Really tired forks

[ChrisK]

but if they don't rebound when you push them down the oil has suddenly got a whole load thicker, the springs have suddenly collapsed, things are out of line causing stiction to hold them where they stop, or they're bent.  the first two suggestions are most certainly rubbish.  the third you've dealt with, the fourth you need to investigate i'd think.  lift the front, unscrew the fork caps and see if the forks will move through their travel.

Could you elaborate on or reword your last sentence? It may be because I'm not a morning person but for some reason I'm having a hard time getting that.

Thanks for listing out the scenarios. Question for everyone, since there are no marks from the pavement anywhere on the forks, triples, or wheel, how does a set of forks get bent in a crash like that? Can the shock induced to the handlebars do that? This was my first experience with a crash so I don't know much and I'm curious.

Also, I'm going to build myself a fork compression tool, does anyone happen to know the diameter of the two small holes I'll be inserting bolts into?

[ducpainter]

The force to the bars can twist the forks in the triples causing increased friction.

It's also possible the wheel took enough of an unnoticed hit to bend the tubes. That's why Brad suggests removing the caps and springs and manually moving the forks through the range. Any binding would indicate something was bent.

[ChrisK]

Ahh okay, so basically disassemble so that I can freely move the forks up and down, and check for any irregularities.

I think I'm going to order a set of fork seals, then I'll pull them apart when those come in. Anything else I should know about/ look for? Anyone know the diameter of those holes?

[ducpainter]

I'm with Brad in the if it ain't broke don't fix it camp re: the seals.

[ChrisK]

I'm with Brad in the if it ain't broke don't fix it camp re: the seals.

Hmmm okay... suppose it's not a big deal to just try it without ordering the seals first. As soon as I get that tool made I'll pull them apart and see what's up.

[ducpainter]

Hmmm okay... suppose it's not a big deal to just try it without ordering the seals first. As soon as I get that tool made I'll pull them apart and see what's up.

What tool do you need to check to see if something is bent?

If all you end up doing is changing oil and springs they don't need to come apart any farther than removing the caps. 

[ChrisK]

Don't I need to compress them with something similar to this (below) so that I can pump the rod and get all the oil out?

http://www.ducati.ms/forums/attachments/superbikes/53266d1250558365-do-i-need-showa-fork-tool-sdc11429.jpg

[ChrisK]

The way I understood it was the forks need to be compressed so that I can get at the nut on the underside of the cap, of course I'm probably wrong...

[ChrisK]

NEVERMIND, anyone who may have had the same questions I did... this is a GREAT how-to video on changing the fork oil.

http://mpora.com/videos/Je4gKpr11?hd=false

[brad black]

what forks are in yours?

[brad black]

NEVERMIND, anyone who may have had the same questions I did... this is a GREAT how-to video on changing the fork oil.

http://mpora.com/videos/Je4gKpr11?hd=false

that's an incredibly unscientific way to do it and makes me cringe, frankly.  pull them apart, do it properly.

the holes in the preload tubes are 10mm on showas.  non adj have a dished washer holding them together, with the std springs you can probably pull the spacer down enough by hand.

[ChrisK]

Thank you, my local shop didn't have any 5W in stock so I'll be doing this tomorrow night.

[ChrisK]

As far as which forks I have, I've never been too clear on how to determine that, I'm very new to this.

[brad black]

post a photo.

[ChrisK]

Here's a picture that shows the top cap:



And here's the best one I have of the whole fork: