Front end stiff after fork change
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,398
Likes: 34
From: Newport news, Virginia
I had my service dept add the SE Heavy Duty fork oil when they were installing the Profile lowering springs. My front end is riding way better than it was stock. I never looked back!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,294
Likes: 33
From: Po-Dunk Looziana
I replaced all the fork oil with sand on my bike. Filled it all the way up to the top of the stanchion and mine rides better than everybodies. You can use beach sand if backyard sand is too firm.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,961
Likes: 263
From: Conroe Texas
Well, got odff a plane today, from Canada, could not sleep since Monday thinking about this, went right into the garage and did the iclick procedure, works great half hour had both drained, lowered bike with no oil in it jumped on and still stiff. Knew I screwed something up on assembley, ripped the forks off and resdid them correctly in 2 1/2 hours using the heavy SE synthetic, much better, easier to get the spring in also. Will put new type E oil when my new rotors show up. Now I think I know what the hell I am doing in there, thanks to all, the bike is starting to look good.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Thanks iclick, I will be using the iclick method to change out the pil, if that doesnt loosen things a bit I will tear down the forks and double check everything, it did require lots of [ressure to get the fork spring cap back in, how hard was getting the springs back in for you?
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/showt...=265885&page=3
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/showt...=265885&page=3
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,961
Likes: 263
From: Conroe Texas
iclick, I tried your method, just drained the oil though, dropped the bike off the lift bounced the front end and had no movement so proceeded with the tear down. Your method works great, FYI there was 1 oz left in the fork. The EXTRA heave SE oil is still a little stiff for me will change out when I figure what rotors I want to put on the front. Thanks for all the info great DYI iclick.
I didn't go that far with disassembly. The tutorial mentions that all that was needed was to pull the fairing insert cap aside, remove the top cap using the wrench in the bike's tool kit, remove the drain plug, install the new oil, then reassemble everything. The spring is loaded by the fork cap bolt the top bolt screws into, so I never saw or touched my springs when I changed the fluid.
