Triumphrat

Berkgeorge · 04-27-2006, 01:19 AM

Quick question for you guys who have put Progressive(as in the company) springs in your fronts. T-100

I took out the old (Yes they do look like bed springs). I'm not worried about the oil weight, but the quainity of oil. I don't want to blow out a seal. So I had the bike on blocks, pushed up the forks, but the fender hit the horn (New Bonneville one). Took it off then pushed it up more. Measured (Without springs in) 140mm. The shop manual said 120mm. Progessive said 140mm. So I guess I have 20mm more air space. That seems fine, less won't blow a seal. The big question I have is. Did I push the forks up high enough? Dose the fender have to be off?

Berk :hammer:

riccih46 · 04-27-2006, 06:46 AM

The forks need to be compressed completely to their stop. The easiest way to do this right is to take the fork off the bike.

Ric

Shorty · 04-27-2006, 06:48 AM

I think you're ok. I didn't take my fender off and pushed the forks as high as they would go and measured 140 mm. I guess it's best to be lower on fork oil than too much. From what I saw when I took out the stock springs anyway, one side was much lower than the other and neither was 120mm.

Shorty

Berkgeorge · 04-27-2006, 01:00 PM

Thanks Shorty,

Just needed to hear that. Going for a ride with my Bro Up Highway 1(North of Golden Gate bridge) tomorrow. Didn't want to do anything grossly wrong with the fork oil. Thanks for the mirror tip I like them a lot!

Berk George

Shorty · 04-27-2006, 01:14 PM

You're welcome...have a great ride. Know that road fairly well (south of SF...Carmel, Big Sur, San Simeon). Used to live in So. Cal near San Bernadino. Tell us how the fork springs met (or didn't meet) your expectations after you get back.

Shorty

billstokes · 04-27-2006, 03:26 PM

As long as you're going to replace the springs, consider the following:

1. remove fork tubes from the triple trees (takes about 15 minutes)

2. turn tubes upside down and pump (compress and extend tube) several times to drain out oil

3. place tubes upside down in a catch can to contain the oil which slowly drains out (takes about 2 hrs). I found some metal powder settled out of the old oil on the bottom of the catch can.

4. fill about 1`/2 with kerosene and pump several times, then invert and pump several times to empty and drain again - I left them drain overnight to get all the kerosene out.

5. fill with 1/2 liter of new fork oil, pump tube several times to fill bottom of tube with oil

6. compress tube fully and measure from top of tube to oil level - should be 120 cm. (Triumph says it takes 488 cc, and 1/2 liter is 500 - the difference is so small you'll never notice it)

7. install new springs with closely wound portion up, reinstall washer and and cap and tighten

8. reinstall tubes and reassemble front end.

Total work time is about 2 hrs (this was th first time I even installed new springs) - most of your time is waiting for old oil and kerosene to drain out.