Mikepacific60
Veteran Member
Hi all,
I’ve just rebuilt the forks from my SL350K1 (mine is an early K1) - details are in my project build elsewhere on this forum.
Interestingly, the springs are not held in by the screw-in cap on the top of the forks - the springs are retained by a circlip.
Each fork had two springs, separated by a nylon joiner.
When I reassembled the forks (noting that I never rode this bike or even had a good bounce on it before I disassembled the forks), the springs are, what seems to me, pretty saggy. Specifically, the forks collapse about 5/8” or so before the springs are even engaged.
I’ve searched around and can’t find the specified length of these springs.
I know some sag is called for, but this seems excessive, particularly when there is no load on the forks.
Scratching my head about what to do….I could make up some 5/8” spacers to go on top of the springs - important to note that it would be very difficult to get the retaining circlip in place if the springs / spacer was taller than the circlip groove. Alternative I could look for new springs of the required capacity (I weigh about 93kg). Not sure if new springs to suit my forks (33mm tubes) are even available. The bottom couple of coils on the lower spring actually wind in a bit tighter than the main body of the spring…ie the measurement across the bottom of the spring is narrower than the rest of the spring).
Appreciate and thoughts or actions people gave done in this situation.
Cheers
Mike
I’ve just rebuilt the forks from my SL350K1 (mine is an early K1) - details are in my project build elsewhere on this forum.
Interestingly, the springs are not held in by the screw-in cap on the top of the forks - the springs are retained by a circlip.
Each fork had two springs, separated by a nylon joiner.
When I reassembled the forks (noting that I never rode this bike or even had a good bounce on it before I disassembled the forks), the springs are, what seems to me, pretty saggy. Specifically, the forks collapse about 5/8” or so before the springs are even engaged.
I’ve searched around and can’t find the specified length of these springs.
I know some sag is called for, but this seems excessive, particularly when there is no load on the forks.
Scratching my head about what to do….I could make up some 5/8” spacers to go on top of the springs - important to note that it would be very difficult to get the retaining circlip in place if the springs / spacer was taller than the circlip groove. Alternative I could look for new springs of the required capacity (I weigh about 93kg). Not sure if new springs to suit my forks (33mm tubes) are even available. The bottom couple of coils on the lower spring actually wind in a bit tighter than the main body of the spring…ie the measurement across the bottom of the spring is narrower than the rest of the spring).
Appreciate and thoughts or actions people gave done in this situation.
Cheers
Mike