Thumper Club Forum
Technical => Bike Problems/Questions => Topic started by: Rumply on April 16, 2009, 07:01:31 PM
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Hello all, first of many post probably, as I'm giving the Dommie some TLC.
Wondered if anyone knew of a cheap trick to stiffen up the forks without buying new springs. (I'm a tight Yorkshire man)
Remember sticking wheels nuts in my RD350 forks some years ago, did the trick :)
Cheers
Rumpy!
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Well, I noticed a big improvement on Miss Whiplash's front end just by taking out the thin grey wee and pouring in some nice fresh ATF.
After that you're looking at making up some spacers, you could try getting a big bag of the right diameter washers from B&Q or wherever and adding them one by one until you're happy. That will give you the thickness you need to make up a permanent spacer, or you can just leave the washers and add/subtract depending on how you want to ride.
You're welcome.
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Have spacered out the tops of springs in the past with 2p pieces - cheaper than washers if the right size.
So long as you do not over do it most forks can be stiffened by putting more oil in - the airspace is smaller so the compression rises quicker and presto - stiffer front end. Of course if you over do it either the seals blow out or you get a hydraulic lock. Using different weight oils adjusts the damping rate to some extent - so can feel stiffer as the forks are slowed more on their travels.
R
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Cheers chaps, will try a combination of the two and see how I get on.
Also, I am going to be painting my exhausts, the are standard black ones, I sprayed with flat black paint about 4-5 months ago, but it has all burnt off now.. Any ideas what I could try instead, would powder coating work?
Rumply :)
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EHT paint does not stay on because they get hot and cold, used to know a technician for International Paints and he reckoned that exhausts, particularly bike ones were the worst things to paint because of the heating cycles and the exposure. I have been passably happy with oil blacking in the past - get the pipes good and hot and brush oil on to them - should black up the steel but not chrome.
R