help with replacing fork springs
#1
#3
#4
F4 & F4i forks are externally the same. Internally, there's minor differences.
*F4 forks are - Showa MBW-671
*F4i forks are - Showa MBW-A11
Procedures for servicing are the same. Be sure to order parts specific for F4 forks. Factory Honda parts are sufficient for everyday street use...dust & oil seals, springs, & suspension fluid (ProHonda SS8 10W).
As stated, just follow the factory Honda service manual & you shouldn't have any trouble. Mainly, you want to take your time w/ the seals & not damage them during installation. One little nick/gouge on a new seal & it will leak. Then, you've got to re-install a new seal over again.
Good luck.
*F4 forks are - Showa MBW-671
*F4i forks are - Showa MBW-A11
Procedures for servicing are the same. Be sure to order parts specific for F4 forks. Factory Honda parts are sufficient for everyday street use...dust & oil seals, springs, & suspension fluid (ProHonda SS8 10W).
As stated, just follow the factory Honda service manual & you shouldn't have any trouble. Mainly, you want to take your time w/ the seals & not damage them during installation. One little nick/gouge on a new seal & it will leak. Then, you've got to re-install a new seal over again.
Good luck.
#7
Here's a link to Progressive Suspension, been around forever, quality products.
Motorcycle Fork Springs :: Motorcycle Lowering :: Progressive Suspension
If you are not going for a complete re-build, all you have to do is pull the top-caps to
get to the springs.
Support the front end, takeing the load off the forks. Carefully remove the top-caps.
Then use a bent wire to fish the springs out, slide the new ones in. Watch pulling the
top-caps, though, some bikes have a fair amount of pre-load on them. Watching a
top-cap fly across the garage is only amusing when it's your buddy's.
One option, before you get new springs. Try cutting a 1/2 to 3/4 pvc spacer.
Use the hvy schedule pvc, a piece that just fits in the top of the tube.
Place that between the cap and the spring and re-install the cap.
That will give you a bit more pre-load and stiffen the suspension up.
There will be a bit less travel, but sometimes it's a decent, inexpensive solution.
Good luck, Ern
Ern
Motorcycle Fork Springs :: Motorcycle Lowering :: Progressive Suspension
If you are not going for a complete re-build, all you have to do is pull the top-caps to
get to the springs.
Support the front end, takeing the load off the forks. Carefully remove the top-caps.
Then use a bent wire to fish the springs out, slide the new ones in. Watch pulling the
top-caps, though, some bikes have a fair amount of pre-load on them. Watching a
top-cap fly across the garage is only amusing when it's your buddy's.
One option, before you get new springs. Try cutting a 1/2 to 3/4 pvc spacer.
Use the hvy schedule pvc, a piece that just fits in the top of the tube.
Place that between the cap and the spring and re-install the cap.
That will give you a bit more pre-load and stiffen the suspension up.
There will be a bit less travel, but sometimes it's a decent, inexpensive solution.
Good luck, Ern
Ern
#9
Here's a link to Progressive Suspension, been around forever, quality products.
Motorcycle Fork Springs :: Motorcycle Lowering :: Progressive Suspension
If you are not going for a complete re-build, all you have to do is pull the top-caps to
get to the springs.
Support the front end, takeing the load off the forks. Carefully remove the top-caps.
Then use a bent wire to fish the springs out, slide the new ones in. Watch pulling the
top-caps, though, some bikes have a fair amount of pre-load on them. Watching a
top-cap fly across the garage is only amusing when it's your buddy's.
One option, before you get new springs. Try cutting a 1/2 to 3/4 pvc spacer.
Use the hvy schedule pvc, a piece that just fits in the top of the tube.
Place that between the cap and the spring and re-install the cap.
That will give you a bit more pre-load and stiffen the suspension up.
There will be a bit less travel, but sometimes it's a decent, inexpensive solution.
Good luck, Ern
Ern
Motorcycle Fork Springs :: Motorcycle Lowering :: Progressive Suspension
If you are not going for a complete re-build, all you have to do is pull the top-caps to
get to the springs.
Support the front end, takeing the load off the forks. Carefully remove the top-caps.
Then use a bent wire to fish the springs out, slide the new ones in. Watch pulling the
top-caps, though, some bikes have a fair amount of pre-load on them. Watching a
top-cap fly across the garage is only amusing when it's your buddy's.
One option, before you get new springs. Try cutting a 1/2 to 3/4 pvc spacer.
Use the hvy schedule pvc, a piece that just fits in the top of the tube.
Place that between the cap and the spring and re-install the cap.
That will give you a bit more pre-load and stiffen the suspension up.
There will be a bit less travel, but sometimes it's a decent, inexpensive solution.
Good luck, Ern
Ern
Thanks buddy. I have heard of progressive makes quality inexpensive springs. I think I will mostly go for progressive. Also, thanks for the tips, The other day, I was talking to a guy who has been riding for 50+ years and he told me the exact same except the pvc part. Why I need a bit more pre-load?
#10