Post by mrlantz on Jun 30, 2024 9:32:41 GMT -5
I bought a 1981 SR500 a few weeks ago and I'm currently going through the bike fixing it up to be a good condition SR again.
The front forks weren't rebounding at all. I had to yank the handlebars to get then uncompressed. So I took it all apart, figuring they need a service. To my surprise, the oil looked new. The fork seals were mounted the wrong way, so I replaced them after cleaning everything up properly. Refilled with fork oil and re-assembled on the bike. Still the same problem.
Took both of them off again and disassembled the forks. Made sure to check a diagram online so that everything was assembled correctly. I can't find anything wrong with it. The fork tubes are straight. Nothing is missing or broken. When putting the fork tube in the fork leg manually (without spring or piston) it binds hard from just pushing it lightly to its stop about 25 cm/ 10 inches deep.. I have to twist it to get the tube back out, sometimes using a clamp if pushed in too hard. Something is binding the fork tube mechanically in the fork leg, but I can't figure out what or why.
Assembling everything a second time, I even tried adding a spacer thus increasing pre-tension on the spring. Works better but if I push the bike all the way down they will still bind..
Any ideas?
The front forks weren't rebounding at all. I had to yank the handlebars to get then uncompressed. So I took it all apart, figuring they need a service. To my surprise, the oil looked new. The fork seals were mounted the wrong way, so I replaced them after cleaning everything up properly. Refilled with fork oil and re-assembled on the bike. Still the same problem.
Took both of them off again and disassembled the forks. Made sure to check a diagram online so that everything was assembled correctly. I can't find anything wrong with it. The fork tubes are straight. Nothing is missing or broken. When putting the fork tube in the fork leg manually (without spring or piston) it binds hard from just pushing it lightly to its stop about 25 cm/ 10 inches deep.. I have to twist it to get the tube back out, sometimes using a clamp if pushed in too hard. Something is binding the fork tube mechanically in the fork leg, but I can't figure out what or why.
Assembling everything a second time, I even tried adding a spacer thus increasing pre-tension on the spring. Works better but if I push the bike all the way down they will still bind..
Any ideas?
