Help with Progressive fork springs
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
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Help with Progressive fork springs
I just picked up Progressive part # 11-1525 which is the spring kit for the front forks of my 2006 Wideglide.
Has anybody here installed this kit? My question is regarding to the white PVC spacers that came with it. The instructions say to refer to the chart when installing. I look at the chart and it says see note 1. Note 1 reads that I may need to cut the spacers. It doesn't say how, it doesn't say to what length. Also... fork oil recommendations would be helpful too. If anybody has installed this kit on a 2006 Wideglide I could sure use the help. Thanks!
Has anybody here installed this kit? My question is regarding to the white PVC spacers that came with it. The instructions say to refer to the chart when installing. I look at the chart and it says see note 1. Note 1 reads that I may need to cut the spacers. It doesn't say how, it doesn't say to what length. Also... fork oil recommendations would be helpful too. If anybody has installed this kit on a 2006 Wideglide I could sure use the help. Thanks!
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2011
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Spacer length will differ. You need to cut it, so that your total sag is about 1/3 of total travel. You may want to visit some suspension threads. Fork oil is also subject to preference. You may want to use standard weight, first, then decide whether a lighter weight would be helpful. A standard rider is 180 to 200 lbs. This may have a bearing on what is better for you. Did you choose the springs based on Progressive's weight scale?
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
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Spacer length will differ. You need to cut it, so that your total sag is about 1/3 of total travel. You may want to visit some suspension threads. Fork oil is also subject to preference. You may want to use standard weight, first, then decide whether a lighter weight would be helpful. A standard rider is 180 to 200 lbs. This may have a bearing on what is better for you. Did you choose the springs based on Progressive's weight scale?
No, went on their website, I entered in the info on my bike and a chart popped up telling me what part number to order. 11-1525 is the stock spring kit for my 2006 Wideglide.
I weigh 190 so I assumed the standard kit is correct. I visited a bunch of threads and the answers are all over the place.
From what I read.. I either have to make sure the spacer is flush with the top of my fork tube or... up to 1/2" above it. I was just wondering if anybody has actually done this job on an 06 Wideglide and if so... did they cut the spacer and if they did.. how long was it?
I also read that many people don't suggest putting a heavy duty Screaming Eagle oil in it. I was thinking about putting in Redline or Amsoil. I just don't know if there is a specific viscosity that works best.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Coweta, Oklahoma
When I installed that spring on my SG I had about one inch of spacer above the fork tube, but with that the front end was a little sloppy. So I went to Lowe's and got some PVC of the same size and cut some myself to have sufficiently more pre-load. about three inches above the fork tube, and the motorcycle rides and takes the bumps much better now.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: New Braunfels, Texas
As far as oil goes, I use amzoil 10w shock therapy. 10w is probably the best weight to start with for your bike. Unfortunatley the only way to know how much of the spacer to cut off is to put it back together and check the sag. I would initially cut it so the spring is 2" over the tube and test out the sag. 1/3 of the total travel comes out roughly to
1 1/2" of sag. (your bike sitting on the ground by itself vs. your bike with you sitting on it) The easiest way to do this is put a zip tie around your fork tubes right above the dust seal. The zip tie will move when you sit on it and then you can measure.
Not sure what you are trying to accomplish with the progressive spring but the better choice would have been to use the stock spring with ricor intimidators.
1 1/2" of sag. (your bike sitting on the ground by itself vs. your bike with you sitting on it) The easiest way to do this is put a zip tie around your fork tubes right above the dust seal. The zip tie will move when you sit on it and then you can measure.
Not sure what you are trying to accomplish with the progressive spring but the better choice would have been to use the stock spring with ricor intimidators.
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
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As far as oil goes, I use amzoil 10w shock therapy. 10w is probably the best weight to start with for your bike. Unfortunatley the only way to know how much of the spacer to cut off is to put it back together and check the sag. I would initially cut it so the spring is 2" over the tube and test out the sag. 1/3 of the total travel comes out roughly to
1 1/2" of sag. (your bike sitting on the ground by itself vs. your bike with you sitting on it) The easiest way to do this is put a zip tie around your fork tubes right above the dust seal. The zip tie will move when you sit on it and then you can measure.
Not sure what you are trying to accomplish with the progressive spring but the better choice would have been to use the stock spring with ricor intimidators.
1 1/2" of sag. (your bike sitting on the ground by itself vs. your bike with you sitting on it) The easiest way to do this is put a zip tie around your fork tubes right above the dust seal. The zip tie will move when you sit on it and then you can measure.
Not sure what you are trying to accomplish with the progressive spring but the better choice would have been to use the stock spring with ricor intimidators.
I am not looking for any noticeable performance or handling upgrade. I just figured the Progressive springs are better than the stock Harley ones. They certainly look beefier.
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Ultimate HDF Member
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I am not looking for any noticeable performance or handling upgrade.
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Road Master
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Ok. I have my new chrome lowers installed with the sliders in them complete with everything except for the new progressive springs and spacers. The service manual is no longer useful to me for this job. Here is my question. According to the Progressive instructions it looks like I am supposed to install the forks, bolt on the front wheel and then fill the fork tubes up with the proper oil. Then, I am supposed to install the springs and see how far up they come to the top edge of the fork tube. They need to be anywhere from level to 1/2" over the top? If they are... I need to screw on the fork tube caps and lower the bike down so the wheel is on the ground. Then put a mark on the fork tubes just above the dust caps and sit on the bike and check to see how much the tube compresses. The preload should be 3/4" to 1". I am not sure if I need a spacer yet but if I do I need to cut it so that its either level with the top of the fork tube or up to 1/2" above it. I then put the oroginal washer that was in the tube inbetween the spring and the pvc white spacer. What if I don't need the white spacer? Do I still use the washer or is it ok for the spring to butt up against the bottom of the fork cap?
Has anybody done this job on a 2006-2007 Dyna Wideglide and if so... did you have to cut the spacer or use it?
Has anybody done this job on a 2006-2007 Dyna Wideglide and if so... did you have to cut the spacer or use it?
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Passaic County, NJ
I have an '07 WG. When I did a front end service on it this past summer (reinstalling intiminators as well) to resolve a blown fork seal, I cut my spacers to ~1.25" above the fork tube, fully extended. I like a slightly firmer ride. I also used amsoil fork oil as mentioned previously in this thread.
The installation instructions are more of a guide when it comes to spacers. I'd say cut them at the top of the range and go for a ride. If it's too stiff, just cut it down until you find what you like.
So with forks fully extended with spring and washer installed. Measure from top of spring/washer to top of fork tube. Add ~1" +/-. Cut spacer to that length. Install spacers and fork cap. Lower bike. Go for a ride.
For the record, 1.5" sched 40 pvc works well. Outside diameter will fit nicely inside the fork tubes. It's cheap and available at your local big box home store.
Just in case you fubar what you have. Outside diameter of spacer has to be under 2" in diameter to fit inside fork tube.
The installation instructions are more of a guide when it comes to spacers. I'd say cut them at the top of the range and go for a ride. If it's too stiff, just cut it down until you find what you like.
So with forks fully extended with spring and washer installed. Measure from top of spring/washer to top of fork tube. Add ~1" +/-. Cut spacer to that length. Install spacers and fork cap. Lower bike. Go for a ride.
For the record, 1.5" sched 40 pvc works well. Outside diameter will fit nicely inside the fork tubes. It's cheap and available at your local big box home store.
Just in case you fubar what you have. Outside diameter of spacer has to be under 2" in diameter to fit inside fork tube.
Last edited by SC-Longhair; Jan 13, 2014 at 05:39 AM.