closer spaced coils on '79 GS 1000 springs

[jknappsax]

Which way do the springs go in? the closer coils up, or down. I don't see the info in either my Suzuki manual, or my Haynes manual. DOH!

[mike_of_bbg]

I don't think it usually matters, so long as they are the same. The general advice is to install with the tight coils down. Those are the "soft" coils and there may be less noise in operation that way.

[jknappsax]

that's how I THOUGHT they were supposed to go. Thanks!

[bwringer]

If they're the original fork springs, install them into the nearest trash can. Either way up is fine.

Then order up some Progressive fork springs or Sonic straight-rate fork springs.

Then again, it sounds like you might already have Progressive springs.

[salty_monk]

In theory the close ones go at the top as they weigh more.. in practice it makes no difference as others say

[bwringer]

In theory the close ones go at the top as they weigh more.. in practice it makes no difference as others say

Well, as long as we're talking theory here... putting the closer coils at the top also would displace a little less of the fork oil down below. Hard to say whether this effect would be significant or not, but I sincerely doubt it. If you're sensitive enough to tell whether your fork springs are upside-down, you probably shouldn't be out in the daylight.


I've also seen the advice before to put the closer coils at the bottom because of "noise", but this doesn't make a bit sense to me -- I've ridden a lot of bikes a lot of miles in all sorts of conditions, and I can't recall ever, even once, hearing the slightest noise from the fork springs.

Where does this stuff come from? Are people really out there riding around with fork springs so sacked and loose that they're kaboinging around in there?

[BassCliff]

Where does this stuff come from? Are people really out there riding around with fork springs so sacked and loose that they're kaboinging around in there?

Hi,

I seem to recall that the installation instructions for my Progressive springs mentioned fork noise so I repeated the suggestion in my little fork spring replacement guide. It would seem that the more tightly wound end would bang together sooner than the looser end but the oil at the bottom of the forks would keep the noise down. I actually flipped mine to see if it made a difference and it does seem to make a difference. There's less noise in the front end with the tighter coils on the bottom. But then, I've been playing really loud rock-n-roll music most of my life.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[jknappsax]

What to use to cut down springs

I don't have a grinder or cutoff wheel. I have a metal diamond coated saw blade for my Dremel tool; do you think I can use that to cut the springs down? I don't want to make a bloody mess of them, as they are at the top so the spec at 421 mm.

[hampshirehog]

I thought Haynes says put the close spaced ones at the top (less unsprung weight.......as if anyone would notice). As Haynes says this, I would strongly recommend doing the opposite.......

It doesn't matter.