BORN TO BE WILD.... NYC to TX

[drkngas]

Sounds like a good cheap vacation that you'll never forget.

[Charles S Otwell]

Just be sure you got enough money left to go home !! Just kidding, you wouldn't be the first foreigner to visit Texas and end up staying  ..

[MarylandMagnav45]

Hey.

What's easier to install?

Progressive springs or steel braided brake lines?

I might want to try it myself prior to the trip.  I think I'll have some time to wrench.

I now have a camera to upload pics too.

[dgc67]

IMO they are pretty similar as far as difficulty.  Neither are THAT hard IMO, but I have a fair amount of mechanical experience (have built a few engines and such)

for Brake lines the hard part is flushing the lines, unless you have access to a mity-vac. Other than that it is pretty straightforward.

There are some things to know that help when doing the springs.  It is VERY EASY to strip the caps that hold the springs in.  If you don't have the correct size socket DONT try it.  it is either 24mm or 25mm, can't remember off the top of my head.  I have both.
Are you planning on changing the fork oil at the same time?

[MarylandMagnav45]

IMO they are pretty similar as far as difficulty.  Neither are THAT hard IMO, but I have a fair amount of mechanical experience (have built a few engines and such)

for Brake lines the hard part is flushing the lines, unless you have access to a mity-vac. Other than that it is pretty straightforward.

There are some things to know that help when doing the springs.  It is VERY EASY to strip the caps that hold the springs in.  If you don't have the correct size socket DONT try it.  it is either 24mm or 25mm, can't remember off the top of my head.  I have both.
Are you planning on changing the fork oil at the same time?

thanks dG

I'll try to do the progressive then...

fork oil, yes!

[lragan]

Of course, just when the issue is settled, here comes another MOOTster with a contrary opinion.  (I am probably about as contrary as anyone on the forum !!)

I thought the brake line was quite simple -- and I don't have a mity vac, or whatever.  I used an oil can with a pump in it, and a piece of clear flexible tubing the right size to fit over the oil can tip and the bleed fitting on the slave cylinder.  Took the top off the reservoir, emptied out the old fluid, put new fluid in the oil can, and pumped it up the brake line from the bottom. 

Learned this technique in bleeding the brakes on a light aircraft.  Works great.

The solid braking performance seems more important to me than the better handling, but I like both!!  One could argue either way regarding safety. 

I don't know how others do it, but I put the bike up on a lift to take weight off the front wheel before removing the caps off the fork tubes.  It was all I could do to get the caps back on with the springs and spacers in place and no weight on the wheels.  Would take a much stronger man than I am to do it with the weight of the bike on the front tire.

The brake line can be replaced without a lift. 

Of course, you could always change mechanics and bring it back to stock...

[MarylandMagnav45]

Of course, you could always change mechanics and bring it back to stock...

LOL, I've unleashed an animal

[dgc67]

I thought the brake line was quite simple -- and I don't have a mity vac, or whatever.  I used an oil can with a pump in it, and a piece of clear flexible tubing the right size to fit over the oil can tip and the bleed fitting on the slave cylinder.  Took the top off the reservoir, emptied out the old fluid, put new fluid in the oil can, and pumped it up the brake line from the bottom.

NOT a contrary opinion at all.  You stated what I did, except you replaced "mity-vac" with "oil can" (damn good idea by the way).
I agree brake lines are easier overall.  I have bled without the mighty vac (did not think to use the oil can method) and it is not hard, just takes forever and you get tired of pumping the brake.

[a65bug]

If you're going to do the progressives, you might as well as pull the forks and replace the seals if they haven't been done since '84.  It would suck to replace the springs, fill it with new oil, and then have it spring a leak and find out the only reason it wasn't leaking before was because most of the oil had already leaked out.  If you're just doing the springs, then it's a really easy job, if you're pulling the forks to do seals, then it's a bit more complicated.  Still not a bad job, just takes more work.

If you're going to do the lines, make sure you crack it at all the banjos, they like to get air caught up there.  I also heard of a good tip recently for getting stuck air out of the master cyl.  After you bleed it a bit, fill it with fluid, close the top, unbolt the master cyl from the bar, and flip it over a few times, that way any stuck air will have a new way out.  Haven't tried it but I probably will soon as I have to swap my master cylinders out when I get off my lazy butt...

Alan, count me in when you do a ride, I've gotta meet up with some folks one of these days...

[dgc67]

I have to agree with A65bug on the springs.  It would be best to do the seals also if they have not been done recently.  They WILL fail sooner than later.  Also you get ALL of the old oil out that way.  Just draining won't.  The only special tool I needed to do the seals was an impact wrench for the bolts on the bottom that hold the forks together.  If Allen does not have one I can bring mine.   

So now I would totally say if your going to go ahead and do a project then do the brake lines.

[MarylandMagnav45]

I have to agree with A65bug on the springs.  It would be best to do the seals also if they have not been done recently.  They WILL fail sooner than later.  Also you get ALL of the old oil out that way.  Just draining won't.  The only special tool I needed to do the seals was an impact wrench for the bolts on the bottom that hold the forks together.  If Allen does not have one I can bring mine.   

So now I would totally say if your going to go ahead and do a project then do the brake lines.

i paid $500 for the fork seals to be fixed/stop leaking...

you're telling me to take them apart now to do the progressive springs?

I'm not sure if I want to attempt that part

[lragan]

You don't HAVE to replace the seals -- they are at the bottom of the tubes, and the springs go in from the top. 

I did not replace the seals on my blue '96.  There was no evidence of leaks, the oil in the tubes was at spec level, and I learned long ago to "not fix what ain't broke"

Have ridden another 10K miles or so since the Progressive Springs were installed, and so far, no leaks

[dgc67]

i paid $500 for the fork seals to be fixed/stop leaking...
you're telling me to take them apart now to do the progressive springs?

No, I said

It would be best to do the seals also if they have not been done recently.

$500???!!!  you were robbed.

[MarylandMagnav45]

i paid $500 for the fork seals to be fixed/stop leaking...
you're telling me to take them apart now to do the progressive springs?

No, I said

It would be best to do the seals also if they have not been done recently.

$500???!!!  you were robbed.

story of my life....DG...

getting taken advantage by people ....

yep

[roboto65]

Well you are turning your life around and putting that behind you by coming down here because after you are done here we will have you doing it yourself..  So cannot wait to see ya is it March yet!!!