Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Broken Fork Air Valve!

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
    #1

    Broken Fork Air Valve!

    After putting some air in my front left fork and re-installing the cap, this happened. . The Air valve assembly just broke off! I should have known something was up as it was very difficult to add air and kept leaking. I supposed it was cracked this whole time and finally gave out.

    I found a part number for it but I haven't been able to find it anywhere except eBay and there about $60 for one. Any idea if this is some sort of universal Schrader valve assembly that I can get somewhere else? The schrader valve looks like any other. Or is this some OEM only part?

    Also, is this worth fixing or is it time for a suspension upgrade?

    Oh.. This is on a 1982 1100GK

    IMG_3386.jpg
    Tags: None
    #2
    The ONLY reason I can think of for maintaining the fork air system is if you insist on having a 100% stock original 1982 GS1100GK. And you'll forgive me for saying "that's nuts!" It's not an E, after all. And after investing in all the original parts to restore my '82 11E's fork air system, (including a special pump to put the air in), I never had it working for long. It's too fragile (seals), you'd have to check and adjust (add) air often, and it just doesn't deliver the performance you'd get from a new set of straight rate springs.
    So fork the air, and buy some RaceTech or Sonic springs. And unless you're wasting away, estimate what you'll weigh in a few years when choosing the spring rate.
    1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

    2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.
    • Likes 1

    Comment

      #3
      Originally posted by Rob S. View Post
      The ONLY reason I can think of for maintaining the fork air system is if you insist on having a 100% stock original 1982 GS1100GK. And you'll forgive me for saying "that's nuts!" It's not an E, after all. And after investing in all the original parts to restore my '82 11E's fork air system, (including a special pump to put the air in), I never had it working for long. It's too fragile (seals), you'd have to check and adjust (add) air often, and it just doesn't deliver the performance you'd get from a new set of straight rate springs.
      So fork the air, and buy some RaceTech or Sonic springs. And unless you're wasting away, estimate what you'll weigh in a few years when choosing the spring rate.
      Great advice and thanks!! This is the kind of answer I was looking for. New springs it is!!

      Comment

        #4
        Originally posted by danny01975 View Post

        Great advice and thanks!! This is the kind of answer I was looking for. New springs it is!!
        Being cheap, I.........
        If the springs are the correct length, withing service limits you could put a spacer on top of them to preload the forks.
        Mine came with an adjustable ramp type pre-loader in there.
        Even if you replaced the air valve you would almost certainly have different leak rates each side which is not good.
        97 R1100R
        Previous
        80 GS850G, 79 Z400B, 85 R100RT, 80 Z650D, 76 CB200

        Comment

          #5
          So are we talking about simply replacing the springs only? When I look up springs on the race tech site there's something there about a valve emulator and modifying the dampening rod.

          Comment

            #6
            Originally posted by danny01975 View Post
            So are we talking about simply replacing the springs only? When I look up springs on the race tech site there's something there about a valve emulator and modifying the dampening rod.
            Dampening rod mod - never heard of that, although I haven't read much about the GK as mine is an E.

            Valve emulator - IMHO, overkill for our purposes. (I'm guessing you're not planning many 'track days' on your GK.)
            1982 GS1100E V&H "SS" exhaust, APE pods, 1150 oil cooler, 140 speedo, 99.3 rear wheel HP, black engine, '83 red

            2016 XL883L sigpic Two-tone blue and white. Almost 42 hp! Status: destroyed, now owned by the insurance company. The hole in my memory starts an hour before the accident and ends 24 hours after.
            • Likes 1

            Comment

              #7
              Get a brass nut and a schrader vvvalve and fab up a new one. Loctite or solder on the schrade as it sits in the brass nut.
              1983 GS 550 LD
              2009 BMW K1300s

              Comment

                #8
                Marcel Vlaandere (https://www.classicsuzukiparts.nl/) has 3 of these valves should you want to replace them.
                Rijk

                Top 10 Newbie Mistakes thread
                CV Carb rebuild tutorial
                VM Carb rebuild tutorial
                Bikecliff's website
                The Stator Papers

                "The thing about freedom - it's never free"
                • Likes 1

                Comment

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Rijko View Post
                  Marcel Vlaandere (https://www.classicsuzukiparts.nl/) has 3 of these valves should you want to replace them.
                  Thanks! But I think I'm going to just replace the springs and forego the air all together. One of the rear shocks is also leaking, so I'll probably just replace those with conventional shocks as well.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Yeah best decision. Sonic is a good option. You can also cut down the stock spring to stiffen if you're on a budget but you won't be able to get it as stiff as the SOnic/Progressive. 43lb is about as much as you can go without getting coil bound on the 1100 fork (although the GK might have a heavier spec spring already for the fairing so you might be able to get more out of that, youd have t measure & do the math).

                    Ikon is a reasonable priced shock...
                    1980 GS1000G - Sold
                    1978 GS1000E - Finished!
                    1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
                    1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
                    2009 KLR 650 - Sold - gone to TX!
                    1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
                    2009 TE610 - Dual Sporting around dreaming of Dakar..... - FOR SALE!

                    www.parasiticsanalytics.com

                    TWINPOT BRAKE UPGRADE LINKY: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...e-on-78-Skunk/

                    Comment

                    Previous template Next
                    Working...
                    X