which oil to use with Progressive fork springs?

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Mar 16, 2008 | 09:02 AM

#11

Nick

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Joined: Aug 2006

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From: East TN

RE: which oil to use with Progressive fork springs?

So let me get this right I can remove my OEM fork springs put in progressives not even mess with the oil until 20k sounds like a winner to me

Mar 16, 2008 | 09:07 AM

#12

Terp84Alum

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Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 763

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From: Middletown, MD USA

RE: which oil to use with Progressive fork springs?

A lot of people recommend Bel-Ray 15wt.

Mar 16, 2008 | 09:14 AM

#13

cHarley

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Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 16,320

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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh

RE: which oil to use with Progressive fork springs?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Nick

So let me get this right I can remove my OEM fork springs put in progressives not even mess with the oil until 20k sounds like a winner to me

Well, not exactly. To be done correctly you need to drain and refill the fork oil. The quantity of oil that needs to go into the forks is fairly precise and it's a level measured down from the top of the fork tube. When you remove the stock springs you will be removing oil that has clung to the spring. The new springs will also displace a different quantity of oil than the old springs, changing the oil level. To much fork oil will blowout the fork seals.

Bottom line is, a quart of Belray 15w fork oil is cheap enough and if your opening up the forks anyway, why not start with new oil. Then you don't have to worry about it for another 20K miles.

Mar 16, 2008 | 09:56 AM

#14

thomasf59

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 2,257

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From: Papillion Ne 68133

RE: which oil to use with Progressive fork springs?

Where is the best place to buy Belray 15W fork oil.

thanks

Mar 16, 2008 | 10:00 AM

#15

GPHDXLC

Grand HDF Member

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 4,598

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From: Lansing mi

RE: which oil to use with Progressive fork springs?

cHarley
My service manual said 11.6 oz in each fork. But you think I should measure down from the top to be safe?So I take it, I shouldmeasure with the springs installed?...
Thanks..

Mar 16, 2008 | 10:12 AM

#16

Kozak

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Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 169

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From:

RE: which oil to use with Progressive fork springs?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: chornbe

Quote:

ORIGINAL: cHarley

The HD SE forkoil is a heaver wieght oil and will stiffen up the front end fairly equally from mild impact to strong impact .

The Progressive fork springs also stiffen the front end but do so progressively based on the impact. If you go to the Progressive springs I recommend using standard wieght fork oil like Belray 15w. The progressive springs combimed SE fork oil makes for am almost rigid suspension.

I'd recommend using the Progressive springs, but take it a step further and add in the Race Tech cartridge emulator valves. They'l allow you to fine(r) tune the forks' compression damping and you can use the fork oil weight to fine tune the rebound damping.

Best of all the worlds without spending a grand to get real cartridge forks (Traxxion).

$.02

I would like to know which part # and what website I can order this. I have the progressives bought off of a member of the xlforum and have not heard of this, thx!

Mar 16, 2008 | 10:13 AM

#17

cHarley

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Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 16,320

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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh

RE: which oil to use with Progressive fork springs?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: GPHDXLC

cHarley
My service manual said 11.6 oz in each fork. But you think I should measure down from the top to be safe?So I take it, I shouldmeasure with the springs installed?...
Thanks..

Yep, the 11.6oz. is calculated based on the amount of oil that's displaced with the stock springs. The displacement won't be quite the same with different springs. Just like changing your engine oil, even when you think you know how much it takes, the dipstick (oil level) check, is the final step. Yes, measure with the springs installed.

I started by adding 10oz. and then added more until I reached the correct level.

Mar 16, 2008 | 11:08 AM

#18

liddown

Cruiser

Joined: Apr 2007

Posts: 245

Likes: 0

From: Denver Colorado

RE: which oil to use with Progressive fork springs?

Charley,

Quick question.....

Background: So I am getting ready to install the Progressive fork springs into my 1200N. I have watched the Fix My Hog DVD, read my factory service manual, and the Progressive instructions. First (per the service manual) the 1200N requires 12.3 oz for an on the bike fill, and 4.80" measurement level for off the bike fills. The Progressive instructions "suggest" but stop short of recommending that you follow the manufacturers fluid level guidelines in the service manual, but that the maximum measurement level should be no more than 5.5"... It does mention that the progressive wound nature of the spring will displace more oil than the factory spring...

Question: I would prefer to not remove the fork from the bike to perform the installation, so I am guessing that using my FOL-1 to measure the fluid level is not going to work, so would you recommend staying at the 12.3oz, or going a little short to cover for the increased displacement of the new spring? Or am I missing the big picture here?

Thanks.....

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Mar 16, 2008 | 11:36 AM

#19

cHarley

Club Member

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 16,320

Likes: 306

From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh

RE: which oil to use with Progressive fork springs?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: liddown

Charley,

Quick question.....

Background: So I am getting ready to install the Progressive fork springs into my 1200N. I have watched the Fix My Hog DVD, read my factory service manual, and the Progressive instructions. First (per the service manual) the 1200N requires 12.3 oz for an on the bike fill, and 4.80" measurement level for off the bike fills. The Progressive instructions "suggest" but stop short of recommending that you follow the manufacturers fluid level guidelines in the service manual, but that the maximum measurement level should be no more than 5.5"... It does mention that the progressive wound nature of the spring will displace more oil than the factory spring...

Question: I would prefer to not remove the fork from the bike to perform the installation, so I am guessing that using my FOL-1 to measure the fluid level is not going to work, so would you recommend staying at the 12.3oz, or going a little short to cover for the increased displacement of the new spring? Or am I missing the big picture here?

Thanks.....

The idea isn't to take the forks off the bike, but to take the weight (load) off the forks. You need to jack up the front of the bike so that the front wheel is off of the floor (forks fully extended) before you even start to remove the first fork cap nut. You want the forks fully extended until the springs are installed, the oil filled and measured, and the cap nuts back on. I would use the 4.80" if that's what the spec. calls for.

I also suggest you measure the level of the original oil before you drain it to make sure there is no discrepency between the existing level and the 4.8" sped'ed. level

Mar 16, 2008 | 11:44 AM

#20

chornbe

Road Master

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 1,019

Likes: 7

From: Chester County, PA

RE: which oil to use with Progressive fork springs?

RaceTech is the company. http://www.racetech.com/ is the website. They recommend their own fixed rate springs (of course), which are wound to specific spring rates (.90 would be good for a ~190lb guy, 1.0 for a 210lb, guy, etc). I prefer the Progressives.

For the Sportster, you use part number FEGV-S3501 for the valves. Should be the same part number for all the current models. (I didn't check the lowered models like the "L" and Nightster).

I've redone (or had them redone) the forks in many of my recent bikes; I can think of only a handful of bikes that I've had over the years that approached "good enough" to leave a lone or at least limit the rebuilds to just springs and oil, etc. The manufacturers build to a common average standard. If you're a 150 lb guy who never pushes your bike too hard the stock stuff is fine. Vary from that limited and too-restrictive picture of "the norm" and the stock components' weaknesses are readily apparent.

Also, if you want to step it up and get *seriously* good-performing suspension, nothing... nothing... beats Traxxion ( http://traxxion.com ). You're looking at about $2k to do both ends of the bike, but having ridden several Traxxion-modded bikes of all genres, if I had the cash for it, there'd be NOTHING else I would set my sites on.

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