Fork spring oil change-tips

Bought some progressive Yacugar springs and oil from FTR.

Taken a look at the workshop manual and it shows the correct tools to be used for gripping the inner fork parts and and holding the spring down with a washer tool.

I have no doubt they are expensive, any one done this with out the Aprilia tools? Or can send me theirs and I will pay postage and return?

What do you guys use to clean out the old oil from the forks?

Cheers

Front end of my T is not that great ATM, have no rebound left on the front forks and TBH with the ohlins rear the rear is out classing the front if I was keeping the bike for a longer period I would consider a revalve but fancied the cheap option of doing it myself :thumbup

My springs should arrive Wednesday but my forks are removed and being cleaned/allowed to drain.

These are the springs I have purchased :thumbup:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Progressive-F...82?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item3f01d5794a

(Apparantly it says on the box the oil height your meant to use, lets hope so)

Located the service manual here on PDF (well used the RSVR one for the forks as they are still SHOWA fork service starts at page 176:

http://www.whootis.com/index.php?page=rsvrmanuals

Once I removed the body of the suspenders from the top part evident I would need the Aprilia special tools, the washer and the stanction clamp :no.

Parts 3 and 4 are what you need...............bargain price :no :

http://www.ultimateparts.net/aprili...cial-Tools-A-Rotax-V990-Aprilia-Tools&i=17108

However made my own in about 10 mins. Made out of 2 metal legs of a 3 legged camping chair and some random metal plate taken from my circular saw cover. If I had a lathe or something I would make something better :yes but it works very well:







Two fork legs of oil, done 6k now.



The process is covered well on the manual so I dont need to go over that.

You need:
A thin 14mm spanner (I ground one thinner)
17 mm spanner
32mm spanner or adjustable
Fork oil
New springs
Fork oil height tool (I just use a syringe and tube)

TIP
Instead of using the vice tool or making your own, when you first start undo the top yoke allen head bolt and use a 32mm spanner to undo the bolt :yes then undo the bottom yoke pinch bolts and you dont need the clamp then, reverse the process later.

Springs fitted today, got them back on with out too much bother.









Air gap on the box states 190mm (forks collapsed no springs) and as you can see SAE10 oil.

Got 4 rings of preload showing, 1/2 turn of rebound and what ever my compression was on prior, I think it could do with some more preload.

Instantly it felt more planted on my ride out, certainly soaks the bumps up and feels more plush, a marked improvement over OEM.

It will need fettling by the suspension guys no doubt, I will test it fully soon as hopefully doing Oulton Park in a couple of weeks. :yes

For 75quid its a great mod if your happy doing it yourself.