So I installed some new fork springs this evening. They are for adult riders, stiffer and 1" longer than stock.

When I took the bike out on the road and tried a few wheelies, I noticed that when I pull up on the bars, the forks clunk. It's like there is some play inside the fork and when I compress them and then jerk up, they clunk.

This doesn't make any sense to me, since longer and stiffer springs *should* keep everything in the fork assembly tighter, right?

So I took the fork legs back out. I verified the pins were still tight that go through the fork legs and spring caster. The springs at both ends are wrapped tight on the casters.

I made sure the notch on the top caster was facing in towards the wheel so it would match up inside the fork tube. I put the fork legs back in the tubes, the notches were aligned, and I tightened the bolts on top of the triple.

Then I slid the bushings (some delrin ones I've had for months so they shouldn't be the problem) up into the tube, then the metal washer, and then snapped the circlip into place. Everything is tight and dandy, but when I take it back on the road the same thing happens. They clunk when I jerk up on the bars. I also made sure the steering head nut was tight.

Has anyone ever run into this problem before when installing HD fork springs? I really dont want to have to go through the mess of knocking the springs back off to test the stock ones again...

 

mine has made that noise before to, pull out the legs again and cover the springs with grease, I used wheel bearing grease and lots of it.

 

I greased them up pretty good but I'll try it again. I also got my friends completely stock fiddy and switched the fork legs/springs and after that mine did NOT clunk and his DID. so its definitely something with the way the new springs are on the fork legs. I rode it around some more today and didn't notice it as much but if I go over a root or bump and the fork compress and extend real quick it is a very pronounced and loud clunk. I just don't want my bushings to launch out my fork tubes from the hit...

 

I have the same springs that you have in my bike. Mine do the same thing, i dont like it but theyve never really givin me a problem except for the annoying sound.

 

make sure you have the notches at thetop lined up 1st...

The clumk could easily be coming from the bushing being all worn, you not putting the springs in tight enough, or one of the clips on the bottom of the foks being loose.

 

i've also found with the longer aftermarket springs, they tend to klunk on extension, the applieds i have do it REAL BAD. the BBR's are nice though, they clunk a little, but since they are stock length, they're not forcing the fork stops agains the bushings as hard as other longer springs

also, make sur eyou got plenty of grease in there...just take a handfull and pack that crap in there

 

mine did that too after i changed the springs. i just took it all apart, put it togehter again and it was fine