So I'm taking apart my forks.... aaaand....

[Eisenfaust]

I *think* whomever last did the seals on this bike installed progressive springs!

They're definitely rising-rate springs, and the spacer inside the fork tube was only an inch long!

Looking at Pablo's lazy-install guide, I *definitely* have the aftermarkets.

     

So I guess I'm glad I didnt order the bloody things when i decided to fix my seals! *laugh*

Now I'm putting 15 weight in there.... and with new seals, perhaps she'll handle better! (there was less than two shotglasses worth of oil in each of my forks. O_O)

I really want to know who owned my bike before me... I've also discovered a 15t front sprocket, and other little things here and there....

[Mk1inCali]

Rockin!  15WT is NICE.

[Eisenfaust]

AGH!

Okay, so I'm working on the left fork leg (leg number one).

I have the damper rod out (yay for home depot tools) and the dust seal is removed.

Now... how the blazes do I get the two halves of the fork apart? They just wont seperate!

>_<

[scratch]

Did you already remove the metal clip from the groove above the seal?

[Eisenfaust]

That would be it.

How do I get that little bugger out of there?!

[Eisenfaust]

Okay.. that *wasnt* it. Clip removed, the tubes still dont want to seperate.

[Mk1inCali]

IIRC, after you pull that metal clip out, you just have to pull.  Best way is to have one guy holding the lower, one guy pulling on the upper (skinnier) tube and let it bang against the stop.

Correct me if I'm wrong?

[Eisenfaust]

Theres definitely something stopping the tubes from seperating. They slide smoothly until they hit something that just stops them dead. o_O

[scratch]

And you already removed the damper rod...where's the little bolt from the bottom of the fork leg?

You may just have to compress the leg and then slide/throw the tube out with your right hand, holding the slider under your left arm.

[Eisenfaust]

The little bolt from the bottom of the leg is sitting on a shop towel with the damper rod, by my toolbox. I can see clear through the fork from one end to the other.

The dust seal is off, the retaining spring is off... I dont know whats missing.

[Eisenfaust]

Nevermind... I did it... it just took about 2 minutes of sharp slide-hammer action to get off.

Now, reassemble time!

[Mk1inCali]

You aren't missing anything, it just takes some force to separate them.

[Eisenfaust]

One last question:

when setting fork oil level, you put the spring back in, add some oil, then extend and compress the fork leg a few times to get oil distributed throughout the fork.

When measuring, you measure 5.5" from the top of the leg, with the fork extended, right?

[davipu]

no all the way compressed

[davipu]

I think

[Eisenfaust]

Well, i'm all done.

I found the PDF of the install instructions on the progressive website... I managed to do the oil level correctly (you measure 5'5" from the top, with the tube compressed, and no spring in the tube).

Of course, in pennance for doing everything else right, i dropped my bike. >_< It was raining, and my shoes were a little slippery from oil spilled during the fork change procedure... backing out of my garage I slipped on a puddle, and the bike fell. No damage, but, yeah.

In the course of doing this whole thing, I discovered that my 'fork brace' was being held on by only two (stripped) bolts, so I've elected to leave the brace and fender off until I get new bolts. It looks pretty spiffy, and the bike still tracks straight ahead.

And what a difference the new fork seals make. Damn. The bike actually goes over bumps without bottoming out now! I can only imagine what having a little damping will do for cornering. Naturally I wasnt going to push the bike in a fresh rain, so that will have to wait until next week, when it gets sunny again.

[Frost]

I installed my progressive and 15wt oil...

the difference is literally night and day...and i put srinath's fork brace on as well...now the front end is a lot more stable in corners...no more bumps and bottoming out and no more headshakes