05 Fatboy fork issue
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Stage IV
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4
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From: St. Joseph, MO
05 Fatboy fork issue
Hey all hoping someone can lend me some advice. I have a 2005 Fatboy that has some issues with the forks that I hope are easily resolved. Problem: When I brake or hit a small bump the forks bottom-out with a massive clank. Not exactly sure what the normal position of the forks with/without weight load should be. Also not sure on how much oil should be in the forks for a person of my weight. I recently trailered the bike from Texas to Missouri and wonder if I may have strapped it down to tight and hurt the springs or seal. I never noticed any type of leak except for one day I saw a small oil mark left on the concrete after a long drive that day. Also noticed my front brake squeaking a little as well after being parked a few days in the garage. What should I do?
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 312
Likes: 11
From: Winston Salem, NC
Change the fork oil first. Use the Screamin Eagle fork oil. Get the front end off the ground, take out the fork nuts and drain each side, replace the crush washers and top off each side. I believe it is 13.2 ounces.
The brakes, I would swap out the pads, they are cheap.
The brakes, I would swap out the pads, they are cheap.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,984
Likes: 8
+1, I would use se heavy fork oil. To measure my fork oil I bought a 2 ounce syringe from walmart, it is a clean way to put in oil. The Heavy oil stops the front end from dipping in corners.
Change the fork oil first. Use the Screamin Eagle fork oil. Get the front end off the ground, take out the fork nuts and drain each side, replace the crush washers and top off each side. I believe it is 13.2 ounces.
The brakes, I would swap out the pads, they are cheap.
The brakes, I would swap out the pads, they are cheap.
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Stage IV
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: St. Joseph, MO
So I don't need to take the forks off just raise the front end? Use screaming eagle heavy oil and all should be good? The bike like I said was trailered from Texas to Missouri and it only had 1800 miles on it at that point. I thought I better add that in just in case it could be something completely different.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
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No need to remove the forks or sliders. look on the back of the lower sliders near the bottom, there is a screw. Get the front end off the ground, remove the screw drain screw, let it drain into a drip pan.
Remove the top fork caps, 1 3/8 wrench. I taped everything off to keep from screwing up the chrome. I did not have a 1 3/8 wrench so I used a really big crescent wrench. You will need to buy the fork oil and new crush washers for the drian screws.
Reinstall the drain screws, fill with fuild, and reinstall caps.
Test ride.
Remove the top fork caps, 1 3/8 wrench. I taped everything off to keep from screwing up the chrome. I did not have a 1 3/8 wrench so I used a really big crescent wrench. You will need to buy the fork oil and new crush washers for the drian screws.
Reinstall the drain screws, fill with fuild, and reinstall caps.
Test ride.
So I don't need to take the forks off just raise the front end? Use screaming eagle heavy oil and all should be good? The bike like I said was trailered from Texas to Missouri and it only had 1800 miles on it at that point. I thought I better add that in just in case it could be something completely different.
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Stage IV
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: St. Joseph, MO
No need to remove the forks or sliders. look on the back of the lower sliders near the bottom, there is a screw. Get the front end off the ground, remove the screw drain screw, let it drain into a drip pan.
Remove the top fork caps, 1 3/8 wrench. I taped everything off to keep from screwing up the chrome. I did not have a 1 3/8 wrench so I used a really big crescent wrench. You will need to buy the fork oil and new crush washers for the drian screws.
Reinstall the drain screws, fill with fuild, and reinstall caps.
Test ride.
Remove the top fork caps, 1 3/8 wrench. I taped everything off to keep from screwing up the chrome. I did not have a 1 3/8 wrench so I used a really big crescent wrench. You will need to buy the fork oil and new crush washers for the drian screws.
Reinstall the drain screws, fill with fuild, and reinstall caps.
Test ride.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,984
Likes: 8
The only real check you could do is compare the measurement with another fatboy, 00-06. I would think you could measure the distance from the top of the lower leg(slider) to the top of the tree.
Are you sure lowering springs have never been installed?
Are you sure lowering springs have never been installed?
Thank you for the advice. I changed the oil in the forks as you suggested and it seems to handle bumps much better and is no longer bottoming out. The only thing is even with the new oil that the forks still seem to be sitting low compared to where I thought they should be sitting especially with weight on the motorcycle.
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Stage IV
Joined: Aug 2012
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From: St. Joseph, MO
Well that's a good idea however you are correct lowering springs along with a ton of other lowering parts were installed. Definitely could be the issue. Guess I will just ride it some more and see if any bumps still cause bottoming out. I can tell you that there was hardly 14 ounces of oil total in both forks when I drained them so hoping that was the issue.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
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After 2 years I changed mine, I had lost several ounces of oil, too.
I think it is normal to lose some over time. The more bumps you go over the more you will lose.
Isn't it amazing how dirty the fork oil gets.
I think it is normal to lose some over time. The more bumps you go over the more you will lose.
Isn't it amazing how dirty the fork oil gets.
Well that's a good idea however you are correct lowering springs along with a ton of other lowering parts were installed. Definitely could be the issue. Guess I will just ride it some more and see if any bumps still cause bottoming out. I can tell you that there was hardly 14 ounces of oil total in both forks when I drained them so hoping that was the issue.
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