a-symetrical fork internals?

[nedmmo]

just going through my forks replacing seals, fluid, and painting. i did one at a time so i had a reference if anything went bad. anyway upon dissassembling fork 2, i noticed that each fork leg had spacer tubes in different locations.

fork number 1 had as per my service manual, spacer at the top under the fork cap. fork number 2 on the other hand had the spacer down on the damper tube? this fork leg is the braking side.

should i put it back together as is and different or set it up as per my manual. it mentions nothing about different positions for the spacer

 

[hillsy]

Rebuild them the same. Spacers on top of springs.

Also, closer coils go to the top.

 

[nedmmo]

ok. upon further reading, having the spacer under the damper rod spring is how you backyard lower your forks.
which is really odd that who ever opened these forks last has built them with one side lowered. this also answers the question of what the forks felt so squirelly through corners before i ripped it down for a rebuild.

now the question is prior to this with them in opposite positions, would the longer leg of been holding up the lowered side or would the lowered side dragged the normal side down. if its option 1, ill put both spacers at top cause i had no problem with the fork length. or option 2 ill have to pull apart the one completed fork again and change it to lowered setup.

 

[nedmmo]

Rebuild them the same. Spacers on top of springs.

Also, closer coils go to the top.

my manual says closer coils down?

 

[hillsy]

Are the fork tubes different lengths? This would explain the shortening spacer.

 

[nedmmo]

is that a standard thing that happens? the springs were the same length?

 

[hillsy]

I was suggesting if someone has replaced one of the fork tubes with a longer one, then they may have put a spacer under the damper rod to make them equal lengths.

But it sounds like there's just one spacer on each side? Were the forks different lengths when they were taken off? They should be re-built the same each side.

And your manual is wrong - tighter coils ALWAYS go to the top of the fork (it's to do with sprung / unsprung weight).

 

[nedmmo]

ok hillsy. thanks for your help. I mocked up unfinished fork and they are equal lengths when both spacers in the same location at the top of the spring.
someone must of had a brain fart when they were reassembling last time


gone rogue or in the shed