Any advice on my 'sticky forks' ? After a long total rebuild (32years, don't ask) I have finally got my Atlas working again. I bought new fork stanchions, bushes and seals a while ago (15yrs+)and fitted them. Since refitting them to the bike I have plunged the forks with the clamp bolt loose etc. and tried oil's from sae10 to 20/50.
The forks will plunge easily even with the thicker oils when stationary by applying the front brake, but are totally stiff when riding over bumpy B and C category roads. It feel like the forks are jamming with the side load from the weight of the bike.
I have bought another set of stanchions which are hard chrome finish as I seem to remember the others fitted were only machined which I believemay add to this problem. Any advice regarding modifications, upgrades and recommended partswould be appreciated before the winter fork rebuild starts.
Hi James. It could be that…
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Hi Les, Thanks for your ti…
Hi Les,
Thanks for your time to answer my question. As my Atlas was/is a mongrel of bits from it's early days of being thrashed 'n' crashed by the yoof of the day, I will pay special attention to the damper assemblies at the next stripdown. As most of the rest of the bike needed a major 'going over' I shouldn't be surprised that the forks needed the same ! Thanks again
James
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Hi James. It could be that the damper valve has been assembled incorrectly or is faulty or gummed up.
When you depress the forks statically, even when using the brake, the fork movementis relatively slow compared to fast sudden jarring caused by road bumps. If the fluid transfer in the damper is overly restricted by a faulty valve set up then it could be the cause of the "solid" feel you have. It may feel that the compression of the fork is ok when doing the static test as the oil has just that bit longer to move in the damper tube.
I suggest a complete strip down and examination of the valve and reassemble working to a good workshop manual.
Regards.
Les H