I just put in some heavier RaceTech springs on my '13 TE 511. They were a little shorter than the stock and are not under much load when the cap is bolted back on. I also have a fair amount of sag. I've also noticed a lot of brake dive. I'm wondering how to set the preload on these forks?? Race tech sent some little spacers, but I can't figure out where they go. While in there, I decided to pour out the old oil. I measured almost exactly 450 Ml per leg. So I put 450 Ml back in. But I think the manual calls for 620 Ml. I have no idea what I'm doing. Any help would be appreciated!
Sorry, can't help with the springs, but I run an extra 20mm oil height over standard to help with bottoming late in the stroke on the 449. With your oil volume, did you stroke the fork while draining? There may have been some oil left in there....
Yea I pumped them over the container for a while. Then I let them sit upside-down. How are you measuring the height? I assume it's like my other bikes where you measure from the top of the oil to the top of the tube - springs out, cartridge in? What is the standard height? If it's 120 like the workshop manual says, there is no way I'm getting close to 620 Ml in there.
Yes, measured heights of oil, springs removed & lowered to full compression There is a section somewhere in the manual the gives a 'safe range' of oil heights. Something like 100mm to 140 with the factory level in the middle. I'll have a look tonight & see if I can dig it out. The volume wasn't for SMR by chance with the Marzocchi forks??
Oh wait, you said measured height of oil? So you are measuring the depth of the oil, not the air gap above the oil?
No, the height of the air gap to the top. I can't find the oil table I was talking about. It might be in my owners handbook which is at home, sorry.
Found it! Just a single level for factory measurement. (Must have been thinking of my Honda CRF manual or something) As mentioned, I have come up 20mm closer to the top of the leg to increase bottoming resistance. Been like that for maybe 50 hrs, no ill effects, leaks etc.
You probably won't get the factory amount in because that is for a dry fill. It's hard to get all the oil out of the cartridge without full disassembly. Just go by the measured air gap with the springs out and forks fully compressed. Preload should be set with spacers either on top of or under the springs. Fork springs usually have 3mm-10mm of preload, but you should set it based on sag and feel rather than just the preload value. I'd probably try to stay on the lower end of the range, but again, let the sag and performance guide you.
Awesome help guys! Much thanks. I had a second look at the paperwork that racetech sent me. It actually explains the preload set up in detail. But, I had to read it 3 times last night in order to understand it. On the TE it looks like I could probably use the old Schedule 40 PVC pipe trick for the spacer. I should even be able to put it on top - between the spring and cap?
Spacer would be best on top, that way if you wish to change it you don't have to take the legs off the bike to get them out.
Yea, I'm wondering if I even need to pull the legs to set the oil level... I'm thinking I could jack the rear tire up to get the forks level when compressed (with the front wheel on, that should be possible).
Yeah, I do mine on the race stand, just tilt the bike forward, the forks are close to vertical. Main thing with the oil is to have it even L to R.
