Do These Front Fork "Special Washers" Still Look Serviceable?

[Bob K.]

I'm rebuilding the front forks on my '93 Venture. I ordered replacement Spring Valves, P/N 26H-2319M-00-00 (referred to as "special washers" or "wavey washers" in the service manual). They go on the bottom of the damper rod. Unfortunately, Yamaha has them on backorder for another 5 weeks. I can't wait that long.

 

Here are my existing washers. I'm going to reuse them if they're still serviceable. They're smooth, still wavey along one axis, and plenty springy. If you've ever seen these things brand new, do mine still look like they're serviceable and bent (or wavey) the requisite amount?

 

 

Edited August 31, 2018 by Bob K.

[coolwind57]

I'm rebuilding the front forks on my '93 Venture. I ordered replacement Spring Valves, P/N 26H-2319M-00-00 (referred to as "special washers" or "wavey washers" in the service manual). They go on the bottom of the damper rod. Unfortunately, Yamaha has them on backorder for another 5 weeks. I can't wait that long.

 

Here are my existing washers. I'm going to reuse them if they're still serviceable. They're smooth, still wavey along one axis, and plenty springy. If you've ever seen these things brand new, do mine still look like they're serviceable and bent (or wavey) the requisite amount?

 

https://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=114237

 

https://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=114238

 

I'd recommend you get them off of Ebay. There's at least three supplier there that have them. You'd likely receive them in a few days. In my opinion, a visual inspection of the old ones is not adequate to determine whether they're still good or not. Man, they're old. That's a lot of work you're doing during this rebuild to rely on aged spring washers.

 

Good luck. I just did this rebuild a couple of weeks ago. Takes guts to dig in and do this job yourself. I was intimidated but pushed through.

[Marcarl]

If I had new ones on site, I would probably put in the new ones, and if they got a little mixed up on the bench that wouldn't worry me a whole lot. These are not weight bearing washers, they are there to deal with oil flow so I doubt that the spring action is used much if at all. That's probably why Yamaha is out of stock and they have been for a while already, no call for them.

[Prairiehammer]

I'm rebuilding the front forks on my '93 Venture. I ordered replacement Spring Valves, P/N 26H-2319M-00-00 (referred to as "special washers" or "wavey washers" in the service manual). They go on the bottom of the damper rod. Unfortunately, Yamaha has them on backorder for another 5 weeks. I can't wait that long.

 

Here are my existing washers. I'm going to reuse them if they're still serviceable. They're smooth, still wavey along one axis, and plenty springy. If you've ever seen these things brand new, do mine still look like they're serviceable and bent (or wavey) the requisite amount?

 

https://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=114237

 

https://www.venturerider.org/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=114238

 

Since the washers still have "spring" and are still "wavey", I would reuse them. As Marcarl says, they are only to control the up and down of the oil lock piece, to bypass oil.

[Bob K.]

I've reused them. I bent them just a tad more. We'll see how everything works over time.