Today on my way to work, I took the same left hand sweeper I take every day.  But today, the front end seemed to have a mind of its own!  In a deep 70 mph sweeper, the front tire started swaying back and forth.  When I stopped at the next light, I applied the front brake and pushed forward against the forks and noticed very little dampening compared to the day before.

I assume there's something amiss in the fork(s), (blown seal) but in the past this was accompanied by leaking and other external indications.  Could something inside the fork just have "come loose" or should I assume damaged parts?

SavageWahine wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:11:


Yep, checked springs and installed correctly with washers.  My problem isn't a "spring problem" it seems to be a dampening problem.  The bike sags the same amount as it always did when I sit on it (a function of the spring), but gives much less resistance when I quickly compress/uncompress the forks.  It almost seems like there are no dampening valves in there, or like the internal seal got pushed out, but I know that stuff was put back when I reassembled them, and I'm pretty sure the springs themselves hold those parts in place.  

Thanks for the reply IW.  Any other thoughts out there?

I'd like to know what parts to buy before I pull everything apart so it doesn't sit on the bench disassembled for a long period of time.

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:12:


True statement, but I have little kids at the house that may be overcome with "curiosity"  

I'd like to avoid asking questions like, "have you seen daddy's fork tube?"  

maybe you put something in upside down?

I probably should have followed the manual and inspected parts when I had it disassembled the first time, but I figured "there couldn't possibly be a problem, the bike only has 4200 miles on it."  

I guess I'll find out more when I tear into it tomorrow.  I'll post the results then...even if the ATF is to blame.