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Anonymous
| | Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 03:55 pm: | 
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Knickers and Josh_cox hit the nail on the head...
"I think the key bit of info from Anony that is being missed is this:
2006 springs: "(+ or – a few mm ideally)"
2007 springs: "(+ or – about 8 mm no problem)"
The functional difference between perfectly set up 2006 & 2007 systems may not be huge, but the impact of variation in the oil level could be."
and
"For those of you who have 06 models and think your spring rates are too soft, simply add 5mm of fork oil, go ride and tell me what you think when you get back." |
Lorazepam
| | Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 03:59 pm: |
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so how many cc's is 5mm of fork oil? I am a bit "husky" and a firmer front end would be welcome. I havve lots of syringes, but no fork oil measurement device. |
Josh_cox
| | Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 04:16 pm: |
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Lorazepam,
Measure how many millimeters from the top of the fork your oil level is right now. Then add enough oil that the level is 5mm higher.
You can use anything small enough to go into the fork to measure with; just make sure that you have a reference point so you are measuring from the exact same spot on that object. A wooden dowel work fine as it should discolor when the fork oil is on it.
If you plan on working on your bike in the future, a fork oil level tool will be helpful.
 |
Lorazepam
| | Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 04:38 pm: |
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you are correct. I do need a fork oil measurement tool. I just figured one of the more anal members of the forum would have the answer for me.  |
Red_chili
| | Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 05:27 pm: |
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(Note to reader: From an old dirt biker)
Holy smokes, those are some of the best prices I have seen for good springs...
In fact, and I'm sure you're aware, some bikes started appearing with valves on the fork caps to tune the forks with air pressure.
Actually, those valves are generally there to *relieve* pressure between motos or checkpoints. It makes a huge difference in how the forks work. Oil level tuning is a better way to work with air volume actually. At rest, you want no pressure. Increases sticktion.
As far as questioning Buell engineers... one of the things I loved at first sight on the Uly was the very obvious intentional tunability and quality of its components, key among them, the forks and shock. These babies are made to fiddle with and get *just* how you like it.
The Stroms I (briefly) considered would have required instant thousands of dollars to upgrade before I ever put on a mile, just to come close}. Choice made.
Plus, their mothers are ugly and it shows in the child... |
Red_chili
| | Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 05:31 pm: |
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you are correct. I do need a fork oil measurement tool. I just figured one of the more anal members of the forum would have the answer for me.
Go to the grocery store and buy a baster. Take some oil resistant hose from the auto parts store, and some aluminum tubing straightened. Assemble. Mark the aluminum tubing in 5mm increments with a sharpie.
You now have a Red Chili oil level gauge. Put it in compressed forks with no spring, at the level you want, after filling approximately the quantity of oil you would guess you need, and suck it out with the baster till it's right where you want it.
(Message edited by red_chili on September 21, 2006) |
Lorazepam
| | Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 06:12 pm: |
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I work in the medical field, and have some 60cc syringes that work even better than a turkey baster. You can also get them at tractor supply.
I think the Red Chili oil level gauge is a wonderful idea.
Hey court, are there any tractor supply company stores in manhattan? |
Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 07:21 pm: |
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Fahgeddaboudit! |
Aeholton
| | Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 07:55 pm: |
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I think the Red Chili oil level gauge is a wonderful idea.
Yeah, cool idea.
By the way Red Chili, welcome to BadWeb. |
Xbimmer
| | Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 08:49 pm: |
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Yeah Red_chili, hi!
My comment referencing the air adjustable forks of the past addressed street bikes, since I know little if nothing about dirt. 
The application you suggested for dirt riding makes sense to me, however for the street IIRC the idea was to fine tune the mechanical spring.
Never owned a bike with the setup though but I'll bet some other old farts around here could offer some enlightenment! |
Paochow
| | Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 10:11 pm: |
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As for 60cc syringes, if you have pets, just ask for one when you take them to the vet. |
Bluzm2
| | Posted on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 11:43 pm: |
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Red_chili
Not all dirt bikes with schrader valves on the forks were for relief only.
My old YZ had 2 on each fork.
It didn't even have any springs in the fork, only air!
It was a 1976 YZ250. It had a high pressure chamber on top and a the fork legs were a lower pressure.
I need to make one of those filling devices.
Brad |
Red_chili
| | Posted on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 09:14 am: |
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I think I remember that setup... it worked so well they kept it... briefly... VERY briefly.
Yeh, actually, you fill to approximately the level you want and suck out the overfill till it's perfect. You can play with the oil level (if you really enjoy assembly/disassembly/reassembly/repeat) till it's just the way you want it.
Thanks for the welcome, y'all! This is a **fantastic** forum and it's good to know factory folks lurk here. If we keep it constructive, gather good data, present solutions with data to back it up, Buell will only improve! |
Etennuly
| | Posted on Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 11:37 am: |
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We used to pull the springs out, install air valves in the fork caps, then put a equalizer hose between them with a single inlet. Pressure was adjusted by "feel" as the volume is so small and the pressure so low(about 2 lbs, forks extended) placing a pressure gauge on it would readjust them.
That oil filler looks like a good one. |
Jmhinkle
| | Posted on Saturday, October 14, 2006 - 10:38 pm: |
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Looking through all the posts, I still never saw comments from someone that has done the swap. I personally know of a MSF/Rider's Edge instructor who did, but I didn't ask about it. I guess I will be ordering the parts as I think I am the type of person they were designed for. I can leave my suspension softer for my rough dirt road and not suffer so much on the street as I see it. I'll post if I ever get the nerve to attempt the switch. |
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