Progressive Spring Install

[VTXBear]

Hi all.
Ok I got some progressive springs for the forks on my bike. Has any of you done this change and if I need some help can you come and show me what to do? I am pretty good at mechanical stuff, just not comfortable with venturing into uncharted waters. I will try it but it's always better to have someone there who has done it.
I'm in the North end of the Twin Cities. No real hurry to get them in just would like it done by spring.
Any help would be great. Thanks, Bear.

[Steve-Oh]

Haven't done it yet, but I've been thinking about it. From everything I've seen/read it looks like a pretty simple task. Looks like the most important thing is to be careful when you're taking the fork caps off (and putting them back on) as they will be under tension from the springs (don't want those things shooting off god knows where). Take your time and you'll do fine.I'm in the middle of messing up a foward control install myself. Good luck!!

[wccoman]

Hey there -

Just completed the install a week ago and will be doing another set for a friend of mine when he is able to get the Honda "special" tool. I had to borrow one. For me, the hardest part of the install was finding one of these damn tools - they are sold-out, as far as I know, everywhere I've looked and they are in hard demand and hard to borrow (I finally managed to find someone willing to borrow it to me through this website, now I'm trying to get it again for a friend). Once you have this tool the install is not that hard at all.

I'm in Apple Valley - call or email if you have any questions or need some help.
wccoman4@yahoo.com
651-238-4434
Andrew

[Steve-Oh]

What special tool are you talking about? I don't remember reading anything about needing a special tool. Thanks.

[wccoman]

If you are sitting on the bike facing forward, the fork on your immediate left requires a special tool made by Honda to break loose and unscrew the assembly inside the fork. The tool looks like a pipe with three or four teeth at the end of it. There are a few guys on this board that have taken a pipe, welded it to a 1/2 drive socket and cut to teeth out of the end of the pipe with a grinding wheel or something. I was able to borrow someone's homemade tool and it worked just fine. Check this guy's website out for detailed instructions and pictures of the tool -

http://www.bareasschoppers.com

Look for the write-ups on the left-side of the webpage.

Call or write if you have any other questions!

Andrew

[wccoman]

Also, taking the fork-caps off isn't difficult as all of the componets are self-compressed. Meaning: there really isn't any pressure on the fork-caps themselves. There's a lock nut on each spring that you loosen but never remove - that's the only danger but it never gets removed. It's really not hard at all. Again, I'll help if I can - let me know.

Andrew

[wccoman]

It's nice to have an extra set of hands for a couple of brief steps!

[Steve-Oh]

Are the forks on the 1800s different than the forks on the 1300s?? The write-up I read for the 1300 wasn't nearly as complicated and didn't require any special tools. Here's the write up I'm referring to:

http://tech.vtxoa.com/index.php?action=artikel&cat=22&id=30&artlang=en

[wccoman]

I wish I could answer that with some certainty. It doesn't look like the same install does it. I would ask bare or do a search of the forum and see what you find. Good question!

Sorry, I didn't realize you had the 1300 and to be honest, wouldn't have assumed there was a difference anyway. Let me know what you find out though cause I'm curious now!

Andrew

[VTXBear]

WCCOman, hey that was nice thanks for the offer. I have been out of town for a while so that's why I haven't posted. Going into surgery soon, this Friday, so I'll be down for a while. :(
In the mean time I will try to find one of those tools. As soon as I score one would ya still be interested in helping? I was thinking the end of Feb. I have a heated garage so it will be warm, no matter what the weather is doing. :P :snow1: :rain1:
Buy ya lunch or something if ya come over and help. :eat1: :beer3: Sound fair?
I live in the north end of the TC's.
Thanks for the offer and I'll keep ya up to date on what's going on.
Thanks again, Bear.

[wccoman]

For sure, anytime - let me know. I'll trade lunch for a few beers and a couple dirty jokes!
Hope the surgery isn't serious - hope all goes well.

Let me know - take care.

Andrew