How to internally lower front forks?

[Richard]

Hi
Does anyone have a link to any sites that show you how to internally lower front forks?
I know there was a thread here somewhere to an American forum where a guy showed how he did it and people where giving him shit about it.
I need to lower a set of TZR250 front forks for a Drag bike.
Thanks
Richard

[R6_kid]

I believe a common way to do it is to use a fork strap, similar to a tie down strap, to compress the forks. Another way is to raise the forks through the clamps, thus lowering the front end without fucking up the internal function of the forks.

[Richard]

Hi
Thanks but as this is a full on drag bike I need to lower them internaly
Thanks
Richard

[Squiggles]

I know there was a thread here somewhere to an American forum where a guy showed how he did it and people where giving him shit about it.

Yep, hacksaws and pipe wrenches aint the most appropriate tools for the job...

[Yankee Doodle Dandy]

Those forks are damper rod forks. I have installed lowering kits on some cruising bikes that also use damper rod forks and they either gave you longer top out springs or a spacer to use with the stock top out spring.

If you shorten the travel this way you need to also need to adjust the spring preload spacer length accordingly.

[F5 Dave]

Depends what model TZR. Last ones were cartridge uSDs. Actually so were (most) 3MAs. But yeah a spacer is used. Might want to run stiffer springs else you'll be bottoming out & depending on how rough when you land the wheel would be nice to have some movement.

[Robert Taylor]

As per the two replies immediately preceding this one

[Richard]

Hi
Thanks for all the replies but I still don't have a link to either the thread about how it is done or a site that will show me.
This set of forks is not a cartridge set so it should be easy to do once I find a "How to..."
Thanks
Richard

[Robert Taylor]

Hi
Thanks for all the replies but I still don't have a link to either the thread about how it is done or a site that will show me.
This set of forks is not a cartridge set so it should be easy to do once I find a "How to..."
Thanks
Richard

On the surface its a semmingly simple job but there are a number of traps that can make or break the job. Send it to a proffessional to do.

[Richard]

Hi
Thanks for trying to help me not make any mistakes but as I have built my entire drag bike by hand I'm quite confident that I could handle this
job .
Thanks
Richard

[Squiggles]

Goes something like this no? (But with better understanding of what does what and things to avoid)

[Robert Taylor]

Hi
Thanks for trying to help me not make any mistakes but as I have built my entire drag bike by hand I'm quite confident that I could handle this
job .
Thanks
Richard

To not put too fine a point on it for me to describe this to you inclusive of all the precautions , whys and wherefores its a LOT of typing. Personally I have a record of not at all being averse to helping people but theres a limit and constraints on time, plus its also giving hard earned knowledge away. Thats always a fine line.

[Yow Ling]

Hi Richard, Im no suspension guru, but I have just modified a set of TZR250 1KT forks for a different purpose. the preload spacer is sitting on top of the spring and is 95mm long. underneath the damper piston is a short spring which stops the forks klunking when fully extended, what the other guys are suggesting is shorten the top spacer and move a similar amount to space the short spring. Im sure there is some other technical stuff that you may need to deal with, but looking at your site I dont think you will have too many problems.

Can always rely on Ora Et Labora, to get you through !

Mike

[Richard]

Hi Richard, Im no suspension guru, but I have just modified a set of TZR250 1KT forks for a different purpose. the preload spacer is sitting on top of the spring and is 95mm long. underneath the damper piston is a short spring which stops the forks klunking when fully extended, what the other guys are suggesting is shorten the top spacer and move a similar amount to space the short spring. Im sure there is some other technical stuff that you may need to deal with, but looking at your site I dont think you will have too many problems.

Can always rely on Ora Et Labora, to get you through !

Mike

Hi
Thanks for the info.
Ora Et Labora....our family motto from hundreds of years ago in Scotland.
I do none of the first bit and as little as possible of the second bit.
Thanks
Richard

[Richard]

To not put too fine a point on it for me to describe this to you inclusive of all the precautions , whys and wherefores its a LOT of typing. Personally I have a record of not at all being averse to helping people but theres a limit and constraints on time, plus its also giving hard earned knowledge away. Thats always a fine line.

Hi
Totally understand...Time is money and so is your knowledge and there are always limits to how much of each you can give away.
Thanks for trying to help anyway.
Thanks
Richard

[Robert Taylor]

Hi
Totally understand...Time is money and so is your knowledge and there are always limits to how much of each you can give away.
Thanks for trying to help anyway.
Thanks
Richard

Call me on 06 751 2100 daytime, its easier for me to rattle all of the precautions off than laboriously type with my one typing finger!