Will I need to disassemble my forks to adjust the spring tension? Read somewhere the M900's were adjustable at the of bottom the fork. The parts manual for the M750 Dark shows an adjusting screw at the bottom of fork. I don't know if the Dark model is different.
Any help will be appreciated.
Sterling
Your forks are not adjustable. Sowa adjustables have screws top and bottom, and they adjust damping, not spring preload.
I believe they are Marzocchi not Showa. If they're Showa it will be cast on the inside of the fork leg.
The screw at the bottom is to hold the cartridge into the lower. It's not an adjustment.
The forks have Showa cast on the fork bottoms. I'll be changing the oil soon, maybe a spacer can be added.
Quote from: scaudill on February 23, 2015, 10:48:18 AM
The forks have Showa cast on the fork bottoms. I'll be changing the oil soon, maybe a spacer can be added.
There are lots of mods for the Showas.
Fresh oil, and the correct straight rate spring from Race-tech, or others will make a huge difference.
You'll be chasing your tail a bit trying to work with the progressive rate spring they come with.
Quote from: ducpainter on February 23, 2015, 12:13:33 PM
There are lots of mods for the Showas.
Fresh oil, and the correct straight rate spring from Race-tech, or others will make a huge difference.
You'll be chasing your tail a bit trying to work with the progressive rate spring they come with.
Words of wisdom! Even better, depending on where you are located, think about sending the forks to Speeddog (Valley Desmo Service) or Eric (Clubhouse MotorSports llc), both DMF sponsors and have them set the forks up for you with proper linear springs, valves and shimstacks est up for your weight and riding style.
I have the non-adj Marzoochis on my '99 M750, same basic idea as the non-adj Showas. I tossed in straight rate springs with a preload shim and they work much better than the pogo sticks they used to be. They're nothing like having folly adjustable Ohlins, but work well.
JM
quote modify remove
Why do my posts have a RED X @ the remove option?
Sterling
Quote from: scaudill on February 24, 2015, 02:36:25 PM
quote modify remove
Why do my posts have a RED X @ the remove option?
Sterling
Posts or threads?
I have three post's in tech under different headings. Each time I reply the red X appears right hand corner. I guess it only appears for me to see.
Sterling
I get a red X too. Dunno what it for. I did a test post, hit remove, and it worked.
Quote from: scaudill on February 24, 2015, 09:48:26 PM
I have three post's in tech under different headings. Each time I reply the red X appears right hand corner. I guess it only appears for me to see.
Sterling
I misunderstood.,,sorry
The red x is a warning to you that if you click remove it's irreversible.
Then the red X is visible to the OP only. Thought I might have done something wrong.
Sterling
Quote from: scaudill on February 25, 2015, 05:43:01 AM
Then the red X is visible to the OP only. Thought I might have done something wrong.
Sterling
Yes...it only shows on your posts.
If the forks are Shows, I've read the installing the inner parts of Suzuki forks make a night and day difference. Might be something to check into.
i've got some 1999 750ssie 43mm showas apart at the moment. these have lots of damping std, both comp and rebound. massive amounts of comp more than pretty much any other ducati fork. and the usual dual stage too soft springs. i was going to add 10 - 15mm more preload and drop the oil level from 95mm (what they were, spec 105 or so) to 145mm, using 5 weight oil.
I'll run the travel/force test on them like that and see if i've screwed it up.
Brad,
I would appreciate your results with those forks. Before I disassemble, I'd like to make the tools I'll need. My weight is 160 lbs. with helmet and think the current springs are about right.
So when I've gathered more info I'll begin that project.
I think my Race Tech springs will arrive today. I'll pickup seals tomorrow morning at Racers Edge (local mc shop).
My Haynes and Ducati service manual say measure oil before installing springs, is that correct?
Yes, oil level is measured with springs removed.
My new springs will be 80 mm shorter than original ones. Won't that have a big effect on oil level?
Probably.
The spec given in the manuals is for stock springs/spacers.
If you haven't disassembled things yet you can check to see what it is installed with your old springs and adjust accordingly with your new springs.
You can also play with oil level and weight to adjust the damping somewhat with the stock components.
It's all trial and error, which is why I send mine out to someone that's already done the experimenting.
Quote from: ducpainter on March 27, 2015, 06:02:50 AM
Probably.
The spec given in the manuals is for stock springs/spacers.
If you haven't disassembled things yet you can check to see what it is installed with your old springs and adjust accordingly with your new springs.
You can also play with oil level and weight to adjust the damping somewhat with the stock components.
It's all trial and error, which is why I send mine out to someone that's already done the experimenting.
Yep.
the 750ssie forks which i was playing with seem to have massive low speed damping. even with maxima 5 wt they still had a lot. i think they'd need a small bleed hole at each end of the cartridge just to take the edge of it. they were almost impossible to drain too, i had them upside down and the oil was leaking out the shaft as i worked them for 10 minutes or more i think, there's just no holes in the cartridge.
i don't recall monster forks feeling like this tho. you could probably do the gsxr internal conversion to yours.
Starting reassembly of the Showa 43mm forks. With cartridge in, 220 ml oil in and cartridge pumped as per manual (Haynes and Ducati). Added the remaining 220 ml of oil, checked oil height to fork top, 150 mm. Added 60 ml more bring total to 500 ml, 130 mm. Fork is bottomed, nothing but cartridge in. According to the manuals forks use 440 ml and the measurement from oil level to fork to should be 80 mm.
Any ideas on what I'm doing wrong? I must be missing something.
Thanks, Sterling
assuming you're doing it right, it's only oil in a hole. just put in as required. i'd run the 130 mm, or even lower.
Brad,
Thanks for your help. I ended up with 100 mm on each side. Expect to remove forks again to make changes in spacer length. So, I'll heed your advice of 130 mm.
Thanks again.