• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Anyone know the diameter for the PVC fork upgrade?

  • Thread starter Thread starter wrsimmons21
  • Start date Start date
W

wrsimmons21

Guest
I got my hog titled and now I'm ready to put some more money and time into it. Does anyone know what size diameter PVC I need to put a spacer in there to compress my springs? Also, what length is recommended? I think I will start with 1 inch. I will post pics of the before and after for the bike, it's probably going to be night and day when I'm done! Thanks, Joe
 
wrsimmons21 said:
I got my hog titled and now I'm ready to put some more money and time into it. Does anyone know what size diameter PVC I need to put a spacer in there to compress my springs? Also, what length is recommended? I think I will start with 1 inch. I will post pics of the before and after for the bike, it's probably going to be night and day when I'm done! Thanks, Joe
Click to expand...

Joe, I'm kind of confused on what you are asking here...is this for the spacer on the front fork springs to make the front suspension stiffer?

Hap
 
yeah he's asking about the front forks from what I read...

The PVC in my '83 550E is 1/2"... I went crazy and decided I wanted a way stiff ride after throwing a set of progressive front springs in and have 2.5" up there. The front end is way to stiff for some folks but I like it...

with no weight on the bike put a wire tie around your fork leg up against the dust cover. Sit on the bike and then get off... This is you "sag". If I recall correctly is should only be 3/4 of an inch to an inch(I may be off)...

start at one inch and do the sag test. Then do it again at half inch increments. Once you get it to where it "should" be tak it for a spin... get used to it do some turning manuevers in a parking lot see if it feels good... if you tighten it up too much or not enough where you don't feel confident.. changing it doesn't buy you too much.
 
Skreemer is right about the sag. 3/4 to 1" works well, just be sure you don't bounce on the bike when checking it. Just sit on it gently and bring it up off the side stand. Return it gently to the side stand and measure how far your wire tie moved.

You will need help, but now would be a good time to check the rear suspension, too. Also use the 1" of sag rule of thumb. Measure the length of the rear shock when it's fully extended. Sit on the bike, get it off the side stand. You can bounce if you want to make sure the suspension settles in a "normal" position. Have a helper measure the shock length. Adjust the preload collars if necessary and repeat.


Joe,
I dont' remember what diameter pipe I used, but you want it to be just a bit smaller than the inside of the fork tube. You also want a fender washer between the spring and the spacer tube to prevent the spring from eating away at the spacer, causing PVC shavings in the tubes. :oops:


.
 
I used 3/4" PVC for the pre-load spacer. 3/4" long worked for me.
You want about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2" sag when you sit on the bike.
My bike is a '79 GS1000E and I weigh about 195. Progressive springs and 15 wt oil.
 
Thanks for all the advice. I wouldn't have remembered to put another washer on there to keep the pvc from grinding off inside the forks.
 
Consider cutting down the springs and replacing the missing height with your longer spacers. Start with a couple of inches of spring removed and go from there. By removing some coils you stiffen the spring rate, adding more preload to the springs only changes the sag and ride height.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top