Front forks too hard

[Drum]

Further to the previous thread by ARJ127, I recently had my front fork seals replaced (in the shop) and my forks are now very unforgiving. When I cross a kerb crossing or pothole it sends a massive shock through the hand grips.

My forks don't have adjustable pre-load. I am thinking the guys in the shop must've put too much fork oil in? Does that sound like a logical answer?

My forks have a bleed screw - can I just bleed a bit out to soften them? Help appreciated.

[R6_kid:Me]

You could bleed a bit out, but as bugjuice found out when he tried this on his 636 it's not as easy as it sounds sometimes!

If they've put thicker fluid in than you had in it last you'd notice a difference, not sure if it'd be *that* different.

[Drum]

Yeah I was thinking it might be hard to stop the bleed once started!

[terbang]

Yup sounds like it and you could try draining a bit out or alternatively completely drain the lot and refill it with the correct spec. The air gap in a fork plays a very important part in the springing as it is a spring in itself. Repalace the air with Oil (over filling), which compresses a heck of a lot less than Air and you will get a hard ride.

[Drum]

Cheers for the advice. Sounds like draining and refilling is the business then.

[Warr]

Check the manufactures recommendation on the oil weight and go buy some of that rate. eg 10W or 15W etc and then drain the forks and full to what the manual says. The manual will hopefully tell you the correct height of the oil when the fork leg is fully compressed with no spring.
That is your starting point. If they are still too hard drop the oil type by 5 eg 15W go to 10W.
If playing with the oil quantity dont go too much more than +/- 30cc's

[Drum]

Cheers for that. I've got the Haynes manual, so no worries.

I've just gotta find a spare set of hands to help get the top bolts back on afterwards!

[Warr]

Cheers for that. I've got the Haynes manual, so no worries.

I've just gotta find a spare set of hands to help get the top bolts back on afterwards!

If you are talking about the problem of screwing the fork caps on against the spring. Here is my method!!
I stand on the bike with a speed wrench, Socket with the crank thing!! and as many extensions as you need so that you can put all you weight onto it. I gets you majourly in the chest so I use some heavy padding, eg large old leather mitten or whatever!!

[Drum]

Cheers for the tip. I'll give it a go.

[erik]

Cheers for the tip. I'll give it a go.

If you suspend the front of the bike, either with ropes from the ceiling or some other way so that the front wheel is off the ground (and therefore the front suspension is fully extended), you shouldn't need way too much force to compress the springs to get the fork caps in?
I use a torque wrench or socket wrench with a bit of cloth padding so I can push it down with my hand while turning it.

[Brian d marge]

What bike what forks?

the airgap is a spring you preload * so to speak * by adding oil .. I use the air gap to max my suspension travel ,,I use a zip tie ,, then take a big hit on the front ,,then when the tie strap moves it will show me the suspension travel

Harshness is what you might be talking about ,,,and untill type of forks are known , oil viscosity is the solution that pops up ...they have uses a heavier weight ... or a thinner wieght and its bottoming ,,

need more info

Stephen

ps If you found any word here spelt correctly ..please RED red me ,,need red ...lots of red

[Drum]

The bike is a ZR750 Zephyr. Not sure what you mean by "type" of forks?? You can see them on my profile pic.

Either way, the answer would seem to be to drain them and refill with the correct amount of fork oil of the correct viscosity.

Cheers, and red rep added!

[riffer]

Let us know if you get stuck. I'm just up the road.

[Drum]

Thanks for the offer. Very kind of you.

[imdying]

Ride it for a week before touching it. Might just be the big change has thrown you off. If they're still not correct, take them back to the shop, you paid to have them fixed correctly after all...