Fork repair

[pinetum]

I just managed to get my forks apart and have some questions. I was under the impression that progressive springs were different from OEM because they had tighter winds on one end. All parts seemed OEM and there was no PVC spacer or whatever. The ones I took out also had tighter winds on one end. So now I'm confused. I measured the springs and they were both @ 18" long. Manual says they should be 23.6"! If these are OEM, can this compression be for real? Had some minor pits but smoothed them out with #400 then #2000 watersand and polished them with Flitz. They look like new.

Tried to send photo but I guess I don't know how to do that. I inserted attachment but it apparently went to never, never land.

[dingy]

I think that is a stock spring.

 

I just measured one of my old stock springs and it matches your length.

 

Look at post below, did you take out parts that look like ones in second picture from above springs?

 

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=51365

 

Gary

[pinetum]

Thanks Gary,

Yep! Those are all the parts I have with exception of #2, cap. But everything else is the same.

[Snaggletooth]

These are the stock springs and spacers. The Progressives are much heavier and tighter coils and the Progressives are as long as the stock spring and spacer combined.

 

Yep. You got the stock springs. Do you have the long steel spacers shown? If not, you got a problem to deal with.

 

Mike

[pinetum]

I do have the steel spacers but if I switch to progressives it looks like I won't need them anyway. So since the springs are so badly compressed I may as well bite the bullet and get progressives. One more question; how important is it to change the dust seals. Mine both look pretty good.

 

Thanks for all your help.

Frank

[Snaggletooth]

In my eyes......replace the dust seals. When ever I rebuild a set of forks for the first time I always replace them. If I go into them again later, I can reuse them if they are undamaged. You said you had to dress out the tubes a bit so the dust seals / wipers may have been chewed on a bit. They do play a big part in the life of the oil seals.

 

Mike

[bkuhr]

heres pics I took of my fork rebuild.

 

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=49226

[mshowe]

I just purchased a 1993 VR. The previous owner said he had new progressive springs in the forks. Sounds great, however, the front right fork is leaking.

 

Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

Thank you.

[dingy]

Replace the fork seals.

 

I recommend using OEM seals, not the aftermarket ones. Some here have had problems with the aftermarket ones leaking, others have had no problems though.

 

Gary