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View Full Version : Fork spring replacement... Forgot to measure travel beforehand.

Troy
25-07-08, 07:26 AM
Hey all. I'm in the process of putting some new springs and fresh oil in my forks, and I've run into a problem: I'm not sure how long to cut the spacers. :o

I should have measured the fork travel and such before taking the front end all apart... I don't have a front bike stand, so my current setup is quite a pain to get the bike on and off of! I'm hoping someone here has a '01 SV650S, and knows what the max fork travel is. It'll be close enough to what mine would be that I can make it work for preload calculations...

Better yet... Anyone else on here happen to be about 15.2 stone sans clothing, have the .85 kg/mm Racetech springs in their forks, and know how long they cut their spacers? No? :lol:

http://troynewton.org/photos/random/sv650s-front-end-apart.jpg
connect4king
25-07-08, 12:14 PM
Wish I had your workshop. Very tidy:notworthy:
Jase22
25-07-08, 12:29 PM
It may not be perfect, but I cut my spacers so they were level with the top of the fork leg. If you need more preload you can always add a washer or 2 to the top, less you can cut it back more if required.

Yeah, I'm about that size ish and think I have the springs too. Works well enough.
jambo
25-07-08, 01:09 PM
According to the Suzuki service manual, it is 130mm of travel from the front forks.

HTH

Jambo
Blue_SV650S
25-07-08, 01:49 PM
It may not be perfect, but I cut my spacers so they were level with the top of the fork leg. If you need more preload you can always add a washer or 2 to the top, less you can cut it back more if required.

Yeah, I'm about that size ish and think I have the springs too. Works well enough.

Yep, mine (with the sag set correctly) sit about level IIRC ... so start off with them cut such that say 5mm will be protruding, then install and check the sag ... then cut them accordingly 8)
Troy
25-07-08, 04:28 PM
Wish I had your workshop. Very tidy:notworthy:
You should see the other side!!! :shock: All the mess that was scattered about was consolidated underneath and inside the project car. ;)

http://troynewton.org/mustangs/img/fenders_off_01.jpg
Troy
25-07-08, 04:29 PM
Got it... Start with them protruding a little bit, reassemble, check sag accordingly, trim down as needed. Could probably stand to trim myself down a bit too. ;)

Thanks, err... Cheers everyone!

-Troy
yorkie_chris
25-07-08, 05:14 PM
Your bike stand is overly complicated.

Leave it on the side stand, put a jack under the engine and lift. It'll rest on the stand and the back wheel comfortably.
zadar
26-07-08, 04:21 PM
cut spacers so when fork is assembled spring is compressed 15mm.
Razor
26-07-08, 04:38 PM
Wish I had your workshop. Very tidy:notworthy:



http://troynewton.org/photos/random/sv650s-front-end-apart.jpg

Front pipe is almost as red as the bodywork!

..beyond that I have nothing constructive for this thread....
Troy
28-07-08, 09:53 PM
Front pipe is almost as red as the bodywork!

..beyond that I have nothing constructive for this thread....

:lol: Yeah, I know... I end up riding in the rain a lot and never really get around to cleaning the rust off that pipe, it's back shortly thereafter!

Leave it on the side stand, put a jack under the engine and lift. It'll rest on the stand and the back wheel comfortably.

I did that a little at first and it didn't feel like it would stay there securely. I probably had the jack to far back on the engine though... I'll definitely have to give that a try next time, and save myself some lifting.

Thanks for the replies, everyone!