Hydro fluid swap on old forks, did I mess up or did the manual?

Tried changing the oil in a pair of 2005 Fox Talas forks yesterday. Manual said 5wt at 150cc, so I followed it exactly. But the damper feels super stiff now, almost like it's locked out, and the rebound clicks don't seem to do anything. Shop owner next door said I should've used 2.5wt because the old seals are probably swollen, but the manual clearly says 5wt. Is the manual just outdated for worn internals, or did I get a bad batch of oil? Has anyone else run into this where following the spec makes the fork ride worse?

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patking1mo ago

Man, that SUCKS. Getting all that apart and putting it back together only to have it ride like a damn pogo stick is the worst feeling. The shop guy might be onto something though, those old Talas seals were known to swell up like crazy after a decade, and thicker oil just makes it worse. The manual is right for fresh internals, but it doesnt account for 20 years of wear and abuse. I'd say drain it, throw in the 2.5wt, and maybe give the damper rod a good polish while you're in there. You're not crazy, this is a SUPER common thing with older Fox forks, everyone hits this wall eventually.