Clunk in front forks
Thread Starter
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Devil's Advocate
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 36
From: Alberta, Canada
Clunk in front forks
07 Street Bob with 17,000 kms
Stock springs were bottoming out, so I installed a set of Progressive Drop Ins.
I never changed the fork oil, it was pink and the level was bang on.
I know it is in the forks. I had a buddy hold his hands on the forks and with the front brake on I rocked the bike back and forth and he could feel it in the lower forks.
Is there something inside the could make the clunk or has the fork oil seen better days even though it has low mileage?
I do not have any vibrations, just an annoying clunk. It shows up going over larger bumps or train tracks.
Any insight would be appreciated.
Stock springs were bottoming out, so I installed a set of Progressive Drop Ins.
I never changed the fork oil, it was pink and the level was bang on.
I know it is in the forks. I had a buddy hold his hands on the forks and with the front brake on I rocked the bike back and forth and he could feel it in the lower forks.
Is there something inside the could make the clunk or has the fork oil seen better days even though it has low mileage?
I do not have any vibrations, just an annoying clunk. It shows up going over larger bumps or train tracks.
Any insight would be appreciated.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 735
Likes: 23
From: New Brunswick, Canada
Yep what these guys said,this has already happened to me with my 2011 superglide with almost the same amount of kms,it was the front tank bolt that was the trouble,I rode home for 2 hours like this,the first time I pulled the bike over and went over everything in the front end,it scared the **** out me,I didn't have the proper tools with me but at least I knew what it was,it took all of 30secs to tighten it back up,I bet that's your trouble.
Thread Starter
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Devil's Advocate
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 36
From: Alberta, Canada
Thanks guys, been there done that. Found that issue a few months ago.
If you read my post, bike is sitting still, hands on forks, rocking back and forth with front brake on, clunk coming from lower front forks.
If you read my post, bike is sitting still, hands on forks, rocking back and forth with front brake on, clunk coming from lower front forks.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
From: Redhill New Zealand
I take that this has only just happened when you put the new springs in ? If you're sure that it's in the forks the only way to know whats going on is to disassemble them and inspect. It's not a huge job, but best done by the book. Do you have a service manual ?
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Novice
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Try checking the steering head bearing. Mine was making a knocking sound when I applied the front brake at low speed. I put the bike on the stand a grabbed the forks and the bearing was really loose. Adjusted the steering head and now no more knocking. Just my guess.
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Thread Starter
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Devil's Advocate
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 36
From: Alberta, Canada
Yes, I have the Harley manual.
There was some noise in the forks before I did the drop ins. The stock springs would bottom out. That is why I changed the springs in the first place.
Steering head is tight, there is absolutely no movement up there when on the jack. The fall away is correct as well. I do not have any wobble or vibrations in the bike at all. Front or back.
When bike was stationary my buddy put his hands on the lower part of the forks. I applied the front brake and rocked the bike back and forth. He felt the clunk in the lower part of the forks on both sides. not just one side.
I think I am going to rip them down and put a heavier oil in them.
It may just be a characteristic of the drop ins.
There was some noise in the forks before I did the drop ins. The stock springs would bottom out. That is why I changed the springs in the first place.
Steering head is tight, there is absolutely no movement up there when on the jack. The fall away is correct as well. I do not have any wobble or vibrations in the bike at all. Front or back.
When bike was stationary my buddy put his hands on the lower part of the forks. I applied the front brake and rocked the bike back and forth. He felt the clunk in the lower part of the forks on both sides. not just one side.
I think I am going to rip them down and put a heavier oil in them.
It may just be a characteristic of the drop ins.
Last edited by Gommee; Jul 27, 2012 at 10:50 PM.