Where the hell did this come from

I clearly said..... replace the existing spacer w/ one -> 1 - 1 1/2" longer

Not add to it

Hell..., a space 3/4" longer may meet the OP desired results - until he tests - no way of telling



Ghost

 

I was simply making a statement based on Nemosengineer in message #14.. Sorry maybe I should have quoted him...

 

OK.... Here we go again, my Super Glide has a new set of Fat Bob forks installed P/N 48622-08A and 48623-08A. These are the current version of these parts which at the time were the only forks that were set up with lugs for dual discs.
After I completed the dual disc conversion I installed a Works Performance cartridge conversion. upon removing the fork caps before starting the conversion, I noticed the preload spacer was 4 inches above the the top of the fork tube, with the fork assembly unloaded. The stock preload spacer is 8 inches long.
This is an enormous amount of static preload in anyone's book. Do not confuse static preload with sag measurements, as what I did was measure the parts and determine at what length coil bind would occur with the stock parts installed and the numbers told me that the spring goes into coil bind at a point just beyond maximum fork travel. this gives you a baseline for changing things without screwing anything up.
Unless you know what the stackup dimensions are, you dont know whats going to happen when you change things. All I told anyone was, Fat Bob forks are close to coil bind in the stock condition and you need to change the springs. I know this because I dimensioned the parts at the time I took the forks apart, and I dimensioned the springs and rod travel on the new cartridges before I installed them so I knew I had full travel and no coll bind in the range of static preload I planned to run.
So what are my numbers after the cartridge conversion... 2" inches of static preload resulted in 3/8" inch static sag with a full tank of fuel, 1 1/4" of sag with me in the saddle and zero adjustment on the preload adjusters, and 12 ounces of 7 weight fork oil in each leg. The shocks as installed result in 5" inches of rear suspension travel measured at the axle, and are set up with 3/4 inch of assembly preload, 1/4" of static sag, 1 1/8" inch of sag with me in the saddle and 1 turn on the preload adjusters. The chassis sag with me on board is exactly level at 1 1/8" inches at half a tank of fuel, this is a good result.

: Mike

 

I added pre-load on an 07 FB - work fine - eliminated the dive - no binding

Theory is all good - untill

Ghost

 

One chill cat spreading knowledge as always. Good on ya!!!!

 

I am just installing the gold emulators and springs on my Switchback. I will report back.

 

I am anxiously awaiting your opinion 69800. I have my finger on the mouse button to order the same for my 2012 Switchback. The stock front end sucks.

 

I will take a test ride today and report back

 

I just tested my forks out. Boy did that smooth things out. I look forward to pot holes now. I don't even try to dodge them. The bike goes though them effortlessly. Almost like they are not there. I even got on a gravel road that had serious washboarding. It was like they were not even there. Amazing. I have not gotten to hit the rough swithback road I want to yet. Hopefully tommorrow. It is a tough winding road with some jarring bumps in the corner that about knock you teeth out. That will be the final test. I will report back. My setup is 25 mm of preload and the fluid level is lower than the factory 160mm. I am at 140mm in both forks.

PS I did notice that I now have to do something with the rear shocks. Never really notice them before because the front forks had all of my attention.(Jarring). Now I see the rears could use some help too. The are not as bad as the fork were though.

 

Music to my ears, I already replaced the rears with pro-action shocks. Your tough winding road sounds like most of the places I have to ride here on the north coast of Ca. I am thinking on sending my forks down to Racetech and having them do the work. Thanks much for the review.