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-   -   Did I have ATF in my 1998 Sportster Forks? (https://www.hdforums.com/forum/frame-suspension-front-end-brakes/379614-did-i-have-atf-in-my-1998-sportster-forks.html)

sportster29212 08-09-2009 01:35 PM

Did I have ATF in my 1998 Sportster Forks?
 
First my questions, then the story.

1. Did my Sporster come from the factory with ATF in the forks?

2. What do you suggest I do next? Reclean the forks and then add a different oil? or put ATF in the forks?

The Story: Just bought a 1998 Sportster 883 with 12,600 miles but it never had the 10K service done. I had the 10K mile service done by a local shop. They drained the fork oil and said it looked like Automatic Tansmission Fluid (ATF). Then they pulled the forks off the bike and cleaned everything up. They suspected a little water had gotten into the left fork cause the pinkish fluid (suspected to be ATF) had turned a bit milky in color.

They cleaned the forks and added the correct amount of 10 weight fork oil. (I weigh 200 lbs. and live in SC where the weather and road conditions are both moderate.)

After riding the bike about a day I noticed the front shocks were very soft. Another '98 Sporster owner agreed they were too soft. By simply applying the front brakes VERY HARD I can cause the front shocks to BOTTOM OUT!!!

Obviously something need to be changed.

Thanks in advance for your advice.


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