Maintenance
52
4
MAINTENANCE
4.1
Problems – Diagnosis – Solutions
This paragraph indicates some of the problems that may arise during the fork's use, as well as the
possible causes of these problems and the suggested solutions.
Always check this table before working on the fork.
Operations inside the grey box must be carried out by authorized service centers.
Problem
Fork has too much sag
Fork bottoms too easily; needs
more than maximum preload to
attain proper sag
Forks bottoms too easily, but it
has the recommended sag
Fork does not get full travel
Fork extends too quickly; harsh
top-out after impacts
Front wheel wants to tuck
under while cornering
Fork "packs up" or stays down
in travel during multiple impacts
Knocking sound during
rebound, but no harsh top-out
Oil "ring" on stanchions
Heavy amount of oil on
stanchions; oil dripping down
legs
Fork is sticky; fork does not
perform as new
Oil leakage from the bottom
Loss of sensitivity
Diagnosis
Spring rate too soft
Spring rate too soft or fork oil too
low
Not enough compression
damping
Spring rate too stiff or fork oil too
high
Not enough rebound damping
Too much rebound damping;
spring rate too soft
Too much rebound damping
Too much rebound damping
Oil seals are contaminated
Seals are damaged, stanchions
could be damaged
Oil seals are contaminated; fork
needs to be serviced
Loose bottom nut
Bottom nut o-ring damaged
Worn sliding bushings
Old oil
Solution
Add spring preload
Change to stiffer spring rate
Check oil height
Get stiffer springs
Increase air pressure
Increase compression damping by
changing oil level
Check oil height
Get softer spring
Decrease air pressure
Increase rebound damping
Replace oil (SAE 7,5) with a higher
viscosity
Decrease the rebound damping
Increase spring rate
Decrease rebound damping
Decrease rebound damping
Replace all seals (repair the fork
before using it again)
Replace all seals and have the
stanchions inspected (repair the fork
before using it again)
Replace all seals (repair the fork
before using it again)
Tighten bottom nut
Replace bottom nut o-ring
Replace sliding bushings
Change oil