A month ago, I had my suspension rebuilt. Heavier springs front and rear. Plus new bushings and seals up front. After the rebuild, I noticed a "pogo-stick" sound whenever I took the bike off the stand. When I removed the forks from the clamps if you shook them,you could hear the springs rattling inside the tubes.
I had a problem with bottoming on some medium jumps, even though the compression adjusters were screwed all the way in (hard). I knew this shouldn't be happening with the heavier springs. So I decided to take the caps off and found the oil was 1 inch below factory specs. I also found out why the springs were making noise. On full extension of the forks, like when on the stand, the springs had about 1/8 of an inch of freeplay (up and down movement) inside the tubes.
I replaced the fork oil and brought it up to the correct level. I went to Home Depot, Lowes, and even a hitch shop. I was looking for a washer with a 7/8 inch inner diameter and 1 3/8 inch outer diameter. I was hoping a hitch ball washer would work. No luck. I found the correct sized washers at our local True Value Hardware store. They were thick, so three washers gave me the 3/8 inch I needed.
Now the springs don't make any noise in the tubes. It was a simple fix that cost me $1.20 in parts and about 2 hours labor. It was my first time taking off the caps, so I was slow. I don't think I added enough of a spacer to effect spring rates, just enough to take up the slack in the tubes.
Hopefully the weather will cooperate and I can test out the mods.
Steve.