork shocks springyness
Post by SurfJunkie on 10/05/11 at 17:51:38

PG 272 + of Chapter 9 in the Clymer manual has your answer.

Title: Re: Front Fork Spring Rate Data
Post by MotoBuddha on 10/07/11 at 08:21:04

5B4C50554D0B55584A4D0F0F390 wrote:

Mine seem a little bouncy right now.

"Bouncy" is relative. These bikes have very soft suspensions compared to, say, sportbikes.

The forks are bone simple. Damping is controlled by some oil passage holes. Those don't wear out. There are some bronze bushings that have a very long life. There are the springs, which are pathetically limp for anyone over about 120 lbs. And there are some spring spacers that are just steel tubes. Oh, and seals to keep the oil in.

So the only real variable is the oil. Do you have any leaks? If not, then maybe you should change the oil to a higher viscosity.

Title: Re: Front fork shocks springyness
Post by Arnold on 10/07/11 at 11:45:17

Can the oil go bad and loose its viscous properties?

Title: Re: Front fork shocks springyness
Post by built2last66 on 10/07/11 at 12:18:49

I have no leaks, seals are fine from the outside.. I have fork guards.... I can't even raise the bars to an inch... I'm gonna have to wait till I have a garage and the Clymers manual to check or replace the oil... but they do push down rather easily. This is my first street bike, and I'm the second owner so I'm cautious about any lil thing... ;)

Title: Re: Front fork shocks springyness
Post by bill67 on 10/07/11 at 12:24:34

Forks do push down easily if your not bottoming out you most likely are ok.