Fork seal conundrum

[Matteson]

Everything was going well, I hung the bike earlier, made a little tool to compress the springs, popped the seals out and then the springs...http://imageshack.us/a/img692/7681/ewo6.jpghttp://imageshack.us/a/img834/5461/6r8m.jpghttp://imageshack.us/a/img822/6992/pvzm.jpghttp://imageshack.us/a/img31/5353/elj8.jpghttp://imageshack.us/a/img405/7586/n41a.jpg

[netty2424]

So what's the conundrum?

[Matteson]

Uh, look at the fork lengths. That doesn't seem strange? The bike handles like ****. Now I know why. But which is the correct length?

[Matteson]

The spring on the left is 14.28 and the one on the right is 15 7/8. How in the hell...

[Matteson]

Anybody know where to get a stock spring?

[netty2424]

Uh, look at the fork lengths. That doesn't seem strange? The bike handles like ****. Now I know why. But which is the correct length?


Ha! Didn't even look at them. I guess I was thrown off by the title "fork seal". And I was looking at the hole you cut in the ceiling to hang your bike!

Just checked the book in the off chance there was a reason for two different spring lengths, but there is only one part number so someone has rebuilt your forks and grabbed whichever spring was closest at the time. Somewhere there's anoer motorcycle out there riding like **** just like yours.

[Matteson]

http://imageshack.us/a/img546/7446/ruw5.jpg The longer spring came from a model number ending in AMB. The short one says AMA. Rev A and Rev B. You like that hole! Necessary evil to get **** done! This was just supposed to be a simple fork seal job that has turned into a hunt. Now I have to deal with Harley again! Last week I denoided the bike and had to get a resistor from them.

[Cooter]

Where are you getting the part numbers? It doesn't look factory to me. Someone put a higher spring rate spring in (the short one). Probably from Race Tech.
Perhaps take advantage of the mix-up and get the right springs for your weight from Race Tech (they come with the right spacer), instead of stockers from Harley.
I bet you get better and faster service from Race Tech:D

Whenever theres a problem.... Upgrade!

[bwylie_99]

I too absolutely love the hole in the ceiling. Excellent! For what its worth hardly ableson does sell entire lower slider with springs for 162, just make sure you are very clear on r or cr as one is black and one is silver. I know this because hd f'd up my order!

[Matteson]

The numbershttp://imageshack.us/a/img541/2810/60pi.jpghttp://imageshack.us/a/img708/9415/imyj.jpg The difference in length of the tubehttp://imageshack.us/a/img199/4958/vpuh.jpg This ****ing sucks! How in the **** was I supposed to know some ****in moron installed the wrong tubes in the past. I mean I have bought stuff used plenty of times but never this.

[go cytocis]

I don't have an 1125, so excuse me if this is a stupid question, but are the springs supposed to be different lengths?

I only ask because on my BMW, one fork is dedicated to compression, and the other to rebound. The internals of each fork are consequentially different....

[epion420]

Don't you know that's the NASCAR circle track set up left turns only lol

[epion420]

Don't you know that's the NASCAR circle track set up left turns only lol

[Matteson]

Good question, but the manual states the spring is to be 14.28 inches in length. One is, but the other isn't, wouldn't it specify?

[Matteson]

Correction, when I put the axle in they are exactly the same height. But I still have 2 different size springs. Are they supposed to be the same?

[BuellRonin]

I would call or email EBR and ask them. Most of the time HD service people just shrug their shoulders and say, I dunno know.

[Cooter]

Even if one fork is dedicated compression and the other is dedicated rebound for shock valving (like a BMW) the springs will always be the same rate, and the fork tubes will certainly be the same length!!!
First time i've ever seen that one... Glad they're cheap!

[Matteson]

After some research this is what I found. Tubes the same length. Short spring is an early 08, long spring is from a later model. So I get the spacer and spring from a later model and I should be fine as long as the damper assemblies are the same.

[Cooter]

Nice[cool]

[netty2424]

[up]

[djs2k2]

Wooops!

[go cytocis]

Even if one fork is dedicated compression and the other is dedicated rebound for shock valving (like a BMW) the springs will always be the same rateAgreed, and certainly the springs on my BMW are identical.

The OP's discovery does beg the question in my mind however, if there might be some advantage to asymmetric springs in the forks? Not withstanding the issue of eccentric loading on the front end, you could theoretically open up another dimension on multi-rate suspension tuning.
[confused]

[Cooter]

And interesting thought Go Cytosis, but I don't think you could do anything with 2 separate springs, that you couldn't just do with a progressive rate spring like they are now? You're right the eccentric (asymmetric?) loading on the front would act just as bad as the OP's did.

Edit: on further thought, you could build the internal fork assy in such a way as to utilize spring stop(s) and dual/triple rate coils (think off-road coil-over shock). But that wouldn't help Moto GP or super cross enough to justify the weight penalty, those guys talk in grams…
It seems to be a perfect match for the adventure bike crowd though?

Excuse me while I go dork out on the internet for awhile:)

[go cytocis]

but I don't think you could do anything with 2 separate springs, that you couldn't just do with a progressive rate spring like they are now? A progressive spring is manufactured from the same material accross both rates and has a fixed transition point. I am thinking that the possible advantages of separate springs would be that they could be manufactured from different steels to best suit the rate (much like the dual & triple coils you mentioned), but the range of possible transition points could be greater. It may even be possible to activate each fork leg spring independently depending on the need (?).

It seems to be a perfect match for the adventure bike crowd though?I ride dual-sport & super-moto too. You're right that we're constantly looking for a suspension set-up which is paradoxically plush and firm.:)

[Matteson]

So springs are on order from Hardley. Seals are getting ready to go in. And I made a driver.http://imageshack.us/a/img703/152/bhiz.jpghttp://imageshack.us/a/img849/5179/94th.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img853/5748/u4ex.jpg
Just super glued the old seal on a pipe. The Pirelli front tire will be in Thursday. Next Ill get ready for valve lash inspection. I made ride a few more weeks though until it gets really cold here in SW Mo to do that.