HEllo !!

I am looking at removing my forks and re-installing the progressive springs (because I think my mechanic didn't follow my suggestions, no spacer, 10w oil etc .. )

So where can I find a good webpage on doing this proceedure accurately ?

Oh by the way, what's the australian or 'international' equivalent of the term 'Schedule 40' ? I asked many people at hardware stores and they just look at me funny

Schedule 40 is a term for a grade of PVC pipe.  Schedule 80 is heavy duty stuff, 40 is mid-weight, and then there is the flimsy unclassified stuff.  I think the rating has to do with wall thickness and strength.  Unfortunately for those who use the metric system, it's going to be a little trial and error, since pipe diameters and such will be off (like do they have 2.5 cm pipe, or 2 cm and 3 cm?)  So you need to measure your fork inside diameter (or diameter of your old spacer) and bring that to the hardware store.  It just so happens that Schedule 40 pipe fits.  Do go for the mid-weight pipe, cause I wouldn't trust the thin stuff to the pounding a suspension would take.  You could also find a PVC dowel of similar thickness, or cut down your old spacers

Oh, I haven't done this before but I have thrown fits trying to fit together vent lines at an old job with lots of mixed schedule 40 and 80 bits

Thanks ...

Schedule 40 as you said is the grade of the plastic ... so what sizes does everyone use ? (probably inches) ..

By the way where's the link to the really good site that shows how to measure the oil etc .. not the 'lazy' way

my site has the 'lazy' way. you'll have to get a repair manual (clymers or haynes) for the full version. You can take out one spacer and take it with you to hardware store to check size/diameter. I cut my stock spacer so I never had to deal with any of that.

schedule 40-80 referse to wall thickness of the pipe, its actualy hard to find 80 these days. 40 is pretty standard water pipe stuff. PVC of the same thickness is actualy stronger as far as Pressure rating goes.

Thanks everyone,

Cool I found the website, and the website suggests 12.5cm from the top of the fork tube with the fork pushed in.

http://www.bikepower.net/gs500e-power/modifications/suspension-related/fork/forkpage1.htm

Is 12.5cm the current recommended oil level ? Another post suggested 14cm !! hmmm  :dunno:

Thanks again

Quote from: giraffemy mechanic didn't follow my suggestions, no spacer, 10w oil etc ..

I'd been thinking of doing the Progressive with no spacer.  I'm not looking for a stiff ride; just less ball-busting on the dips in the road.  How does yours feel with no spacer?

Well it definately feels better than the originals but i'm no suspension expert. I don't know what 15w will feel like either. I had another look and I think that he did actually cut a small spacer from the original (1/2")

The other reason I took thing apart was because it would actually bottom out on heavy braking that that's really crap

So I guess I wouldn't recommend it ..

Well it definately feels better than the originals but i'm no suspension expert. I don't know what 15w will feel like either. I had another look and I think that he did actually cut a small spacer from the original (1/2")

The other reason I took thing apart was because it would actually bottom out on heavy braking that that's unacceptable

So I guess I wouldn't recommend it ..  :x

So is the oil level 12.5cm or the 14cm from the top of the fork tube ?  

Progressive's instructions specify an oil level no less than 15cm from the top of the tube with the forks compressed and the spring removed.  This particular spring displaces more fluid than the stocker, and evidently the other springs listed on Joris's site also.

I can't say what fork oil is best.  My new springs are sitting on the kitchen table until finals are over and the weather cooperates.  I'm about 185#, so I believe 15w might be more suitable for me. I have a small amount of 10W though, so I might get creative and mix up a batch of 12.5 and split the difference.  I also have  1/2" sched. 40 end caps to use as spacers.  YMMV.  

Quote from: giraffeHEllo !!

I am looking at removing my forks and re-installing the progressive springs (because I think my mechanic didn't follow my suggestions, no spacer, 10w oil etc .. )

So where can I find a good webpage on doing this proceedure accurately ?

Oh by the way, what's the australian or 'international' equivalent of the term 'Schedule 40' ? I asked many people at hardware stores and they just look at me funny

HI Giraffe,

In Australia the PVC piece is available in the hardware stores.  It is used to join two PVC pipes together and is about 2 inches long - I took in my original spacer and looked at the fittings till I found one with the same outside diameter.

In the end I didn't use the PVC spacer as my bike has adjastable pre-load ('96 Aussie model) which was more than enough (I am 6ft and 100kg).

If you do a search you will find many references to how-to and my post is in there somewhere as well.

Cheers
Conrad

Oops I read some website where it suggested 13.5 cm and i'm actually not sure if this is bad or not while another poster suggested 'no less than 15cm from the top of the tube with the fork compressed and the springs removed' ?? oops !??

Should I change it to something else ?

I'm running 15wt and no spacer and it feels pretty good to me (165lbs rider).  I had planned on putting in about 3/4" pvc spacer, but had troubles getting the fork caps to seat right so just closed it up.  After riding for a while I'm not sure I'd want more preload in the fork.  I haven't measured the sag properly with a friend, but it feels about right.  There is little dive, but a firm feel in the front end.  A touch more harsh than I'd prefer over rough pavement, but connects great when riding sporty on smoother surfaces and brake dive is *vastly* more controlled.

BTW, the instructions specify 0.5-1.0" of spacer material with the progressive replacement springs for the GS500E.

My Bad...  

I earlier wrote that the Progressive's instructions specify 150mm max oil height.  I wrote that from memory, and failed to reread the instructions that are currently in front of me.  The recommended max is 140mm, that was mentioned in an earlier post.