Forks never "Topped out" before. What's worn out?

The forks on my 850 have always been great & never did that clanking topping out thing but after sitting for over a year they have now started doing it on only the left. I tried changing the fluid thinking it my have gone bad but now with fresh 20 wt the Left still tops out.. What is it that might have happened?? If I do have to tear them down there will be one more Landsown kit sold but rather not go there yet.

when the klonk happens its either low oil,or the top damper cap is worn..try 160cc of 30 weight, if it still happens ,then its thinking outside the box...like a lower bush loose and hitting the retaining clip...its happened before.

+1 for the 30 weight oil. After many years of using proprietary fork oil in my 850 forks and never being very happy with them I decided to try some 30 grade some years ago and was very pleased with the results! A slightly harder ride of course but none of that topping out business.

Very strange as both damper rods should be same length into the damper tubes so both caps struck on top outs. Extra fluid may prevent road going top outs but not lift and move by hand ones. Only things I can think of is the RH damper rod unscrewed from fork cap and/or RH damper cap was the first to strike prior on last ride unnoticed but now broken off so silent with less dampening on tap to need thicker oil.

Thanks, will try 30 wt. both dampner rods are threaded into the top nuts with caps and lock nuts in place as they always were. I've owned several Commando 750's & one P11. All topped out when going on the center stand or over good bumps but this 850 never did before. I had taken the top nuts off and pulled the tubes to install a differant type of clippons a while ago. I don't think I changed the height of the dampner tube lock nut but if it did turn when taking off the top nut would that make it top out?

Ugh its those damn shoe elves screwing with you too, likely only cure now is Lansdowne kit.

I don't think it's elves Hobot, I have several families of Squirrels that are so tame they come get peanuts right from our hands & often come hang out on a board above me & watch while I work on the bikes. Maybe they do some wrenching of their own at night when I'm asleep!!!

Steve , you are spot on with the damper rod lengths, Unscrew the top nuts and measure the distance's are equal ,between the top yolk face and the underside of the hex ,adjust rods to equalize . This will ensure both damper valves hit at the caps at same time, but you could get a double Klonk! :twisted:

hobot said:

Very strange as both damper rods should be same length into the damper tubes so both caps struck on top outs. Extra fluid may prevent road going top outs but not lift and move by hand ones. Only things I can think of is the RH damper rod unscrewed from fork cap and/or RH damper cap was the first to strike prior on last ride unnoticed but now broken off so silent with less dampening on tap to need thicker oil.

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