Fork maintenance time
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- Posts: 298
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2015 8:47 pm
- Location: El Paso, TX
- Motorcycle: 1993 GL1500A Aspencade
Fork maintenance time
Well, like many others here, the time has come to redo the seals in my forks. After putting the bike in the garage in our new (to us) house, I noticed that there was leaking on both forks. Left not as bad as the right, but if you're going to do one, makes sense to do them both. Sprung (pun intended) for the Honda tool for the removal of the caps. I decided not to change the springs out as they seem fine to me (that and had to have electrical and roof work on the house, so......) Read WingAdmin's tutorial a number of times and I have a garage laptop so I can have all the steps. Just need to hit up Autozone for grease, brake cleaner, etc. And Home Depot for a galvanized bucket. (I use it to clean small parts so they don't disappear) Might change the brake pads while the calipers are off.
You ain't lost, you're just somewhere you ain't been before.
- XJSRider
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2020 2:45 pm
- Location: New Britain, CT
- Motorcycle: 1993 GL1500A
Re: Fork maintenance time
The copper crush washers on the bottom of mine were bowed so I couldn't reuse them, also the allen screw at bottom of fork that you remove in the tutorial to drain them... one stripped out. Both parts are cheap and cyclemax has them maybe consider picking them up when you get your seals and bushings and stuff
- Rednaxs60
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Re: Fork maintenance time
Wouldn't hurt to change out the fork springs with new., The OEM springs have a low spring rate to give the plush, soft ride of a "Cadillac". Spring rates of 1.0/1.1 are much better because of the weight of the bike - you will notice a difference. Your bike's fork springs are some 27 years old, nothing lasts forever. Straight rate or progressive rate is a personal decision. Unless you are really tuned into suspensions, probably would not notice a difference between these. Good for your tires. Cheers
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Ernest
Ernest
- XJSRider
- Posts: 162
- Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2020 2:45 pm
- Location: New Britain, CT
- Motorcycle: 1993 GL1500A
Re: Fork maintenance time
Have to agree with Red for around 100 bucks what a difference for the progressive springs. I put a Blackhawk fork brace on for another 60 and front end feels way better. Something to consider.
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- Posts: 298
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2015 8:47 pm
- Location: El Paso, TX
- Motorcycle: 1993 GL1500A Aspencade
Re: Fork maintenance time
I thought about changing them, but just dropped 6 grand on electrical and roof work for the house.
You ain't lost, you're just somewhere you ain't been before.
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- Posts: 298
- Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2015 8:47 pm
- Location: El Paso, TX
- Motorcycle: 1993 GL1500A Aspencade
Re: Fork maintenance time
I ordered the washers, already planned to change them out anyway. I can get new allens local, so if one gets messed up, I'll get new ones.XJSRider wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 12:36 pm The copper crush washers on the bottom of mine were bowed so I couldn't reuse them, also the allen screw at bottom of fork that you remove in the tutorial to drain them... one stripped out. Both parts are cheap and cyclemax has them maybe consider picking them up when you get your seals and bushings and stuff
You ain't lost, you're just somewhere you ain't been before.