Hello,

Today I set out to change my front fork springs with progressive stock length springs and new 15w fork oil. Everything came apart easily but the stock springs I took out did not have a spacer between the spring and the fork cap. They were also a little longer than the progressive springs. I am going to call progressive tomorrow and ask if this is normal but since they are closed today I figured I would ask here to see what yall think. Are the progressive springs supposed to be shorter?

The bike is a 2005 FXDL
Thanks.

 

I put Progressives in my 2014 WG. They came with 5 inch spacers that stuck out an inch or less for preload. The stick spacers were 3 inch.
One thing I found is Progressive springs are denser than stock. I syphoned an ounce of oil out of the tubes because the denser springs raised the oil level. Still rides a little stiff. You may have to as well with 15W oil.

 

So the stock springs must have been a little longer than your progressive ones?

I put oil in until it was 5.5 inches from the top because the progressive instructions said no more than 5.5 inches. It is stiffer than with the old oil but I kind of like it so far. Only a real short test ride though so time will tell if I need to remove a little oil.

 

You'll like it. Alittle stiff over pot holes but great on highway and twisties

 

I changed my "02 FXD springs out many moons ago, didn't have any spacers with my kit to maintain "original" height on the front. I'd check with Prog. on this. I also use 10w fork oil, non-HD.

 

I called progressive yesterday and explained my fork spring situation. They said the springs being a different length was no big deal but when I told them about me matching the spacer to my old springs to have the same amount of preload he said I had way too much spacer in there. He said to cut a spacer so it sat flush with the top of the fork tube. By doing that it caused the front of the bike to sag way too much.

Best I can find, my bike has a 5 3/4" of fork travel. That means I need just under 2 inches of sag if I understand sag and preload correctly.

My question is how much preload is everyone running?

 

Was your top tube extended, not collapsed, when you measured for the spacer? Sounds like it was collapsed.

 

I rebuilt both tubes and installed Progressive springs in my FXD a couple of years back because the front end was seriously diving and bottoming out too often, and the front fender was hitting the top mount of my engine guard.

I believe I cut a 2 inch spacer from the kit and used 15 weight oil. It has worked out great. No more problems with brake dives even on hard braking and it rarely bottoms out when I hit a hole or big bump...really stable on the road. I'm very pleased with the results

 

Most of these bikes like about 1 1/4" to 1 3/4" preload providing the spring rate is right. I think that the non-cartridge 39mm forks were about 5.1 inches but could be wrong.. If you pull the cap, you can measure it.. Without the spring inside, you should be able to collapse the fork all the way easy. Measure the travel of the lower leg. Anyway 25%-33% sag would be the best..

Heck, buy one of those preload adjusters.. Play with it..

 

Thanks for all the replies. New rear shocks will be arriving tomorrow so I plan to play with the preload a little more when I have the bike up on the jack. I will let you know what I work out.