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30mm Front Forks
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 2:50 am
by 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?
Re: 30mm Front Forks
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 3:58 am
by matt glascock
Do you have a preload spacers installed?
Re: 30mm Front Forks
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 7:16 am
by Dal Aymond
Matt, I didn't install any pre-load spacers. Maybe I should?
Re: 30mm Front Forks
Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2020 3:52 pm
by 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.
Re: 30mm Front Forks
Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2020 1:53 am
by socalhodaka
What bike are you working on?
Re: 30mm Front Forks
Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2020 10:38 am
by viclioce
Are you guys using PVC, or something else for adding preload? And if yes, what length are you typically adding?
Victor
Re: 30mm Front Forks
Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2020 1:56 pm
by 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.
Re: 30mm Front Forks
Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2020 6:49 am
by 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.
Re: 30mm Front Forks
Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2020 4:17 pm
by matt glascock
The fork spring guide. That's also the place for shimming.
Re: 30mm Front Forks
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 3:20 am
by 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.
Re: 30mm Front Forks
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 4:25 am
by Dal Aymond
dirty_rat wrote: ↑Wed Oct 07, 2020 3:20 am
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.
Re: 30mm Front Forks
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2020 4:39 am
by Dal Aymond
I have ordered the spring guides and the spacers from Hodaka-Parts.com. Thank you all for your help and comments.
Re: 30mm Front Forks
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 6:28 am
by 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.
Re: 30mm Front Forks
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 7:46 am
by Dal Aymond
dirty_rat wrote: ↑Thu Oct 08, 2020 6:28 am
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.
Re: 30mm Front Forks
Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2020 9:00 am
by 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.