It might have aftermarket springs in there too... when I got my race tech springs they came with a long metal spacer to make pieces from. You can adjust the preload of the front suspension by how long of a spacer you have installed in the forks.

If I can find it I have instructions on setting the preload with the spacers from race tech too. You could probably find the same info on the web though.

 

Is there an easy way to determine if they are aftermarket springs?
Will they have a different coil diameter size? If I need to I could measure them on the Instron at work or use weights and see the displacement.

I measured the good PVC spacer from the other fork. It is 7.3 inches. Does this sound reasonable. Don't have the rest of the assembly in front of me to try and determine preload.

Thanks

 

The only quick way I could think of that would be visually obvious is if there are linear springs installed in there. The factory springs are progressive, and there are also aftermarket progressive springs available, but if there are linear springs installed they're definitely aftermarket. Only way to find out for sure is probably as you mentioned by measuring the rate.

7.3 inches should be fine on the spacers, I think mine are somewhere around that length.

edit: my race tech upgraded springs are linear.

 

Yes it is fine to use PVC for the spacer Progressive gives you PVC in there kits.

 

How did the bike handle before? If you sat on the bike and you didn't get any settling,
it was probably too much spacer. If you got on the bike and it lowers more than an
1" or so (yes I made 1"-ish up, purely on what's worked for me), then you probably
want slightly longer spacers. If like baby's porridge, it was just right, leave the
spacers at their current length.

Glad you got it apart, hope it's smooth sailing for the rest, Ern