Front fork questions

[luc8421]

so while waiting for a wiring harness from JT motorsports, I noticed that a small pool of oil from the forks was appearing on the floor of my garage. So while waiting (it's been over a month since I ordered) for my other parts, I decided to rip apart (systematically of course, I didn't actually rip anything) my front end. I've gotten both forks out, however now I am attempting to get the inner tube out of the outer tube in order to replace the oil seals (it is nessecary to remove the inner tube, right?) anyways, I read in my manual that I need some 20 foot screw driver to get it out, anyone have a method of doing this? will my local hardware store have some tool I could use?

The other thing is that when I removed the top fork cap, between it and the spring was a small piece of PVC tubing, about 1 inch long, I'm assuming that's there to stiffen up the forks. Is this a common thing for racers to do? (the previous owner raced the bike)

The last thing I'm wondering about is progressive suspension, how do you tell if they're stock springs or not? the pictures on bikebandit.com show equally spaced springs, while mine get progressively more compressed towards the top of the spring. Is that what "progressive" springs means?

I'm sorry about my ignorance, never pulled a fork apart. Thank you everyone very much for you help, and sorry this was so long

[Anonymous]

The piece of PVC pipe is there to increase the pre-load on the suspension, it will stiffen it up as you say.

If forks have been dismantled before, it is sometimes possible to unscrew the bottom socket screw with the fork leg assembled. The spring pressure is sufficient to hold the innards in place! Either hold the fork tube in a soft-jaw vice or put the fork leg back in the triples.

Worth a try...

Tony

[luc8421]

it is sometimes possible to unscrew the bottom socket screw with the fork leg assembled

I'll give this a try, however I guess I'm wondering if it's truly nessecary to remove the inner tube in order to replace the seals.

And does anyone have an answer to my question about the springs? Thanks again everyone.

[Anonymous]

The last thing I'm wondering about is progressive suspension, how do you tell if they're stock springs or not? the pictures on bikebandit.com show equally spaced springs, while mine get progressively more compressed towards the top of the spring. Is that what "progressive" springs means?

Yes, that is what the progressive means. Actually, it refers to the fact that the spring rate is not linear and gets stiffer as the spring compresses, but it also means the winding is not equally spaced.

The OEM springs in my 82 1100E are progressively wound if that helps. I have no idea how to tell if you have OEM springs or not aside from calculating the rate from the spring geometry. The stock rate will be ridiculously low and that will be a giveaway.


Mark

[Anonymous]

Front fork questions

I have made my own tool for removing those bolts.I have a 80-850 & I use a bolt about 2 inches long w/2nuts tightened against each other flush w/end of bolt threads.Made mine w/3/4 inch(17mm)heads-yours may be different size.I wrap 1 layer of masking tape on head of bolt so it fits tightly in socket & won't fall off while dropping it down inside of fork w/long extension.