Gold valve installation in forks
- Thread starter PwrTool
- Start date
If you can't find help contact Traxxion Dynamics Shock Help. They will fax you a PDF on how to. Just don't tell them you bought another set of internals or do its up to you. I have the PDF file that came with my Axxion kit but it is all mucked up from fork fluid. I just did the install on my shocks. Its more to it than me typing about it, especially if you are doing with fresh fluid and so forth, which you should. I hope you have all the right tools.
I have most tools except the cartridge removing tool which I need. I made a make shift tool to get the cartridge out of the fork tube but I can't figure out how to open up the cartridge to get to the valving. Apparently, other bikes forks are much easier to dissemble to the valving area than the busa. I have a set of forks from a wrecked front end so I am experimenting with them before I try on my own. I'm almost ready to send the gold valve kit back and give it up. I got the stiffer springs in and I'm going with the Bel Ray HVI 5W fork oil to try to get it right. I'm getting the 3W and the 5W to try to get the damping working better with the stiffer springs. If I could do it again, I think I would go with a spring rate that is half way in between what they say I need for my weight and the stock rate. The ones I got are a bit stiff.
Thanks and I will check the help on the Traxxion site.
Thanks and I will check the help on the Traxxion site.
I hope this helps, worse comes to worse. Call Traxxion, ask for Mike. Send them your forks and your kit. Have it next day shipped and they will ship them back to you completed if you are stuck. You will be missing out on a whole lot without the suspension upgrade...
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I have the cartridge (#7 in the figure) out, which was held in by the allen screw from the bottom. Once I got the cartridge (#7) out, I thought that I would unscrew the bottom of that and that is where the valving would be but I can't unscrew the bottom of #7.
Thanks and I appreciate your efforts in trying to help me! : )
Thanks and I appreciate your efforts in trying to help me! : )
If you take some pics I can help you out. Tough to give you good advice without seeing it. Can you snap a couple of shots.
Heat it up much easier, less damage...
Actually, the tech support guy said specifically not to use heat for this particular situation.
I did do as he recommended and hit the cartridge on the side near the bottom and it came off like it wasn't even tight! I will hit my good cartridge a bit more softly though, hopefully with the same results. So, I have taken care of my original post by hitting the side of the cartridge. I pulled apart the vavle stack like the video states and everything seems pretty straight forward. There is light at the end of the tunnel yet. I was able to find some Silkolene Fork Oil that actually had Spec 01 on the bottle...the actual weight of the oil...2.5W! I'm going to try it out since I have some pretty stiff springs in there.
Thanks again for helping me out GPW.
I did do as he recommended and hit the cartridge on the side near the bottom and it came off like it wasn't even tight! I will hit my good cartridge a bit more softly though, hopefully with the same results. So, I have taken care of my original post by hitting the side of the cartridge. I pulled apart the vavle stack like the video states and everything seems pretty straight forward. There is light at the end of the tunnel yet. I was able to find some Silkolene Fork Oil that actually had Spec 01 on the bottle...the actual weight of the oil...2.5W! I'm going to try it out since I have some pretty stiff springs in there.
Thanks again for helping me out GPW.
No problem I think I went with Maxima 7 weight Synthetic Racing Fork Oil. Glad you got it all worked out. If you really want to tweek that suspsension get your hands on a suspension for mortals seminar CD. Excellent info.
Later..
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Well, I got the gold valve kit installed in my cartridges. Went real easy after getting the cartridges open. Hitting the sides near the bottom where the threads are works well...I was just a bit worried hitting them. I went against my normal instincts and was patient : ) I made a cartridge removal tool out of a copper pipe that worked perfectly but copper is expensive! Still a lot cheaper than buying the Suzuki tool. I ordered new springs since the 1.00 spring rate is too stiff for me...I don't care what they say. I ordered .900 instead of the next rate down of .950 since it was out of stock and they don't get those springs in quickly and I'm tired of the super springy ride. Hopefully .900 will be just fine. If not I will change the oil wait and adjust the gold valve to compensate...hopefully...I'll post the results.
Well...I have been having problems setting the front suspension up...I changed the springs back to the 1.0 rate and adjusted the valving to the C43 setting...2 down from what Racetech recommended. After doing all this, I realized that I have a severe stiction problem that has been making it impossible to adjust! I have new fork outer tube bushings on order and they should arrive today. I will install and post the results. I have just over 50k miles on my 2004 so I guess it is about time for that kind of thing. Also found that my front wheel bearings were bad. Had them replaced and a new Pilot Power mounted up so that will help since the old tire was cupped.
Anyone have the Racetech gold valve kit installed? If yes, what valving stack are you using? Weight? Spring?
Thanks!
Anyone have the Racetech gold valve kit installed? If yes, what valving stack are you using? Weight? Spring?
Thanks!
Ok...I got the new outer fork tube bushings installed last night. Of course, nothing is ever easy for me. I was trying to drive the new bushings in with my seal driver but the driver was never really touching the bushing so I was driving the rim where the seal rests against with the driver thinking all the time that I would never get them in there...heating the tube, cooling the bushing... : ) Once I realized what was happening, I used the washer that goes between the bushing and the seal with the driver and it went in pretty easy. Except I forgot to put the washer in and drove the new seal in. I had to pull the seal out, put the washer in and reinstall the seal...hopefully it won't leak! Anyway, got both bushings installed and it seems like the stiction problem is gone. At least the severe stiction problem. Got the front end put back together late last night and of course we got heavy rain this morning. I will test tonight or tomorrow. Next step will hopefully to get the suspension setup nice and smooth. I have been working this a long time! It will be nice to be done!
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