Prolink Fork In Early Model Frame & Steering Damper

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:33 am

EMS wrote:If Honda did not change the offset, and the fork lengths are the same, how did they manage to keep the same trail of 120mm?

Good stuff guys as it makes us all "think".....

EMS · Post by **EMS** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:46 am

Chris wrote:
EMS wrote:Interesting. I have several different triple trees lying around and will put an early and a Prolink upper bridge on top of each other to see the difference.
I did this in my shop Mike and could find no difference other than the size of the holes for the fork tubes.

I will stick some numbers in my suspension calculation program to see what the necessary changes WOULD have been, if...

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 12:03 pm

Fork tubes a little scoured, seeing this will possibly the last mod I will do (

) may as well do it right. Ordered all new bushings/seals & new fork tubes (stantions) from David Silver. Tubes are not Honda but aftermarket so I will check the quality. Checked on rechroming the tubes & that is about as expensive as new over here... Gotta do my paint while it's warm enough for the paint to flow....

Gonna grind off those fugly reflector mounts & keep the nice 80 version reflectors...

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:06 pm

Could someone tell me the amount of oil the 39mm Prolink forks need from dry please ?

cbx4evr · Post by **cbx4evr** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:24 pm

alimey4u2 wrote:Could someone tell me the amount of oil the 39mm Prolink forks need from dry please ?

My manual says:

Reassembly - 345 cc (11.7 oz)
After Draining - 305cc (10.3 oz)

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:25 pm

Thanks Nick, I shall make a note of that in my 79/80 manual....

cbx4evr · Post by **cbx4evr** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:32 pm

Larry. I just edited those numbers. I looked at them and it didn't make sense that after draining required more oil than after overhaul - but that's what it said in the spec section. Further in where it shows the actual disassembly the numbers were reversed to what I have posted now.

Nick

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:33 pm

Thanks Nick, I questioned that but deleted the post as you were faster than me....

Mike Nixon · Post by **Mike Nixon** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:43 pm

Mike Barone #123 wrote:...Another point is the CBX is no Moto GP bike that responds to micro suspension adjustments in my view. Along these lines......we had an expert suspension setup person attend one of our rallies long ago and measure the chassis setups of eight or so CBXs .....and the one most out of "specs by the book" and alignment just happened to be the best handler...

Mike

I know it was long ago, but maybe you could remember enough about what the good handlers had different about them to share it? :)

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 7:20 pm

Let us not get too excited, the CBX is not comparable ( never will be) to the latest plastic pocket rocket. Improvements can be made but there are limitations. My quest is an attempt to maintain the stock/factory "look" whilst developing improvements....

This quest is an ongoing thing, mistakes have been made ( and corrected) but I am on a mission...

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 5:17 am

Tubes (stantions) look great...however one has to go back, it has an effin ding....

Contacted David Silver, they are shipping one out today & will refund my full return shipping.....

daves79x · Post by **daves79x** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 8:52 am

Larry(I think you asked the question)
This is the fork oil level that works for a lot of us: At disassembly, dump in the amount Honda calls for. Then take an oil level measurement from the top of the fork tube down to the oil level, with the tube collapsed and the fork spring out. It will be about 7-8 inches down. Fill to 6 inches down and you will see marked improvement. Any higher than about 5.5 inches will cause hydraulic lock at full compression. You'll never have any problems at the 6 inch height. I never use heavier than 10 wt oil. Remember, the stock Pro-Link forks were designed for the weight of the fairing. I've had no issues with the stock springs either.

You will really like the bike with the 39mm forks.

Dave

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 9:12 am

Thanks Dave, I will make a note of that.....

Short amount of daylight here (no power in garage yet) so I am cleaning & inspecting the components I am going to re-use... As I said, all new bushings etc. so I am paying particular attention to the bottom tubes which "seem" to have no internal wear at all.....I would surmise that the lower stantion bushing is softer than the alloy tube & is therefore sacrificial.....

EMS · Post by **EMS** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 12:49 pm

...and finally, I got around to check the offset of the 35mm vs the 39mm trees. There is indeed NO difference. I slipped a 35mm upper bridge over a 39mm upper bridge on the same tree and the holes line up perfectly, except for the 39mm having a slightly wider stance, which we all knew.
So, I wonder what Honda was telling all the magazines when they gave them the "all new Prolinks" to test and report the specs.
I also wonder what made me dislike the Prolink fork in my 79 so much

Was it the larger mass and higher unsprung weight that made it feel "tippely"?

alimey4u2 · Post by **alimey4u2** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 6:21 pm

Mike, You are a sage when CBXs are concerned & I value your input as one of the supreme Gurus. I did wonder, were the forks you fitted in A1 mechanical condition ?

The International CBX Owners Association

Prolink Fork In Early Model Frame & Steering Damper

hmm...