New front end seems like it's bottoming out..

[Eric The Welder]

So tok it for a 20 mile test ride today, ride great, no vibration, or anything. But when I hit pretty harsh bumps at low speed or high, it's feel like the front shocks are bottoming out or hitting, it's kind of a small bang sound and you feel the hit, Also noticed when i got home, On one of the forks has some oil on it right above the fork cap. I don't remember if my old front end ever had any oil on the fork tube or not.

Any cause for concern? If so Where should I start troubleshooting?



Actually now that i think about it, my stock front end would do the same thing if i hit a bump or driveway hard enough. Maybe this front end is just easier to bottom out on.

[95gtstang]

Maybe fork seals are leaking. I don't know.

[jaxdwg]

Originally Posted by Eric The Welder

So tok it for a 20 mile test ride today, ride great, no vibration, or anything. But when I hit pretty harsh bumps at low speed or high, it's feel like the front shocks are bottoming out or hitting, it's kind of a small bang sound and you feel the hit, Also noticed when i got home, On one of the forks has some oil on it right above the fork cap. I don't remember if my old front end ever had any oil on the fork tube or not.

Any cause for concern? If so Where should I start troubleshooting?



Actually now that i think about it, my stock front end would do the same thing if i hit a bump or driveway hard enough. Maybe this front end is just easier to bottom out on.

I noticed in your pics that the turn dignals are on the lower side of the bottom tree, could they be hitting? just a thought

[SCHMIDTYS]

If ya put slugs ( spacers ) on top of the springs it'll sure clunk going over bumps .

[Dave63]

1.) make sure the steering stem nut is torqued to the proper specs.

2.) What weight oil are you running?

3.) Are you running preload spacers?

4.) Are the triple tree pinch clamps torqued correctly?

5.) How much fluid did you put in?

6.) Oil on the stanchion means a leak....however, a leak can show up if you're over filled with oil, or if the preload is too light, and the shock is bottoming out.

[Eric The Welder]

Actually it was the turn signals. They were getting hit. Moved them up and it's all good. on the fork tubes went away also. There was prolly just some under the dust cap from a messy worker filling them in California.

Where do i find the torque spec on the steering nut? Guy at the Harley dealer told me just tight enough that I can get the fork to stay straight with the bike in the air.

[jaxdwg]

Originally Posted by Eric The Welder

Actually it was the turn signals. They were getting hit. Moved them up and it's all good. on the fork tubes went away also. There was prolly just some under the dust cap from a messy worker filling them in California.

Where do i find the torque spec on the steering nut? Guy at the Harley dealer told me just tight enough that I can get the fork to stay straight with the bike in the air.

I saw that you had a very short distance from the top of the fork slider to the bottom of the turn signals, Mine has a good 2 inches more. That is why I said that---jack

[Dave63]

The dealer guy is talking about the bearing adjuster nut, under the top tree. The stem nut sits on top of the top tree.

Generally, 65-100 ft lbs works. Start with 70 ft lbs after final bearing adjustment, unless your paperwork that came with the forks says different.

[Eric The Welder]

Well it's a smooth tripple tree so there is no top nut, the stem bolt threads right into the top tree, Its torqued to about 100ft lb.

I didn't read anything about a bearing adjustment, what is that now?

[Dave63]

Originally Posted by Eric The Welder

Well it's a smooth tripple tree so there is no top nut, the stem bolt threads right into the top tree, Its torqued to about 100ft lb.

I didn't read anything about a bearing adjustment, what is that now?

Then it sounds like your tree adjusts like a 39mm sporty/dyna fork, in that the top stem is a bolt that preloads the bearings. 100 ft lbs might be a little tight, but if it works, and the knocking stopped then it's all good.

Sporty/Dyna bolts usually are torqued to around 27-35 ft lbs.