fork spacers

[Crucialval]

Dosn't the GS have those in other countries, if so I'd bet they would fit but I'm no expert.

I also think they could be made, but it would take some percision to match them up.

Find the same thread steel cap drilled, weld on a nut
Use a bolt couple inches long
Use a washer  the same diamiter as a spacer would be and a nut to lock it in place.
use a third nut at the top of the cap to lock proper adjustment

That should work, what do you guys think?

[RVertigo]

You wouldn't need to weld on a nut if the cap was thick enough...  Just tap it to the bolt size you want...


I think it would be pretty hard to pull it off with "backyard" parts......  But, if you had access to a machine shop...   

[Wrecent_Wryder]

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[Wrecent_Wryder]

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[debtman7]

Sorry, I'm missing something... how does the breaker bar help? For torque, sure, but how does it help compress the spring and/or prevent cross-threading? And, assuming you're going to take the caps off and put them back on with the tubes in the triples (wherever they may be in between), what's that about taping wrenches?

Cross-threading is my main concern with this.  Actually, when I was working on (springer) air/pellet guns, I almost built a spring compressor. The problem is almost identical, and many of those cannot be done at all without some sort of mechanism.

Spring compressor would be really hard since the springs are internal. I wouldn't think it would be worth the effort to try and build something. I'm not sure about the breaker bar either, but I did mine last week and found it much easier to get them on using a socket wrench instead of by hand. I couldn't do it by hand but with a socket on it, pushing down evenly on top of the wrench, it was pretty easy to get it on. The first time I struggled with it and it took me maybe 5 minutes. Then when I did the second one I thought I put the same volume of oil in, but got a 1/2" difference in height, so I had to uncap the first and start over. Getting the caps on went quick after that.

Which reminds me, don't cap one until you've done them both and measured the oil height

[RVertigo]

When I did mine, I turned it backwards until I felt/heard the thread drop down...  Then I tightened it.

I do things that way all the time to keep from cross-threading.........  You can actually feel it drop a little when the two threads drop passed each other.

[dgyver]

When I did mine, I turned it backwards until I felt/heard the thread drop down...  Then I tightened it.

I do things that way all the time to keep from cross-threading.........  You can actually feel it drop a little when the two threads drop passed each other.

I do the same. Works great with screws in plastic as well. 

[natedawg120]

i tried to do that but the spring must have fought me just enough to chicken it sideways a little, i felt it and backed of.  then the cap shot of like a bullet.  The result was that i lost a bit of the bottom thread.  Now the other side went on like a dream

[RVertigo]

Crazy...  I had no such problems........  Maybe my spacer was just that much smaller.    I didn't even have to press very hard to get it back on..... 

[galahs]

RV could that be because the progressive springs are longer than constant rate so need less of a spacer? 


Mine was fairly hard to put on. Got a sore hand from it.

I too used a socket wrench, turned it back a little till the thread dropped then tightened.

I used 10 weight oil.

[Wrecent_Wryder]

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[NiceGuysFinishLast]

I had a bruise on my hand from putting both on. I used racetechs with 5w oil. Also, I didn't measure my oil height, I measured oil volume with a measuring cup.

[natedawg120]

well A couple days after my first battle with my forks I am left please with the spacers.  But I was left wanting it a little firmer, so I ordered the racetechs .  I also got two more fork caps to replace the one that I meat fisted and another one just in case I meat fist another, it really is easy to do.  Also fork oil, went up to 15w cause I have about an inch and a half less travel to work with than usual because of my clipons. 

Another thing is that if all goes well I am going to have an extra fork cap should anyone ever need one, This is unless I messed both up and the other side didn't go one as easy as I though.  I just got two cause i don't want to have to wait a week and leave my fork wide open should the worse happen....

[GeeP]

I had a bruise on my hand from putting both on. I used racetechs with 5w oil. Also, I didn't measure my oil height, I measured oil volume with a measuring cup.

Mine was fairly hard to put on. Got a sore hand from it.

How much preload are you guys using?  The instructions with my sonic springs suggested 3/4" more or less.  I put the caps back on with no problems.  Just extend the slider, hold the tube in your left hand and cram the cap on with your right hand.  Turn it till the threads click then snug it down.

You're not trying to put the caps on with the fork slider compressed are you?   

[RVertigo]

I was kinda wondering about that......  I put mine on the centerstand and put weight on the back... 

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

I had a bruise on my hand from putting both on. I used racetechs with 5w oil. Also, I didn't measure my oil height, I measured oil volume with a measuring cup.

Mine was fairly hard to put on. Got a sore hand from it.

How much preload are you guys using?  The instructions with my sonic springs suggested 3/4" more or less.  I put the caps back on with no problems.  Just extend the slider, hold the tube in your left hand and cram the cap on with your right hand.  Turn it till the threads click then snug it down.

You're not trying to put the caps on with the fork slider compressed are you?   

I did the forks without putting em back in the clamps, might have made it easier. I used whatever Brian's measurements were.. don't remember.

[natedawg120]

nah it wasn't compressed, had the wife sitting on the back so the front was up in the air.  It wasn't that hard to push the caps down it was just trying to hold them there while i got the threads started, that killed my hand.  My forarm cramps bad when using hand tools for a prolonged period, that made things hard.....

[ajaxgs]

so how long a spacer did you end up using???

[natedawg120]

Well with the stock springs around 30mm.  With the Racetechs that are now in i recon about 22mm preload.  It sags about 20mm and feels great.  Braking also feels a HELL of a lot better without all the dive.  I used 15w oil as well.  Now all i need to do is get my hands on a katana rear shock and i'll be set 

[natedawg120]

Also i think they may have updated the stock springs a bit, they are no where near as short as the ones I have seen come out of the E's.  The racetechs were about an 1-1.5 inches taller than stock.