Ok, I`m just wondering if it is possible to use some kind of valve springs to replace those self made nylon spacers?
I just found some valve springs that will fit GS fork tubes and are about 2" long. I plan to use that valve spring and washer brtween original front spring to see what happens.
Will that kind of mod improve my suspension or should I forget my DIY progessives as it would be failure?
This is about valve spring versus nylon spacer ;) ...
You could give it a try, but make sure the small spring doesn`t get pushed into the GS spring. Put something between the two to prevent this. Also make sure the small new spring isn`t too soft. It must be much harder than the original spring. I would like to know if it works. Let us know. Good luck (and maybe take some pictures).
By the way, when the forks are removed, replace the original fork oil with 15w oil. Is a good improvement too.
I'd just put in the Progressives. $60 and 15 minutes and it improves the ride 300%. I didn't bother to change the oil. Truly, it's dead easy. For spacers just use 1/2" PVC pipe caps, available at Home Depot for about $.20 each.
All you need tool wise is:
- 6mm hex key (to get your bars off)
- 1/2" drive ratchet (to get the fork caps off)
- one of those telescoping magnet tools (to get the old springs out)
You simply drop the Progressive springs in, put the spacers in, tighten the fork top caps down (very minor pain in the neck because of the pre-load you're fighting, but certainly no major deal), put the bars back on, and you're done.
Put in chevy valve springs on a washer on top of the stock spacers....Its a mod that was discussed on this site ~2000...surprised no one remembers...
Cool.
Srinath.
Quote from: seshadri_srinathPut in chevy valve springs on a washer on top of the stock spacers....Its a mod that was discussed on this site ~2000...surprised no one remembers...
Cool.
Srinath.
I remember! But I was gone on vacation last week, and didn't get online the whole time. (Did anyone even notice?)
I didn't notice per say but too many stupid dead questions popped up and no one was around to put the issues back into the grave...Just kidding.
Cool.
Srinath.
I considered it but never got the springs in question. Looking up spring rates for even the weakest valve springs and I can pretty much guarentee they are a stronger rate than the stock springs.
I put some Chey valve springs in my GS forks 2 years ago when it had stock forks. I think any valve spring will be way stiffer than the GS springs; the Chevy V8 ones at about $2 a shot sure are, even without the inner spring which I didn't use.
It helps some, but the real problem is the spring rate of the stock springs is too low. There isn't anyway to fix that, other than shortening them, but then you won't have enough travel. Increasing the pre-load with spacers or other springs really isn't the final answer, although it soes help to get the sag somewhere near right.
I'm not a big fan of progressive springs. They just do odd things to the handling and suspension response. A straight rate spring with a higher spring rate would be my choice. The Racetech site might have a selector that would help, or I'm sure their techs would be able to.
I looked at the RaceTechs but they wanted about $100 for em with shipping anywhere that I coudl find them for sale. To me, particularly for street riding, the progressives were good enough for about $35 less.
I would have rather had a full RaceTech setup with emulators and springs but it was out of my budget.
I replaced my stock with "Progressive" spings. They are shrinking.
Yes, I said srinking! They are now about 1 1/2" shorter than when I first put them in. Sounds Crazy doesn't it? And, they don't feel as tight as they did at first. I'm only 5' 8" @180lbs.
GO FIGURE.
Sounds like poor material or tempering. I'd send them back.