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front fork dampering
- chevyhead
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- kano
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- Not Another Bloody Limey!
not familiar with your bike but mine had loads of travel too.
replace seals filled with oil and they were much better.
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- chevyhead
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- T_Dub
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When you're stationary and trying to push them down, you're only really fighting the spring as its a viscous damper. When you're braking, as its a dynamic force, damping comes into effect. I'd say either you have some old low weight oil in there or you have a stuck open valve. You should have seen the gunk that came out of my shocks last time I changed the oil. I put new stuff in, rode it for a few days, still squishy, so I drained it again, oil came out pretty black-ish, filled it up again, rode it all fall. Now I'm gonna change it again when I put in my progressive springs in May, hopefully it'll come out a bit cleaner, I dont really want to go in there but it might be a last resort to get them clean.
1977 KZ650B1
-810cc
-Cavanaugh Racing Head
-Mikuni RS34's
-GPR Muffler
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- chevyhead
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- T_Dub
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I'm probably going with 15W this summer since my rears are now very stiff, and I'm putting progressive springs in the forks. Gonna be a bit rough, but fun in the twisties.
1977 KZ650B1
-810cc
-Cavanaugh Racing Head
-Mikuni RS34's
-GPR Muffler
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- chevyhead
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- JMKZHI
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I rebuilt/refurbished the forks on my 81 650 a couple of years ago. Each spring measured >508mm, which is above the service limit of 497mm (your svc limit will be less - most likely). I don't know what their length was when new. After reassembly, the correct amount of the specified 10W fork oil was used, and they're aired up to ~12 psi. I guess the front suspension is fine, but it could be better I suppose. One of these days I'll try a heavier oil or go ahead & splurge for some new modern springs.
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- 650ed
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1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- chevyhead
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- Patton
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ok now how do i know when they are full?????
FSM should specify volume when filled "dry" (as after overhaul or complete draining) and maybe also the volume when drained and refilled "wet".
If lucky, the FSM or some other source, may reveal the measurement of fluid level from top of fork tube (with front wheel suspended and spring remaining inside the fork). Makes it easy to check. Once level and volume are known correct to specs, just fashion a "dip-stick' from a wooden dowel or whatever.
Good Luck!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- MFolks
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1982 GPZ1100 B2
General Dynamics/Convair 1983-1993
GLCM BGM-109 Tomahawk, AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM)
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