1980 spring length

[ajs350]

The manual says (Page 22-30) that the 1980 fork free spring length should be 26.69 inches. Service limit is 23.1 inches. Mine measure 23.6 inches. Looking at the springs it hard to imagine I've lost 3 inches of spring after less than 19000 miles.
Is the manual correct and if so would you recommend new ones as it rides very well as it is.
Thanks
Ross

[ajs350]

I'm beginning to wonder if I have different forks to a regular 1980 as it would appear that not only are my springs a different length but I am missing the Rebound Spring shown at the bottom right of the parts diagram.
My piston attaches directly to the Oil Lock Piece shown at the top left. The rest of the forks seem to be pure 80 with the Guide Bushing and Slider Bushing being in place.
Was there a difference between the US made 80's like mine and the Japanese ones?
Ross

[panteradave]

Without the small springs present it sure seems like there would have been lots of loud suspension banging noises every time the forks compressed. At the risk of stating the obvious, are you positive that the two small springs aren't stuck at the bottom of the fork tubes? If the fork oil was really old and sludgy (mine was practically jello like, but ugly brown), the springs might be glued in. Try washing the tube interior with solvent, or maybe a just flashlight down the hole.

[ajs350]

Dave
Good idea but I thoroughly cleaned the tubes before painting them. Nothing in there.

[panteradave]

If it were still in there, the rebound spring would be at the bottom of the polished steel interior fork tube, rather than within the painted outside tube (called 'slider' in the diagram).

[ajs350]

That might be it then. If they are inside what the diagram above calls the Fork Tube then I could well have missed them and they are still there!

[CopperCollar]

I may be wrong but they look like 1979 model internals?? Least that's the way the Travesty's looked when I pulled them apart...

Mike

[Rick Pope]

Youy can make you springs longer by slapping them down flat on a floor. Of course, it's unknown how long they'll remain the "new" length. Just something to play with.......

[bdento59]

The first "6" in the value 26.69" is a typo. The metric value printed alongside it is 551.0mm, which is equal to 21.69", not 26.69".

[steve murdoch icoa #5322]

Hi ya, Bill. Been a while.
Have you been out riding yet this year?

[bdento59]

Hey Steve, inaword no. The X is on the lift right now getting new fork seals. However, I will be out on Sunday the 21st at the "Gathering of the Nortons" rally at Washington's Crossing SP on the PA side. Neat rally, usually about 400 bikes, not all Brits, either. Saw J.P. Grasmuck there last year, hoping to again this year.