front forks bottoming out

[flyracer12]

i have a 05 ultra that i rebuilt it has new tubes legs everything is new it has a cartrige type leg on the left side the plroblem i am haveing is it bottoms out very hard i put the right amount of oil in it the dealer said like 10.8 in the right 11 in the left i have even try more and less and it is still hitting to hard this is how i put it in the left side i put 2 to 3 oz in pump the shock with the top cap off then i put 2 to 3 more oz in did the same pump the fork with the cap still off did this same thing till i got to 11oz then put the cap back on still same hitting very hard i mean it is softer with now oil at all in it doesnt hit that hard could i have something turned wrong in the fork i just dont understand this why it hits so hard i going to buy service manual but would like to see a diagram of the left leg to maybe take back apart to see if it has something turned wrong in it ps. i know they say take the leg completly of the bike to put oil in the left side because it is a cartrige type but my thery is is u can get the oil in and pump the shock and it on the bike what would be the difference please let me know if i am missing something here it driving me nut thanks

 

[glider]

It's possible you have an over filled left fork (cartridge) they will hit hard with too much oil in them,best to remove and invert them to drain completely before refilling or change that side to non cartridge. also the weight of oil will make a difference too. Overfilling them only makes them hit harder and rides stiff too.

 

[flyracer12]

yes but these are new they were completly apart and put together and the exact amount of fluid put in them and i even drained them out and measured that amouunt it was the same 11 oz tryed puting less in it same results tryed putting 1/2 oz at a time same results so i think have ruled out the fluid level i think

 

[Eagle Rider]

All - I would like to re-ask this question. I am having the same issue with my '03 Ultra Classic. I took it in to the HD Dealer and the guy there told me this was normal for a Touring bike. This I find hard to beleive.:20: First it can not be good for the seals to be bottoming out while doing 65 mph.
Questions -
1. I have heard go to heavier Oil - what Oil weight and type do a majority use
2. Cartridge - What sign (if any) do we have if the cartridge is bad? (HD Service center claimed mine was OK).
3. Any other suggestions to eliminate this issue? When this bottoms out on the Highway, its enough to knock you silly. This is a bit dangerous to me.:31:

Thanks.

 

[glider]

All - I would like to re-ask this question. I am having the same issue with my '03 Ultra Classic. I took it in to the HD Dealer and the guy there told me this was normal for a Touring bike. This I find hard to beleive.:20: First it can not be good for the seals to be bottoming out while doing 65 mph.
Questions -
1. I have heard go to heavier Oil - what Oil weight and type do a majority use
2. Cartridge - What sign (if any) do we have if the cartridge is bad? (HD Service center claimed mine was OK).
3. Any other suggestions to eliminate this issue? When this bottoms out on the Highway, its enough to knock you silly. This is a bit dangerous to me.:31:

Thanks.

I believe you have a cartridge in the left side of your bike. A change to 10 wt will stop the bottoming out. Stock oil is 5 wt and too thin for the heavier bikes and a switch to 10 wt will prove to be the way to go. You can also change the left cartridge side to the regular side to make servicing much easier.

Cartridge Fork Elimination. - Harley Davidson Community

Easy Fork Oil Change On Baggers - Harley Davidson Community

 

[Eagle Rider]

Thanks Glider.
This has me leaning towards getting rid of the cartridge in the future, but the heavier oil is a must do now. :s

Thanks again

 

[USMCCWO5]

I am using Maxima 20wt. The ride is much more consistent during shifting and braking. However, this heavy bike still dives when grabbing the brakes. It doesn't bob when grabbing the clutch to shift up to the next gear.