fork noise

Greetings all.. I have enjoyed reading the forums for about a year now.
I bought an 81 750 seca about a year ago and I am noticing a dull clunk on the return stroke of the forks on just about any bump. It sounds like bottoming but it occurs at any point of the travel on the initial return movement. Everything is tight and I notice no handling trouble but I do have some oil on the right tube. Air pressure added makes no difference. The previous owner replaced the springs with progressive. He stated that the internals were cleaned and new oil installed but did not specify replacing the seals. Only that they were in "great shape". Hard to imagine not replacing the seals with a spring change but I dont believe they were. Also he elimintated the anti dive hoses during that proceedure along with rebuilding the brake system. All his work is less than 2 years old and less than 4000 miles. Even though I have had the bike for a year I may have had this situation from the start of my owning it and not paid much attension to it. I have less than 400 miles on it so far. Without a doubt I will be replacing the seals soon but I was wondering if this situation might be related to the spring change or anti-dive elimination and what I might be looking for when I have them apart.

 

I doubt that anti-dive would make a clunking sound.. And if the springs are the right length, they shouldn't be a problem. One thing to check would be the steering head bearings.. I just reworked mine, because I starter hearing a clunk when I stopped with the front brake alone. Come to find out that the top was so loose that the race was floating above the ball bearings 8O

 

Thanks for the reply. Everything is tight. Problem is certainly inside of the tubes.

 

that sound is the tubes bottoming out and causing the calipers to jump.
I had the same issue before I replaced my seals and added new oil/air

change those seals, add air the correct amt, use some fork oil
I am guessing you have a 750 seca, as you have anti-dive.
might want to reconect the anti-dive too. helps decrease the dive.

 

Sadly just because someone has 'Claimed' to have rebuilt something the odds are against it, either being done correctly or even at all.
Yer noise
(from your descrition) sounds like: No Oil. or damned little of it.
Check and see.. real soon, as in before riding it again.

 

I have the receipts for what he did. No seals are on the list. I believe he did what he said. The bike was in pristine shape. Perhaps the best thing to do is add oil to see if that clears it up before I tear it down.

 

I'm going to agree with Danilo, sounds like you need oil in those forks. Drain them and refill (with the correct oil) to ensure new oil is in there. Additionally, the fork seals are not readily accessible with a spring change but it is possible to lose enough oil to create the problems you are facing. Good luck and replace those seals if and when they leak.

 

Thanks again to all. I will do the oil change first even with a bad seal just to see if that is it.

 

Oil level was pretty equal both sides a bit less than 10 oz without pumping out the valving. The fluid looks new as well. The book says 10.5 oz so I doubt that is my trouble. If anyone has any other thoughts I would appreciate it. Sounds just like brake pad chatter but it is for certain inside the forks. And it is not bottoming. it occurs on change of direction in fork movement no matter where in the length of travel.

 

not trying to hijack, noticed Ass mentioned the add air thing up there...

Is there a list somewhere for how much air in the forks=size/type bike?

I have air valves on the top of my forks and manual doens't specify.