K fork springs orientation?

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oldgreyandslow
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K fork springs orientation?

Post by oldgreyandslow »

When I removed them I found the fork springs have the closer wound coils at the bottom, howveer reading the Haynes manual on the installation section it states "install the spring with its closer spaced coils at the top"

So did the previous owner fit the springs the wrong way up, or is Haynes wrong?

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thunderace
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Re: K fork springs orientation?

Post by thunderace »

Tighter helix at the top of the forks :peace:
Conventional wisdom says to know your limits. To know your limits you need to find them first. Finding your limits generally involves getting in over your head and hoping you live long enough to benefit from the experience. That's the fun part.
oldgreyandslow
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Re: K fork springs orientation?

Post by oldgreyandslow »

thunderace wrote:Tighter helix at the top of the forks :peace:
Thanks, that means the previous owner had them in the wrong way round! I even sketched the arrangement as I took it apart to be certain I put them back the same way too, I hope it won't have damaged them.
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thunderace
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Re: K fork springs orientation?

Post by thunderace »

Shouldn't have damaged them, it would have just fcuked up the handling under heavy breaking.
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arsey30
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Re: K fork springs orientation?

Post by arsey30 »

Look closely at each end of the spring, then down inside the stanchion where the spring seats on the damper body.

If one end of the spring is tapered, i.e is a smaller diameter, then that faces down and sits neatly on the damper body. [normally the close coils]
The smaller I.D goes to the bottom on L model and 750.

Only if the spring has no taper, then close coils to the top.

You will do no damage if both ends of the spring are the same diameter, if not, the larger end will not sit well on the damper.
Last edited by arsey30 on Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
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thunderace
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Re: K fork springs orientation?

Post by thunderace »

arsey30 wrote: If one end of the spring is tapered, i.e is a smaller diameter, then that faces down and sits neatly on the damper body. [normally the close coils]
The tighter helix ALWAYS sits at the top on RWU forks, they only fit the opposite way on USD forks.
Conventional wisdom says to know your limits. To know your limits you need to find them first. Finding your limits generally involves getting in over your head and hoping you live long enough to benefit from the experience. That's the fun part.
arsey30
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Re: K fork springs orientation?

Post by arsey30 »

Not if 1 end is tapered, see common service manual.
vfr570 is tapered on close coil end

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oldgreyandslow
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Re: K fork springs orientation?

Post by oldgreyandslow »

The springs are not tapered, either end seems to sit OK on the damper, so I assume its close coils to the top

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Neosophist
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Re: K fork springs orientation?

Post by Neosophist »

arsey30 wrote:Not if 1 end is tapered, see common service manual.
vfr570 is tapered on close coil end

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oldgreyandslow wrote:The springs are not tapered, either end seems to sit OK on the damper, so I assume its close coils to the top

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Yes and yes.
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arsey30
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Re: K fork springs orientation?

Post by arsey30 »

That's right.
Not sure if they compress any different progression wise either way up, but best for unsprung weight.

Just like the Clubman Bantam rear shocks :-)

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