Fork Spring Spacers?

[mack]

My free length is 606 & 607mm. My book says 612 is min. Can I just put in a series of flat washers on top of the springs to make up the difference. Or is there a better way?

[fredintoon]

My free length is 606 & 607mm. My book says 612 is min. Can I just put in a series of flat washers on top of the springs to make up the difference. Or is there a better way?

Hi Mack,
short lengths of black plastic water pipe work better than washers at a minimal cost.
The replacement spring kit from Progressive will cost you just about $100. That'll give you a better class of spring.
Note that Progressive sells the same kit for Standards and for Specials. There's a length of plastic spacer in there that is only used on the Special.
If you got the forks apart anyway it's a good time to replace the fork seals, before they crap out and dump fork oil on the brake pads, eh?

[Geezer]

A spacer is a common way to help out sagging fork springs but I think a tube or solid spacer would be better than washers. I once used a couple cheap sockets to do the job. I think they were something like a buck a piece and already the right size.

Geezer

[mack]

Original free length

Anybody know what the original free length was. I assume that 612 is the lower compression limit. I'm going to use PVC but if I'm going to that trouble I want to make the spacer long enough to make up the original length.

[mack]

Fork Seals

Replacing these was why I tore the forks down in the first place. I knew I had trouble there as after I bleed out the air I thought I'd pop out the drain plugs. All I got was wet rusty looking sludge. So another couple days to clean these inside and out as well. In for penny in for whole pound now. Getting the seals out is a real chore. Took almost the whole afternoon, and there is still some chunks I'm trying to get out.

[bikerphil]

The free length is 612.2mm. Make a PVC spacer to make up for saggy springs. Always use a washer between the PVC spacer and the spring, otherwise it will get chewed up and clog the fork damping passages. If you want a stiffer ride with less dive on braking, make the spacer longer. It is important to have both the spacers the same distance from the top of the fork tube.

[b.walker5]

It is important to have both the spacers the same distance from the top of the fork tube.

K I assume you mean both spacers the same length ? because distance from the top of the fork tube would be determined by the screw in plug, would it not? I have progressives with, from memory, 3" pvc spacers in mine.

[bikerphil]

K I assume you mean both spacers the same length ? because distance from the top of the fork tube would be determined by the screw in plug, would it not? I have progressives with, from memory, 3" pvc spacers in mine.

Meant to say with the fork caps off, forks fully extended. My spacers sit down in the fork tubes about 1 1/4" (stiffer springs), so I have to measure UP to the top of the tube. But yes, the spacers should be the same length. Sorry for the forking confusion.