I installed the Progressive springs today. It was simple enough. The trick about marking where the 1 3/8" cap engages to the forks was a big help and made it easy to get the cap back on. I even marked the threads.

I used the regular weight fork oil and installed it per the instructions. Here's my question. The forks are now stiff as a board. I'm not even sure if I'm getting any compression at all. The front end seems to be bouncing over bumps.

Will cutting down the PVC spacer soften it up? If so, how much should I shorten them? A 1/4" at a time?

Also, how long should I break the springs in before I make the adjustments?

The good part so far was the handling is much better.

I also installed the 412 shocks. I may have gotten the HD set as these are stiff too. I have it set to the longest shock spring setting. That should be the softest preload? Correct? I weigh 220#

There's a long story about how I got the shocks. The short version is the seller said they were 440 HD shocks but really they were the 412. They came in a 440 box. It was an error on his part and he quickly adjusted the price and I ended up getting them for $100. So I have no issues there.

And advice would be helpful. Thanks

 

Things that would cause stiff forks:
1) Too much preload. You should have about 1/4 of your travel compress when you sit on the bike. This would be the spacer.
2) Oil level too high. Progressive springs take up more volume, and you need to adjust your oil volume to compensate.
3) Oil viscosity too high. If you used Type E fork oil, you shouldn't need to worry about this and the top two are more likely.

For the rear cushion, what length are the shocks? Anything under 12.5" or so is going to feel stiff no matter what, and if they are the HD those will be stiff for solo riding because the spring rates and damping were designed to have higher loads.

 

Bak, I weight about 200 lbs and the Progressive springs with the spacers at their full 3" is perfect. I use BelRay 7w oil, and my front wheel follows the contour of the road perfectly. You either have too much oil in the forks or the oil is too heavy. I used this tool from Progressive to set the oil level at 5" from the top of the fork with the wheel off the ground. It's part # Fol-1. The bike rides about .75" higher than stock which is perfect. The forks have not sagged any since installation. About 16,000 miles ago.

 

I guess I'll check the oil level after I ride about 100 miles on them. Damn shocks must be the HD shocks. I have the 12" shocks.

 

don't the springs have to break in a bit and when they're first put on will be stiff until they're ridden a bit

 

Yeah, I'm going to ride a couple of tanks worth before I make any adjustments. There are plenty of choppy roads here to give the entire suspension a work out.

 

I'll be keeping an eye on this Thread. I'm 280# and I guess I need HD fork springs and rear shocks.

 

I'm not sure you'd want to have HD fork springs. Even if I cut down the spacer and/or take out some of the fork oil, I can tell these springs are much stiffer than stock. I ride with my saddlebags and a windshield. That's easily an additional 30#

I'll see if I can get the shocks to soften up after a while.

 

Thanks for your feed back on the fork springs baka.

 

I too used the full 3" spacer as it came on my '06 Custom and that was just right for my 200lbs. I used stock HD fork oil as well, and filled to the level in the instrucations that came with the springs.

I just got a pair of the 12" 412 shocks too, but have yet to install them. The spring itself has the spring rate stamped on it, I belive it's two numbers with a "/" between them. That should tell you if you have the HD springs or not. I talked to someone at Progressive and they recommended the regular (non-HD) springs for me at the 12" length, even with riding 2-up from time to time.