Can the fork oil be changed with the forks on?

Hey Guys,

Looking to change the fork oil in my 00'. Can I do the procedure with the forks on? The seals look good, I don't feel the need to replace them at the moment.

Although I have never rebuilt a fork.

My main reason for doing this is that there is a clunking noise from my front end. I thought it was my steering head bearings maybe, but I don't think its the case. I also thought it was the left side brake caliper moving (there is a possibility here), but it really sounds like its coming from inside the forks.

I'm sure an oil change would help, but would it take away this clunk? Is it even possible to have a clunk coming from the fork stanchion tubes?

Thanks guys! sorry for the newb. questions!

~mike

 

If you are not certain of how old the fork oil is, changing it might make a huge improvement in the way the forks feel. Can you hear the clunk or feel the clunk? Gritty old fluid can make things... uhh, unsmooth? Hopefully you know what I mean.

My SV650 forks still have a slight "clunk" sensation in the initial travel when I hold the front brake on, pull back on the handlebars and then push forward to compress them. I've had them apart for modification and tuning many times, checked every single nut, bolt and bearing that I can think of, and I still have no clue. As far as I know, maybe the fork springs arc a bit and slide against the side of the fork tubes.

I would probably change the fluid anyway and go from there, just because.

 

Lgn001,

I can feel the clunk as well as hear it. I can make a clunking by rattling my left brake caliper, but when I rock the bike I'm not sure it comes from there. I may have to revisit the steering head bearing idea if thats it.

Does the ignition switch need to be removed to remove the top tripple tree clamp?

Mke

 

Have you tried putting the front wheel up against a wall or curb, and then compressing the forks? That will eliminate the braking components as a possible source of the "clunk".

For the steering stem bearings, you can put it up on the center stand and use a small jack to un-weight the front wheel (or have somebody sit on rear of the seat). Grab the fork sliders as close as you can to the front axle, and try to rock the front end forwards and backwards. If you can feel some mechanical movement, it is either the steering stem bearings, or possibly worn out fork bushings. The fork bushings being that worn is kind of a long shot, but a possibility.

I don't know if the ignition switch has to come off. Probably not, unless the wiring harness isn't long enough, and there is most likely a connector fairly close by that can be unplugged.

 

I was just thinking about that again tonight... I'm going to put it up against a curb tonight and see if i can get it to click.

Other than that, taking off the clip-ons, pulling the top triple tree cover isn't that big of a deal. I can then tell if the adjustment nut is loose and tighten if needed. If I do tighten and the sound doesn't go away I either need new bearings or its something else.

~mike

 

Not to be a complete wet blanket here, but it seems to me that there are ball bearings instead of tapered rollers in the steering stem. If they are indeed loose, after you tighten them turn the forks back and forth a few times to make sure that the races or one of the balls does not have a flat spot in it. If they do, the bearings will wear out really quick and your steering will be really "notchy", for lack of a better term.

I never really thought about it before, but "clunky" and "notchy" kind of go together... :smile:

Good luck!