Progressive spring install

[timgray]

Anyone know what size the big nuts on the handlebars are? are they 27mm?

 

Also anyone found a source for a 17mm hex key socket?

[utadventure]

1 1/8" socket fits perfectly on the nuts to remove the handlebars and 17mm hex to remove the caps.

 

Got my 17mm hex in a three pack set from Harbor Freight.

[timgray]

Lastly anyone find a reasonable price on the top caps the Hex Key goes into? I was going to get one just in case, but most places think they are $60.00 each. BikeBandit seems to be keeping to their word on the Bandit pricing.

[abusive throttle cranker]

I just turned my spark plug tool (the one in the tool kit) upside down- it fits right into the plug on top of the fork tube. Then a 22mm socket with extension on the outside of the erstwhile business end. Works like a charm!

[Condor]

I just made mine. Works great for removal of the fork plug, and really helps when getting the plug restarted again. The hex is a cut off piece of a 17mm allen wrench, and the only place I could find one was Sears. Every place else stopped at 15mm

 

http://www.venturerider.org/progressive/The%20front%20suspension%20of%20my%2083VR%20was%20continually%20bottoming%20out%20due%20to%20some%20very%20old%20fork%20springs_files/progressive15.jpg

[timgray]

I found one, Harbor Freight sells a kit of 6 that has a 17 in it with a 1/2 inch drive.

 

Although I never though that Yammaha would be clever and use the sparkplug socket for that. Older Japanese bikes still impress me with some of the things they though of for the end user.

[Condor]

I found one, Harbor Freight sells a kit of 6 that has a 17 in it with a 1/2 inch drive.

 

Although I never though that Yammaha would be clever and use the sparkplug socket for that. Older Japanese bikes still impress me with some of the things they though of for the end user.

 

It looks like they got smart. HF was the first place I tried to find something in 17mm and struck out. MOF the socket set I have from them stops at 15mm. However that was a long time ago....

[abusive throttle cranker]

lol I needed a 32mm for the crankshaft. So I got a deep well 1/2" drive set for $30 shipped from HF. And it includes a 22mm. Also a 27mm to fit the top of the triple trees- u know the bracket behind the cruise control module.

[timgray]

Finished and test drive done.

 

If you have not done this upgrade, you NEED to do it as soon as possible. The difference is drastic. Handling is improved, still have a comfy ride but when you nail the brakes hard it stays right there.

 

Only drawback, you have slight spring noise that you can hear now because the springs are all the way up to the top. Granted, I cant hear it over my engine and rattling collector.

 

If anyone needs a set of stock springs that have only 40,000 miles on them for the cost of shipping let me know. They are going in the trash in a couple of weeks.

[GolfVenture]

Finished and test drive done.

 

If you have not done this upgrade, you NEED to do it as soon as possible. The difference is drastic. Handling is improved, still have a comfy ride but when you nail the brakes hard it stays right there.

 

Only drawback, you have slight spring noise that you can hear now because the springs are all the way up to the top. Granted, I cant hear it over my engine and rattling collector.

 

If anyone needs a set of stock springs that have only 40,000 miles on them for the cost of shipping let me know. They are going in the trash in a couple of weeks.

 

 

What wt oil did you use?

Did you install the tight coils down or up?

What was your oil level?

Did you leave the anti dive unit on or use Sky_doc's Block Offs replacement?

What inch spacer did you use if any?

What approximately would be the drivers weight?

 

The reason I ask these question is because I had a challenging time with my progressive on my 91 VR that I wrecked last year. So now I installed progressive in my 89 VR but have not taken a ride yet, but hope to later this summer.

 

your answer will could help me make some adjustments if I need to.

 

I have a solution for your spring noise that I will post after this posting as a seperate issue.

[timgray]

10 wt

Tight coils down

5.5" from the top as per instructions

Stock anti dive

Spacer that came in the box with the springs cut in 1/2, each 1/2 used in left and right.

Driver is fat 270lb

[cabreco]

 

Only drawback, you have slight spring noise that you can hear now because the springs are all the way up to the top. Granted, I cant hear it over my engine and rattling collector.

 

 

What washers did you use? If you use the OEM washers instead of the ones that come with the Progerssives you shouldn't get spring noise. It drove me nuts at first & I realized the OEM washers are not flat, they have nipples of sort. (see pix)

 

Once I swapped them out I got no more spring noise

[mbrood]

The OEM has a thin "locating" spacer as shown above, with the narrow lip inside the spring and resting firmly against the spacer above, you shouldn't have ANY spring noise as it's not rubbing against anything... that spacer also precludes the spring from wearing on the spacer.

[timgray]

Using the OEM ones, you can still hear some spring noise, not when the bike is running, but it is still there. I think it's just because the springs are significantly longer and therefore moving around a little bit when you really jump on it.

 

Oh and running with no air in the shocks. The progressives dont need it even with the spacers cut in 1/2

[dingy]

What washers did you use? If you use the OEM washers instead of the ones that come with the Progerssives you shouldn't get spring noise. It drove me nuts at first & I realized the OEM washers are not flat, they have nipples of sort. (see pix)

 

Once I swapped them out I got no more spring noise

 

Chamfer the inside diameter on the plastic spacers a little and the 'nipple' will fit inside the spacer.

 

Gary

[abusive throttle cranker]

I have a set of Progressives I bought second hand from Golf&Ventures of this site. The OEM washer doesn't fit inside the spring. The coil is too small. Hmmmmmmm.........