The transformation starts

[greenbarn]

Chicken Hawk.....you are now showing your age because not many on here remember the chicken hawk from the FogHorn Leg Horn cartoon shows.....and the little boy with the glasses who is the widow woman's son.......

LOL, one of my favorite shows

[CDNRatMan]

Chicken Hawk.....you are now showing your age because not many on here remember the chicken hawk from the FogHorn Leg Horn cartoon shows.....and the little boy with the glasses who is the widow woman's son.......

[greenbarn]

Maybe a chicken-hawk? could it be a chicken-hawk?

That's one cool bird, Ratman.... so far my favorite part of the new build....

[CDNRatMan]

  boy people can not tell a Raven from a dove or a black bird......really glad I am not hunting with you people.......

[Old Drifter]

  one teaser for you....

Cool...is that a Raven, Pigeon or a Dove?

[CDNRatMan]

  depends on what they call you.......so only thing left is the seat frame and then the seat itself.......everything is now here and waiting to get mounted and the build to start......

[Vulcanpunch]

Oh I like that! Can't wait for the powder coating people to call me.

[CDNRatMan]

   one teaser for you....

[CDNRatMan]

  Well my progressive rear shock came this morning and so one more step forward, then the people doing my cover called and said everything was done but the tank so I went to pick them parts up and when I got home the powder coater called to let me know that all my parts were done so in the morning off to collect those parts, so now just the custom seat frame and the seat getting reupholstered and we can slowly start to transformation.......

[CDNRatMan]

 :onTo which I really hope my favorite Aunt shows up and she can even drag her old man along.........

[RockinRollin]

Rendezvous in the Soo, that's kind of catchy!

[CDNRatMan]

Well you did this correctly. Always use kerosene to rinse the forks out, as it will not harm the seals. I also have a pair of baby bottle brushes on a long wooden dowel........I poured out the old oil, poured in a bit of Kerosene and then ran the brushes up and down a few times, added some more kerosene and shook it up, careful ass it might expand forcefully. Then I drained them and hung them for a good overnight hanging. Also used 10w for the fork oil.
You should notice a nice ride, and perhaps time to take the grandson for a ride, bet he would be thrilled..........might consider bringing him to Rendezvous 19 in the Soo.......

[Pilgrim]

I know you was...I like your set up. I imagine the longer they drain the better. I dont know if this was proper but I rinsed mine out with kerosene then a final rinse with fork oil...then filled. Black gunk came out.
Went with 10w also.

[CDNRatMan]

     Mr. Pilgrim, I was watching wholesome American TV about your wonderful president and his ideas. I also left them hanging to drain properly, no rush in life it is to short to rush around......

[Vulcanpunch]

you watchin' a porno while you drain your tubes? 

In my opinion that's the best way to drain a tube...

[Pilgrim]

you watchin' a porno while you drain your tubes? 

[Vulcanpunch]

You were talking about your solo seat and wanting to do some modifications to it. What where you looking to do? I'm assuming this is on pearl.

[Vulcanpunch]

Ok that makes more sense. Thanks for clarifying that.

[CDNRatMan]

  You are correct in that the 1500 and 800 front ends are near interchangeable. The extra 0.5" on the spacer is for personal preference. On Red I had added 1/4" more and found that it carried my weight better and as a 2 up rider it was that much better in my opinion. So when I decided to build Pearl to the theme I am going with and as a solo rider I opted for a stiffer ride.
When I did Red a few years ago I called and talked to the techs at progressive and they were extremely helpful, we talked about body weight and what I was after and they had a few suggestions. On the rear shock I added 2 full turns to the preload and that was bang on so will do that again on Pearl.   

[Vulcanpunch]

Reading some of your past threads regarding the front springs, a lot of you guys opted for the 1500 due to being a better spring (built for more wight). Looking at the web site, I don't see an option for an 800 drifter, just 1500. I'm assuming that the front ends of the 1500 and 800 are basically interchangeable. The only question i guess is why add the 0.5 spacer? Maybe i'm missing something.

[Vulcanpunch]

Let me refresh everyone on this I am swapping the stock springs out for springs for a 1500 and have added 0.05 " to the spacers so instead of 3.5" I am going with 4" and sticking with 10 w oil and the recommended amount.

Question, does progressive not make front springs for the 800? Is that why you had to increase the spacer by 0.5 in?

[CDNRatMan]

  Let me refresh everyone on this I am swapping the stock springs out for springs for a 1500 and have added 0.05 " to the spacers so instead of 3.5" I am going with 4" and sticking with 10 w oil and the recommended amount.

[greenbarn]

The progressive springs are, in theory, an upgrade to the stock springs - in addition to the stock springs being old and worn out (like Ratman).   When I did the swap to progressives, with new fluid it greatly improved the ride and handling.   This is one of the Top 3 upgrades to the 800, IMO. 

[CDNRatMan]

  Well at 230 lbs and I can bottom them out, and they are 18 years old. New 800 (Drifter) springs should be 18" long and they will get shorter as they get older, the progressive both measure 18.3" and so they are good, and then I took the old ones and the right one is 18.00 and the left is just shy of 18" so time to swap them out.

[Vulcanpunch]

Steering head is back in place and tonight I removed the old springs and cleaned the forks. Hanging to drain and will finish them tomorrow.......

I feel like I might foresee this in my future. How did you know you needed new springs?