Forks topping out...nasty THUNK!

[SinisterValkyrie]

Hey everyone!  This is my first post here...though I have been on researching for some time since I got my Valk.  LOVE IT!
To my problem, I have a 2001 Tourer with 25000 on it.  I was on a Christmas Poker Run this weekend (proceeds buy a Christmas Tree, presents and dinner for a needy family) and while riding through the final stop at a State Park I noticed that everytime I went over a speed bump faster than a snails pace, the forks topped out with a nasty THUNK.  This is the rebound valve, correct?  Is this serviceable on the bike?  I have read that servicing the forks on the bike is possible.  Do I need to swap out the fork oil (what weight would you recommend?)?
I've googled and searched here, but come up with hit and miss info.

Thanks everyone...glad to be here!!!

[Ricky-D]

Hard to believe they are actually bottoming out.

Are you sure?

They will clunk pretty aggressively with worn "wear" parts. Sliders, bushings, guides, etc.

It is very hard to get those springs to collapse enough to where they are completely compressed.

***

Just a note: The picture is so large it takes a long time to load. That'll discourage posting. Can you make it smaller?

[hubcapsc]

Even though Ricky read "bottomed out" where you wrote "topped out", he might
be on to something with the worn internal parts.

Some other folks have been having trouble with their Valkyrie forks topping out in some recent
threads... I can't relate...

Not long after I got my Valkyrie I rebuilt the forks - changed the oil, the seals and replaced
internal wear parts. My forks also have Progressive (brand) springs in them. I think Valkyrie
forks are really good forks when they are set up right, so don't give up or think that you
are stuck with crummy forks...

-Mike

[moreira72]

my I/S made the same clunking sound on speed bumps and potholes. when I took the forks apart to replace the seals, I found that the fork caps were not attached to the rods on both forks. Previous owner must have forgotten to tighten them when he put in Proggressive springs.

[Valker]

my I/S made the same clunking sound on speed bumps and potholes. when I took the forks apart to replace the seals, I found that the fork caps were not attached to the rods on both forks. Previous owner must have forgotten to tighten them when he put in Proggressive springs.

+1

[SinisterValkyrie]

my I/S made the same clunking sound on speed bumps and potholes. when I took the forks apart to replace the seals, I found that the fork caps were not attached to the rods on both forks. Previous owner must have forgotten to tighten them when he put in Proggressive springs.

LOVELY!  LOL.
I can remove one fork cap at a time without concern of loosing fluid, right?  If I pull the top caps off, I should tighten the piece inside all the way then put the cap back on?

The forks act as though there is insufficient rebound dampening.  It's kinda jarry just on the road...not the riding on clouds feeling I expected.  Could that be fork oil needing to be replaced (can't that be done on the bike)?

Thanks guys

I'm giving up hope on anything by any means.  It's the only issue I've had.  Along with this I am going to pull the back tire and service the splines, replace the o-rings, etc.  There is a guy here in Rogue River, OR that I'd like to hook up with and get some assistance pulling my PAIR valves BS.

[indybobm]

Are you sure it is the forks? The front brake pads can make a very nasty noise on bumps if the 'tension' spring plate is weak. It allows the pads to rattle around.

[Misfit]

Don't try to lossen the caps without first loosening the top triple tree clamp bolts.

[moreira72]

my I/S made the same clunking sound on speed bumps and potholes. when I took the forks apart to replace the seals, I found that the fork caps were not attached to the rods on both forks. Previous owner must have forgotten to tighten them when he put in Proggressive springs.

LOVELY!  LOL.
I can remove one fork cap at a time without concern of loosing fluid, right?  If I pull the top caps off, I should tighten the piece inside all the way then put the cap back on?

The forks act as though there is insufficient rebound dampening.  It's kinda jarry just on the road...not the riding on clouds feeling I expected.  Could that be fork oil needing to be replaced (can't that be done on the bike)?

Thanks guys

I'm giving up hope on anything by any means.  It's the only issue I've had.  Along with this I am going to pull the back tire and service the splines, replace the o-rings, etc.  There is a guy here in Rogue River, OR that I'd like to hook up with and get some assistance pulling my PAIR valves BS.

http://valkyrienorway.com/download.html

Follow this link. You can download honda service manual. It will give you a step by step procedure for fork maintance, including all torque specs and procedures for attaching the damper rods to the fork caps. Just take your time.
Also check out this youtube video on Fork teardown. It's for a VTX, but the valkyrie has the same type of forks. the guy has 4 videos on the subject.

VTX 1800 Fork Seals Part 1.wmv	powered by Aeva

good luck

[longrider]

I've been where you are at.  my opinion is the odds are slim that any internal parts would be worn out at 25k.  You have two choices.  change fork oil to a 15 weight.  this will give a firmer ride and should not bottom out as much.   second install progressive springs.  this is what I did.  much firmer ride not always liked by some but, my valk handles much better over all road surfaces. 

warren

[moreira72]

My I/S was making that sound as the forks extended not when they compressed. I even thought at first that it was something loose in the fairing. If the rods are not attached to the caps, you will hear that clunk sound when they extend, like when the front wheel falls suddenly into a pothole or goes over a speedbump on the way down. When i went over the speedbump at work at 5mph no noise and at 15 or 20 mph it sounded like the forks where coming apart. when i opened them up, the rods weren't even attached to the caps.

[Ricky-D]

When the rods are not attached to the caps there is nothing really left to keep the shocks from coming apart except the internal clips, seals and external stuff like the brake lines and cables and finally the weight of the bike.

And none of the things I mention above are there to keep the shocks together.

Only the rods connected to the caps are there for that !!!!!

Oh, there are other things the rods do also, but the main duty is to keep the shocks together.

***

[SinisterValkyrie]

That sounds like it exactly!

My I/S was making that sound as the forks extended not when they compressed. I even thought at first that it was something loose in the fairing. If the rods are not attached to the caps, you will hear that clunk sound when they extend, like when the front wheel falls suddenly into a pothole or goes over a speedbump on the way down. When i went over the speedbump at work at 5mph no noise and at 15 or 20 mph it sounded like the forks where coming apart. when i opened them up, the rods weren't even attached to the caps.