30mm Front Forks

[Dal Aymond]

My 30mm Front Forks are still stock. I have just replaced the fork seals and stock fork springs. I added 5 ounces of 30 weight fork oil. There is about 1-2" of very soft easy movement in them. Is that normal?

[matt glascock]

Do you have a preload spacers installed?

[Dal Aymond]

Matt, I didn't install any pre-load spacers. Maybe I should?

[matt glascock]

If the forks are properly assembled, the 30wt fork oil should give a pretty firm ride so that 1-2" of squishiness doesn't seem right. Were the springs in good shape? Is the spring retaining cap on top of the spring? That's the point where a preload bushing can be installed.

[socalhodaka]

What bike are you working on?

[viclioce]

Are you guys using PVC, or something else for adding preload? And if yes, what length are you typically adding? Victor

[matt glascock]

Just over an inch and I'm 200# with full gear. I like a tighter front end for racing here. The dirt is very loamy and forgiving. Sometimes it feels like riding on marshmallows.

[Dal Aymond]

matt glascock - It has new springs and new fork tube caps. There wasn't anything else on top of the springs, when I disassembled them. Is there supposed to be something else?

socalhodaka - It is a Model 95 Combat Wombat.

[matt glascock]

The fork spring guide. That's also the place for shimming.

[dirty_rat]

In the attached photo part # 7 is a hat shaped metal guide that goes on top of the spring. Part # 8 is a spacer that goes on top of the spring and spring guide. Part # 8 is around 4" long and provides spring pre-load. You can make this spacer out of PVC pipe or metal conduit. Then you can make it to the length you like to get the proper pre-load for you.

[Dal Aymond]

In the attached photo part # 7 is a hat shaped metal guide that goes on top of the spring. Part # 8 is a spacer that goes on top of the spring and spring guide. Part # 8 is around 4" long and provides spring pre-load. You can make this spacer out of PVC pipe or metal conduit. Then you can make it to the length you like to get the proper pre-load for you.

Thank you, dirty_rat.

[Dal Aymond]

I have ordered the spring guides and the spacers from Hodaka-Parts.com. Thank you all for your help and comments.

[dirty_rat]

Just as an add on, there are different length springs for the 30mm forks. The original springs were used in the model 92b, 93, 94, 95 and 96 (part# 938756). The Super Combat had a different spring(part# 978756) . The model 98 Super Rat came with another spring which was also used in the model 99, 01 and 02 (part# 988756). The last spring (part# 988756) was longer and didn't use a pre-load spacer.

[Dal Aymond]

Just as an add on, there are different length springs for the 30mm forks. The original springs were used in the model 92b, 93, 94, 95 and 96 (part# 938756). The Super Combat had a different spring(part# 978756) . The model 98 Super Rat came with another spring which was also used in the model 99, 01 and 02 (part# 988756). The last spring (part# 988756) was longer and didn't use a pre-load spacer.

Good info. Thanks, dirty rat.

[Dal Aymond]

Wow. So, according to the schematics, the 97, 98, 99, 01, and 02 basically have the "Fork Mod" built in to them already and they got rid of the spacers and added a longer springs. I'd bet they were decent little front ends.