Progressive Springs & Front Fork Seals for 3rd Gen

[lragan]

I ordered the Progressive springs, and oil, today.  Thanks for the advice, guys.

[Slydynbye]

Lawrence,
Greg has a good point.  Unless you just WANT to mess with the seals you don't have to.  You can change the springs without even removing the forks.  I think, but don't recommend, you could even do it without changing the fork oil.
You take the caps off the top and slide the springs out. 

I think I read something on here about spacers on the 3rd gen??

If you have a '94 you don't have to remove the axle to drain the fork oil.
94s have a nut on the bottom rear for easy draining.
I don't understand why they changed it.

[lragan]

So I checked the bottoms on my '96.  Looks like I have to pull the wheel, as the drain must be behind the axle.  Probably not a bad deal, as it would be difficult to drain the tubes without spilling oil on the tire.

The package came today.  Sure enough, they include a piece of schedule 40 1" PVC pipe -- exactly ten inches long.  The instructions call for 5.12 inches on each side.  Good thing I have an adequate stock of 1" schedule 40! 

Purchased from Xtreme Revolution, Inc., DBA Fast Cycle Parts in San Diego.  Found the part 11-1126 for the 3rd Gen Magna.  When I clicked "add to cart" the default quantity came up as "2".  The description simply called the part a "spring" (as in singular).  Since they defaulted to 2, I thought, naive me, that they were not sold as a set.  I was surprised, but went ahead and ordered.

Well, you know the rest.  I got two sets.  Soooo, if anyone needs a set of Progressive Springs for a 3rd gen, I will sell 'em for what I paid, and pay the shipping to you....OR...if you would like to come to a wrench session at my place on Saturday, February 28th, I will provide tools and advice to install 'em.   (I should be able to provide advice by then, since I hope to get mine installed in the next few days. )  If I don't get a bite here in the next few days, I will either send the second set back or advertise them in the "For Sale" section.

Reading the Honda Service Manual, it tells me to fill (Page 12-11) to the "specified amount of fork fluid (Page 1-10)".  On page 1-10, it says the fork oil capacity is 521cc.  So is that the required amount of oil per tube, or the total??   I bought 5W fork oil, a total of 1 liter, which is not enough for both tubes if each take 521cc.  However, the instructions from Progressive point out that less oil is required since their springs take up more space.  So my question is: Is one liter enough?.  I am thinking that I will supplement with a little hydraulic fluid or 10W-30 if I need just a skinch more.

Also, the manual specifies, also on page 1-10, the fork oil level at 122mm.  The Progressive instructions call for measuring the air level, being the distance from the top of the tube to the oil level, with the spring removed.  Does the Honda manual mean the same thing?  I would guess so, since measuring the actual oil level would require measuring up from the seal??   If this is so, then the Honda manual calls for more oil than the Progressive instructions do.  So have you guys who have these Progressives installed measured the recommended 140mm of air from the top of the tube as per the Progressive instructions, or put in more oil to leave only 122mm of air?

Whew!  I hope these questions are clear.  Thanks for guiding me through this.

[tmds3]

Lawrence,
  Are these just replacements springs, not the lowered ones? I was looking to get a pair and am interested, missed how much you paid, just let me know. I live in Bedford so don't know what shipping would be to here. 76021 is zip.
                             thanks,
                              David

[TLRam1]

I measure from the top of the fork down to the top of the oil. I went plus 5 weight heavier than stock fork oil. Use any device from a piece of wire, pencil, paper, etc.

I do not remember all your questions.

1. Just drain forks

2. Remove old springs (reuse large washer)

3. Fill with proper amount of fluid.

4. Put in new springs, large washer, spacers and cap screw on the fork.

5. Ride!

Front of bike (front wheel off the ground) needs to be supported or SURPRISE when you remove the fork caps!

[TLRam1]

If you hang onto the springs, someone will need them.

[TLRam1]

Below is a write-up I posted on another post.

The front wheel does not need to come off the bike unless your fork drain plug is above the axle.

If you can see your fork drain plug on the backside of your forks than the front wheel is fine on the bike.

Simple to do and when you read someones instructions can make it seem much more involved.

In a nutshell what you are doing is

1. Lifting the front wheel off the ground

2. Drain your forks

3. Unscrew your fork caps (push down-spring pressure on caps)

4. Pull out spacers and springs (keep washer)

5. With forks depressed fill with Fork oil to appropriate level (can't remember) from top of fork to the oil level in the fork. Stock is 10WGT, I went 15 WGT for more dampening.

6. Put new springs in w/washer on top of spring

7. Cut new spacers out of PVC
      Stock length = 5.12 inch
      Agressive Progressive Length= 5.35 inches (this is my recommendation if you want it a little more progressive, I did mine at 5.50 inches I think but hard to get the caps on. So far I love it and would do it again!!)

8. Put in new spacers and replace caps ( you do want your forks at there outer most exptension).

Presto, Your done!! Take it for a test ride and enjoy!

[lragan]

Thanks, Terry.  Will let you know the results.

David, I sent you a PM

[Greg Cothern]

Remember that the Progressive springs will displace more than that of the stock springs.  This is why they dont give you an amount measurement.  They give you a dipstick measurement.

[roboto65]

Also it has been neglected you also want to loosen the the top clamp on your triple tree before you loosen the cap as the top clamp has some clamping force on the cap!!!!

[lragan]

So, it being a beautiful afternoon, I decided to bag the super bowl thing and install the new springs. With the bike on the lift, I started by removing the front wheel.  The windshield had to come off to get to the pinch bolts in the triple tree (thanks, Allen!).  Removed the spacers, washers, and old springs, then dipped into the oil with a measuring square.  The oil was clear, clean, beautiful.  And, as luck would have it, measured as close as I could estimate 5.5 inches, or 140 mm as the Progressive instructions call out.  I checked the Honda Common Service Manual, and all the fork oil measurements are to be taken from the top of the tube to the top of the oil.  (Should have read before I asked -- sorry. ).  So I concluded that the tubes had lost 18 mm of oil in the 36K miles this bike has on it -- or, someone had replaced the oil to 140mm instead of 122 at some point.

At this point I decided not to change the oil.  I was a bit nervous about using 5W anyway, given the preferences stated by others.  So I put the new springs, old washers, new PVC spacers at 5.2 inches, and reassembled the whole thing.  Turns out I would not have had to remove the wheel at all, which would have saved the most vexing part of the process, getting the wheel back on with the brake disc fitted and the spacer and speedometer gear in place.  The price of making assumptions. 

Haven't ridden it yet.  It being super bowl Sunday, I figure it may be too drunk out on the road.  I will post another report with the ride evaluation.

[TLRam1]

Good Job Lawrence!

On another note, do you have a copy of the wiring diagram of the Magna?

[L J VFR]

You talked me into it Lawrence.   I broke down Saturday and ordered some stuff for the magna.  Called Dennis Kirk and ordered a new set of OEM Dunlop front and rear tires, new Vance and Hines exhaust and new progressive fork springs.  $770.  Everything should be here this week sometime.  Then time to go to work.   Now if I can only get electricity to my house.

[lragan]

Hey, Lance, if I didn't have to pay a power bill for this place, I could afford all sorts of goodies!!

Kidding aside, I hope you get the power back soon.  Did you have a freezer full of food?  Man, what a mess!

[lragan]

On another note, do you have a copy of the wiring diagram of the Magna?

Terry, I do have a wiring diagram.  I will have to scan it from the manual, and will send it to you in a PM later today or tomorrow.  I don't have time this morning, as I absolutely MUST test the new fork springs.