Front shock problem
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,163
Likes: 2
From: Franklin, TN
Front shock problem
My front shocks seem to be not working right. They sound like they are bottoming out when I hit bump. A slight clunk. I don't remember them doing that until recently. I had the 10,000 mile done about 1,000 miles ago. True, they have been lowered, but I think this is a recent thing. I'm no wrench, but what should I look for?
Marsh
Marsh
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 560
Likes: 0
From: So. California
clunk
It is most likely your headset loose, or your rotors (if they are full floating). My rotors make a little noise, but my headset was really clunking because of the headset being loose. Problem with the headset was more than I anticipated. Seems that HD has over pressed the stems in ALOT of triples and then welded them. This causes the threads to be too far up and the nut does not have enough room to tighten all the way up. I have had HD investigate into it, with no help at all. They deny any problem with it and claim no responsibility for it. I had a local shop make a shim to space out the nut, so that it can tighten all the way. It rides like a totally new bike. I didn't realize how bad it was, until I had it fixed. I have a racetech kit and lowered the front 1-1/2" too. The forks have thier own noises too, but not really a clunk that you can feel in the bars.
If your bike clunks when hitting bumps, clunks when you pull the front brake in w/o using the rear, and also clunks when you take off after stopping with the front brake only, it's forsure your headset. I'm going back to stock height and putting a fork cartridge kit in the front. www.motorcyclemetal.com or www.traxxion.com The front ends on these bikes have technology from 1975. Already replaced the 11-1/2" progressives w/ 12"Ohlins on the rear. Now just trying to save a few bucks for the front end. CHECK your headset, and forget about the fallaway procedure, put a wrench on it...
If your bike clunks when hitting bumps, clunks when you pull the front brake in w/o using the rear, and also clunks when you take off after stopping with the front brake only, it's forsure your headset. I'm going back to stock height and putting a fork cartridge kit in the front. www.motorcyclemetal.com or www.traxxion.com The front ends on these bikes have technology from 1975. Already replaced the 11-1/2" progressives w/ 12"Ohlins on the rear. Now just trying to save a few bucks for the front end. CHECK your headset, and forget about the fallaway procedure, put a wrench on it...
Last edited by langhammx; May 10, 2009 at 12:08 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 1
From: Northern MI
I too had a "clunk" on my 06 Ultra.....while putting on my chromed lowers and progressive lowering springs this winter I found I had NO fork oil in my right fork...stranger yet, I've never had a leak anywhere...of course everything is great now...smoothest ride ever!
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: York, PA
My bike is lowered also (front and rear) I have the same issue when the front wheel "drops" into a dip or from when "extending" when "bouncing" over a bump. I'm almost sure it is when the forks are extended as opposed to compressed. It's like they "bang" at the end of their extension travel. The bike had been lowered before I bought it, so I don't know any of the specifics as to what spring kit etc. was used. I also don't know if this is normal with all the road glides or only the after lowering the forks......Anyone else have an answer? Anything to worry about?
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 681
Likes: 4
From: N.E. Oklahoma
This might be crazy, but check the tank bolts too. They will cause a clunking sound.
My experience with HD through the years is that they have some quality/assembly issues at times.
My experience with HD through the years is that they have some quality/assembly issues at times.
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 607
Likes: 1
From: JAX Florida
My bike is lowered also (front and rear) I have the same issue when the front wheel "drops" into a dip or from when "extending" when "bouncing" over a bump. I'm almost sure it is when the forks are extended as opposed to compressed. It's like they "bang" at the end of their extension travel. The bike had been lowered before I bought it, so I don't know any of the specifics as to what spring kit etc. was used. I also don't know if this is normal with all the road glides or only the after lowering the forks......Anyone else have an answer? Anything to worry about?
I concur with your description of my clunk problem. the fork tubes seem to clunk when at the top of the tube travel. sitting still with engine off and front brake applied pushing/pulling on the bars will generate the clunk only when the front is is maxing out on the top.
I do not have a lowered front end but I did powder coat the lowers. when I reassembled I used the SE extra heavy duty racing fork oil. Except for having used the SE extra heavy in two previous bikes (07 and 08) I'd suspect my problem could be with the racing fork oil.
my 08 FLTR had a lowered front end when I bought it, but I went back to statndard height before doing the Hoka Hey ride to Alaska. (wanted as much fork travel as possible). At any rate I did not notice the clunk on it with or without the lowered fork springs,
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 1
From: Nebraska
I had a clunk in my 99 RK last year. It was the front motor mount. The center was ripped out of it so everytime id go over rail road tracks are a good sized pot hole the mount would hit the crossmember.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 102
From: Central Illinois
My dealer told me to NOT use the SE or SE racing fork oil in my 07. He told me the ports in the fork valves are too small to push these heavier oils through and can cause the front forks to lock up, ie: to not compress. So when I changed out my fork oil late last year I put back in standard fork oil and it works fine. The front forks need to be able to easily compress and rebound so as to not put a lot of stress on those head bearings. Otherwise they will loosen up much faster.
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