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Fork conversion is done for the moment..



Now I just need some decent weather and a few moments off work to go try them out.
Still going to have to take them back off for a complete rebuild, but would like to have some idea of what (if anything) needs to be done in the way of shim stack changes.
More info as it becomes available.

Got to try them out today. Ohhh man! Totally different bike. Little strange feeling at first, but 5-6 miles into the ride I could do things with the bike I'd never dreamed of before. Going back tomorrow for more "research".

hows the valving?

It's fairly stiff. I'm going to take them back off next week for a rebuild (both are leaking from the valve assemblies), and I'll have my guy at the shop maybe soften them up a bit with some shim changes. Then I can put whatever I want back into them with the clickers (which are all turned all the way down now). Overall they're not bad the way they are, but there is no adjustment except for stiffer. I'm liking them.

Sorry to hear of the leak. I had never removed the cartridge/base valve. All I had done to them was change the seals. Never had leaks where you describe but they are 97 model forks and seals do fail I guess. I hate that this has been the ordeal that it has. The original owner I bought them from said they had been revalved but I did not run them long enough to dive that far into them. You will know when you pull the base valve as the peening would have had to be filed off to remove the shim stack.

PM me if you have any other issues. I will do what I can to help.

Rode again today, and the valving is pretty close to perfect as it is, but there is no adjustment. I could (and may) just leave them as they are, but some adjustment capability for harder/softer would be nice.
They didn't start leaking until I cleaned everything up real well and changed the springs and fork oil. I'm not worried about it. Got a Fork bushing kit that has everything in it, will pull the tubes this week, have everything taken care of at once, and they'll be like new forks that will probably last me for years.
Overall, the improvement in my ability to ride the bike with them immediatly offset any problems encountered.
It's all good.

It's funny that most people don't believe what a difference it can make.... Confidence being the biggest change.

Indawoods wrote:It's funny that most people don't believe what a difference it can make.... Confidence being the biggest change.

I agree for the most part. Rough, high speed fire roads are a breeze now. Unfortunately, riding sand and really tight technical trails I was actually way quicker on the stock forks. I know it is a valving issue and plan to have it taken care of soon.

Congrats you ole' hillbilly Looks good!

You guys are are making me think more and more about it.