one spring upside down ... wha wha what?

[maro]

So Duaneage and I just changed the fork oil for the first time since I bought the bike last fall. The oil was like Black molasses. AND low and behold the PO had one of the two progressive springs in upside down. Please don't tell me that this scenerio adds performance.


Needless to say I'm now running fresh 15wt fork oil (thanks doug_G), no air, and the both springs are parallel . WOW what a difference!!!

now to figure out about all these damping and preload options......

[p_s]

The instructions for the springs state that it doesn't matter which way they go in.

[Steve]

The 'upside down' spring really didn't matter. What made your difference was the correct quantity of fresh oil.

For damping, start with the lightest setting if you have adjustments on your forks. Notice how long it takes the forks to stop pogoing when hitting a bump or dip. If it's more than a stroke or two, try the next adjustment, repeat as necessary. If you feel that the forks are a bit harsh and seem to respond to EVERY little wiggle in the road, you might need to switch to 10w oil and start over.

For preload, put the bike on the centerstand, measure the distance between the bottom of the lower triple clamp and the top of the fender. Now take it off the stand, put your weight on it, bounce it a few times so it settles into place, have someone measure that same place. You are looking for a difference of 1 to 1.5 inches. If it's more than that, increase the preload. If you don't have enough adjustment in your adjusters, you might have to open the forks again (just remove the caps) and install a longer spacer.

.

[maro]

interesting. my only reference was the suzuki manual which says to put the springs in.. wound coils up!

[Guest]

Just make sure both are in the same.

[Steve]

I have seen posts on other boards where one person swears they work better with tight coils up, and another person swears they are better with tight coils down. Some also claim they are quieter in one direction. Personally, I have never heard the springs in the forks. Between wind noise (yes, even behind a full fairing), engine noise (yes, even on a Wing), road noise, etc., I just can't seem to pick out any noises that I can attribute to fork springs. And, ... mechanically speaking, there is no difference.

.

[hampshirehog]

Theoretically it's to do with unsprung weight; in practice it won't make a jot.

[tkent02]

Theoretically it's to do with unsprung weight; in practice it won't make a jot.

That makes sense to me, with the tightly wound coils up the part of the spring that's not springing has to go up and down with the forks.

Not sure what a jot is but I agree, in practice it won't make a jot.

[Steve]

Not sure what a jot is ...

For your edification, from Dictionary.com:

jot

 Show Spelled Pronunciation [jot] Show IPA verb, jot⋅ted, jot⋅ting, noun ?verb (used with object) 1.to write or mark down quickly or briefly (usually fol. by down): Jot down his license number.
?noun 2.the least part of something; a little bit: I don't care a jot.
?Idiom 3.not a jot or tittle, not a bit; not at all: The world situation matters not a jot or tittle to him.
Origin:
1520?30; earlier iot, iote < L iōta < Gk i?ta iota

</H2>

[hampshirehog]

'Jot' - can also be replaced with the phrase 'a gnat's testicle'. (Just in case you don't have gnats, they are a tiny little flying insect - it's therefor assumed that their 'male kit' is miniscule).

[tkent02]

Why yes, we do have gnats, I believe some Englishman brought them over for us to enjoy.