Please could somebody give me any clue to the problem with my forks.
I just can't see what is wrong with them. The problem is they are making a horrible "clunk" noise when they fully extend.
I'll try to explain this better, if you stand next to the bike with it off the mainstand and pump the forks down with the front brake on. Under compression they seem fine when the weight comes of and they spring out it makes a horrible sound, a sort of clunk or knock as the fully extend.
Also I notice it doesn't seem to sit the same as other Dominators, it appears to sink down lower when at rest.
The spring is 18 11/16" long which i believe is normal.
The stanchions are the short version, 21.843" long.
Any advice would be gratefully received, I enclose a picture of one dismantled fork.
The answer to your problem…
- Log in to post comments
Thank you for your reply…
Thank you for your reply. The bushes are new and the oil quantity was the recommended amount.
I presume you mean the damper pistons are worn, is that correct.
Is there any link between that and the forks seeming to sink down further than other dominators
- Log in to post comments
Damper
Hi Andy,
I have used your image in photoshop to reassemble the forks and I don't think the parts all fit in correctly.
Looking at the damper tube, looks like it has sleeve perhaps to shorten it. They should be 7.5/8" long.
The image below shows the relative positions, the approx position of the top bush extended, what I think the design should be to activate the full hydraulic stop, then the relative damper positions at extended and compressed forks.
There are plenty threads about these forks knocking as they come to the extended position due to damper and its rod stopping movement before they reach the designed stop and various methods to correct this.
If your damper has been shortened the danper will restrict the extention sooner, and the knock will probably be louder, also the bike will sit nose down as the shorter damper tube will allow the forks to dip further before the springs stop it.
- Log in to post comments
Thank you, that is a really…
Thank you, that is a really good reply, your picture is superb. It really gives me an insight into what is happening inside there.
Also guess what, the tube has been shortened, to 6 7/8" overall length. I have no idea why this was done. But it also explains why the bike is slightly nose down.
- Log in to post comments
You can get extended bronze…
You can get extended bronze top bushes from RGM which stop the topping out. The Damper tubes for later bikes have better arangements to resist bottoming out. New damper caps and cleaned up rods will help with the action .
- Log in to post comments
The answer to your problem is possibly in your photograph.
The stanchion has one fixed bush on it and the slider the other.
As the forks extend these two bushes are heading towards each other.
The fork damper tubes oil and stanchion drilling should stop a serious collision.
Possibly wear or the wrong oil or amount of oil is allowing naughty things to happen.
Another possibility is the damper pistons have passed their 'use by' date.
Have you fitted new bushes recently???