rookie question (fork springs)

Post by **Indawoods** » 11:02 am Mar 19 2005

You only measure the oil height within the tube, once your measuring device (can be a ruler, tape measure...whatever) touches the oil, then take the measurement from that point to the top of the compressed tube. Make sure the measurement is the same on both forks or else the forks will be unbalanced.

Another tip is to make sure your forks are perfectly straight up and down while doing this or else you will get a false reading.

Once you guys do this once.... your set for life.

If you happen to get too much oil in the tube... then this is when a suction device to take the extra oil out comes into play. I used a brake bleeding device. As seen in my gallery.

I actually measured and set the height I wanted by cutting the clear tube to the depth I wanted, added the oil, dropped the tube in and sucked the rest out. It was real easy.

kdxquebec · Post by **kdxquebec** » 03:34 pm Mar 19 2005

thanks for the oil level setup tips.

I went to home depot and bought some 1" inside diameter pcv tube.

the total outside dimameter of the pcv tube is 34mm
the total outside diameter ot the stock spacer is 37mm

http://groups.msn.com/KDXRidersCommunit ... otoID=1440

the pvc spacer sit ok on the sring shim washer but seems to be on the limit to fit on the forks cap.

maybe i am a little paranoid.it would be great if someone tell me it is normal.

Post by **KDXGarage** » 03:45 pm Mar 19 2005

"my forks are totally empty.my idea was to put 615ml in each tube like my manual say. "

Your forks are mostly empty. The drain screws are near the bottom, but the nasty gunk floats down below the drain screws. It can clog in your compression valving shims and keep them from working right.

IF, IF your forks were completely dry, then the 615mL amount might work, but it is always best to check the level.

I'll assume you have the forks still on the bike. If so, put on the front brake and keep it held with a large zip tie. Then you can tilt the front of the bike over and take your oil level measurement at a more horizontal level.

I like to use two zip ties in the form of a "T". I set them down in there, then measure the oil level. I have a 60cc syringe with a old carburetor hose on the end. I just suck out a little, then remeasure. The fancy oil level measuring devices have a level adjustment where it determines how far the hose or tube goes down in the fork. Then they just suck out the rest. The tool mentioned in the manual is like that, but it is over $100. I got my syringe for about $1 and the old hose was already paid for. Of course, they had hose there for 25 cents per foot.

Colorado Mike · Post by **Colorado Mike** » 04:04 pm Mar 19 2005

kdxquebec wrote:sorry ,my english is not at the best.

You're english is a lot better than my french, that's for sure. A freind of mine is from Canada and ordered breakfast this way:

Two eggs, the sun is shining;
bacons parallel;
toasts;
coffees, black.

The waitress got it, but she was working hard not to laugh at the parallel bacon.

kdxquebec · Post by **kdxquebec** » 04:08 pm Mar 19 2005

a complete work was made on the forks by a dealer last season.i am not ready to tear down the forks by myself for now.and i dont want to send them to a dealer this year.in accordance with the color of the oil (translucent red) near like new, i think i will just put new oil in.next year i will do the total job.

Post by **KDXGarage** » 04:11 pm Mar 19 2005

Parallel bacon? Yum.

kdxquebec, the main thing is to check it by the level, not the quantity. If it looks red, then don't worry about changing it. Just check the oil level before you put in the new springs, spacers and such.

kdxquebec · Post by **kdxquebec** » 04:12 pm Mar 19 2005

lol. when i go to the usa it always more simple to let a good english talker order the meal. then you just have to say "samething please"

kdxquebec · Post by **kdxquebec** » 04:14 pm Mar 19 2005

do you understand my pvc spacer paranoid post? everybody have pvc spacers?

Post by **KDXGarage** » 04:15 pm Mar 19 2005

LOL!

Post by **KDXGarage** » 04:17 pm Mar 19 2005

Can you take a picture of the fork caps and how the spacer or washer is hitting? I had some 1990 forks that I threw in the garbage last week. Why didn't you do this a week earlier so I could see what you are talking about?

kdxquebec · Post by **kdxquebec** » 04:45 pm Mar 19 2005

no problem.

http://groups.msn.com/KDXRidersCommunit ... lbumlist=2

Post by **Indawoods** » 04:50 pm Mar 19 2005

Is the PVC you bought completely white? Schedule 40? This is the heavy duty stuff... it will say on the PCV itself. I recall mine fitting a little better than what your picture shows.

In the pics it looks grey. I should be white as snow... you do know what snow looks like right?

kdxquebec · Post by **kdxquebec** » 05:00 pm Mar 19 2005

oh yeah!

the pvc i bought is gray(1 inche inside diameter) and is made for putting electric wires in...i went see 3 hardware dealer and they said "we dont have black pcv tube (for water) 1 inche diameter"

should i try to find white pcv tube? (what is shedule 40?)

Post by **Indawoods** » 05:02 pm Mar 19 2005

Schedule 40 PVC is very hard...you can't bend it. Canada I'm sure has different building codes than the US but you should have something very similar. Go back and take the cap with you and match them up.

Post by **Indawoods** » 05:08 pm Mar 19 2005

"The most commonly used schedule is schedule 40, often referred to as "sched 40". Usually sched 40 pipe is white. In some areas of the country, however, and in Canada, sched 40 is gray. The next schedule offered for sale is sched 80, a type of pipe that is usually gray, and has a thicker wall making it better for high pressure applications. A sturdier variety, called sched 120, is available as well.

Although the outside dimensions of any size pipe in schedules 40, 80 and 120 is the same,the inside diameter diminishes as the schedule number increases. For example, 1 inch schedule 40 has a larger inside diameter than 1 inch schedule 80, which in turn is larger than 1 inch schedule 120. Another way to say it is that as the schedule number increases, the wall thickness also increases. "

Looks like you might have to go with a different type in Canada.... Take the cap with you, find the stiffest PVC you can find... and match it up.

kdxquebec · Post by **kdxquebec** » 05:10 pm Mar 19 2005

ok i will try to find something . like you see in the pictures the one i bought doesent fit right heh? what about car exhaust tube?

anyway i have a lot of time to find the good spacer......

thanks i will post what i will find.

Post by **Indawoods** » 05:16 pm Mar 19 2005

Chances are... what you bought won't hurt anything as long as it is at least a schedule 40 PVC. It is never going to completely get off the cap to crack the pvc causing a collapse.

kdxquebec · Post by **kdxquebec** » 07:15 pm Mar 19 2005

recap: my stock springs are 496mm long.
the new one i bought are 470mm long

i have to put the 110mm long metal spacer tube in the trash can.

i have to put a 136mm long pvc tube insted of the metal one.

wright?

look the parts diagrams.

http://groups.msn.com/KDXRidersCommunit ... otoID=1445

Post by **Indawoods** » 08:14 pm Mar 19 2005

Depend on how much preload you want!

kdxquebec · Post by **kdxquebec** » 08:20 pm Mar 19 2005

ok now i am a front fork specialist! cheers.

front forks?anybody have seen rear forks?

i love this forum!

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rookie question (fork springs)