K11 Owners Group

StevieG · Joined: 29 Jul 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Orlando, Fl

I got a quick question that I'm hoping someone may be able to help with. I just exchanged my not-so-lovely bent forks with some lovely straight forks from a breakers yard, but upon changing out the seals and fluid, they feel completely different when I compress them in turn. One of them seems like it has quite a bit of damping, but the other is like a pogo stick.

I'm guessing they're not supposed to be that way - an ideas? Do the damping rods wear out? Might they have different springs?

Oh its a 1994 K1100 LT!!

Thanks in advance! Very Happy

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 1:14 pm Post subject:

Only one does rebound damping. Yours are probably fine.
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chopper_harris · Posted: Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:08 pm Post subject:

That is why they take different amounts of fluid during rebuild.

The right leg takes 400ml, because it has a 'secret squirrel' reservoir.
The left leg is undamped, and takes 350ml.

It would be wise to flush both legs out prior to installing and filling with SAE 5-10 (or a cocktail of the two).
I use ATF, which is cheap. Add the correct amount, and work the fork for 5 minutes to shift any crud.

Drain, refill, enjoy Smile

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StevieG · Joined: 29 Jul 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Orlando, Fl

Ah-hah! I was hoping that was the case but I just needed some people smarter than me to tell me.
I should have checked what they felt like before I started taking everything apart, but I was too keen Wink