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Author Topic: Front Fork Squeak  (Read 1113 times)

Offline Bob_Roller

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Front Fork Squeak
« on: January 17, 2008, 02:45:17 PM »
I replaced the OEM fork springs with Progressive, now I have a 'squeak' in the front when the forks compress.

I know I've seen a post on this in the past, I did a search, and came up with nothing.

Is there anything you can do to eliminate or reduce this noise ?

I put the standard 7.5 wt BMW fork oil in the forks when I replaced the seals, and serviced it with the correct quantity of oil, so I know it's serviced properly.
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

Offline MrRiden

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Re: Front Fork Squeak
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2008, 05:03:03 PM »
Bob,
Did you replace the seals at the same time as the springs? I'm just wonderin' if it's the seals makin' all the racket? Wonder what a shot of silicone under the rubber dust boot would produce.
rich
"We can't stop here. This is bat country".

Offline Bob_Roller

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Re: Front Fork Squeak
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2008, 05:16:33 PM »
Yes , I replaced the seals, and also put a light coat of fork oil on the inner fork tube before securing the gaiters.
'81 R65
'82 R65 LS
'84 R65 LS
'87 Moto Guzzi V65 Lario
'02 R1150R
Riding all year long since 1993 .
I'll give up my R65, when they pry my cold dead hands from the handlebars !!!!!

Offline nhmaf

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Re: Front Fork Squeak
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2008, 09:45:18 PM »
Does it just squeak at the bottom (or top) of the travel when you compress and release it ?   I seem to recall having something like this when I replaced the seals and put progressive forks springs in my R65 also, though I ended up changing the level of the fork oil (I think that I added a bit more than the ~210cc but can't recall how much).
Don't go crazy with the fork oil though - how much did you put in ?   Perhaps adding another 10cc or so might stop it ?   After adding a bit more oil, my fork would still squeak on occasion if not being used for awhile, or when hitting a big bump, but it now no longer squeaks.  Maybe enough oil film finally made it to the inside of the fork seals after a few dozen miles .  When putting it all back together, did you bounce the bike with the front wheel on with the pinch bolts/fender brace bolts loose to make sure that there isn't any pinching in the sliders ?

Apparently if you hear rattles/clunks of the spring, during fork compression, you could try putting the spacer at the top of the fork tubes (on top of the spring) instead of the bottom of the spring down toward the slider - if you can get that sucker back up outta there...
Airhead #12178 ? BMWMOA #123173 ?BMWRA #33525 ?GSBMWR #563 ?1982 BMW R65LS ?1978 BMW R100/7 1998 Kawasaki Concours