I got my new springs yesterday so after reading over the instructions a couple times I put them in this morning. This mod is not for the DIY guy without any tools. I have the shop manual and it is great with pictures and torque values on the same page as the parts blowup, not off some place else in a table. (There is a table of torque values if want to use it tho). I also have built my own fork spring compressor tool and holder plus rod extender to hold so it will not drop down in the spring.
Of course you can buy all these tools from Traxxion and they are reasonable.
First thing to do is loosen the top clamp on each side and then loosen the fork caps.
I jack up the front just off the ground with a bottle jack/wood underneath my Hepco & Becker skidplate.
Remove the fender and unhook the plastic keeper for the crossover brake line, it has little teeth that you can pry up slightly with a screw driver.
Remove the brake calipers, I hang them with a bungie from the windshield mount. Before removing the left caliper, remove the speed sensor, the wire is captured by a wire on the bottom bolt bracket and the top one also has a rubber mount that holds it.
Remove the front wheel, loosen pinch bolts, unbolt axle, and while slightly lifting the front wheel it will slide right out.
Now loosen the two pinch bolts in the lower triple tree, while holding onto the fork as it will freely slide out when you get the two bolts loose.
I work on one fork at a time. Then put it back and snug up the lower two pinch bolts to hold it, and tighten the fork cap, then tighten the pinch bolt in the top triple tree. Torque them all together later.
When you take the fork cap all the way out the fork will slide down. I have it propped up against a shelf, but a bench vise would be nice about now.
Now to compress the spring and spacer low enough to get a 14mm end wrench on the nut and remove the fork cap assembly (I use a 7/8" smooth end wrench).
Fork cap assembly and the spacer still attached to the spring compressor. A steel cap fits on top of the plastic spacer.
The nearest spring is the OEM dual rate. Behind it is the .95N/mm 14" long custom from Traxxion.
Measureing the space between the custom spring (plus 2 washers, 1 on each end of the PVC spacer) and the OEM spacer with Fork cap assembly screwed all the way on but not tight and with all preload backed off. I measure 61mm, Traxxion says add 15mm (I added 16mm) thus 77mm spacer is required. I cut a schedule 40 piece of PVC (Traxxion sent T6 aluminum tubing which I did not use) for the spacer.
I assemble first fork spring, then a washer, then 77mm spacer, another washer then OEM spacer with compressor. Compress it down enough to get a wrench on the 14mm nut and screw the fork cap assembly on and tighten.
I put the fork on the bathroom scale and with my 2x4 lever (with hole cut in it to fit over the preload cylinder sticking up on the fork cap) I check the location of a ziptie on the slider tube at 165 lbs and then again at 195 lbs. I used these same measurements on my other spring mods so I can compare the difference. The new .95 spring is settling in 1/2" higher than the previous mod I made, this should be good. Time will tell.
Do the other fork and don't forget to torque all the bolts down. I raised my forks till the machined portion of the top area was flush with the bottom of the top triple clamp, so probably about 3/4" lowered in the front.
Just checked rider sag, 38mm. Traxxion recommends 35mm but I think that is for a normal suspension the S10 with nearly 7-1/2" (more like 7") a little more might be better. I will get to ride some testing roads tomorrow and report back.
Of course you can buy all these tools from Traxxion and they are reasonable.
First thing to do is loosen the top clamp on each side and then loosen the fork caps.
I jack up the front just off the ground with a bottle jack/wood underneath my Hepco & Becker skidplate.
Remove the fender and unhook the plastic keeper for the crossover brake line, it has little teeth that you can pry up slightly with a screw driver.
Remove the brake calipers, I hang them with a bungie from the windshield mount. Before removing the left caliper, remove the speed sensor, the wire is captured by a wire on the bottom bolt bracket and the top one also has a rubber mount that holds it.
Remove the front wheel, loosen pinch bolts, unbolt axle, and while slightly lifting the front wheel it will slide right out.
Now loosen the two pinch bolts in the lower triple tree, while holding onto the fork as it will freely slide out when you get the two bolts loose.
I work on one fork at a time. Then put it back and snug up the lower two pinch bolts to hold it, and tighten the fork cap, then tighten the pinch bolt in the top triple tree. Torque them all together later.
When you take the fork cap all the way out the fork will slide down. I have it propped up against a shelf, but a bench vise would be nice about now.
Now to compress the spring and spacer low enough to get a 14mm end wrench on the nut and remove the fork cap assembly (I use a 7/8" smooth end wrench).
Fork cap assembly and the spacer still attached to the spring compressor. A steel cap fits on top of the plastic spacer.
The nearest spring is the OEM dual rate. Behind it is the .95N/mm 14" long custom from Traxxion.
Measureing the space between the custom spring (plus 2 washers, 1 on each end of the PVC spacer) and the OEM spacer with Fork cap assembly screwed all the way on but not tight and with all preload backed off. I measure 61mm, Traxxion says add 15mm (I added 16mm) thus 77mm spacer is required. I cut a schedule 40 piece of PVC (Traxxion sent T6 aluminum tubing which I did not use) for the spacer.
I assemble first fork spring, then a washer, then 77mm spacer, another washer then OEM spacer with compressor. Compress it down enough to get a wrench on the 14mm nut and screw the fork cap assembly on and tighten.
I put the fork on the bathroom scale and with my 2x4 lever (with hole cut in it to fit over the preload cylinder sticking up on the fork cap) I check the location of a ziptie on the slider tube at 165 lbs and then again at 195 lbs. I used these same measurements on my other spring mods so I can compare the difference. The new .95 spring is settling in 1/2" higher than the previous mod I made, this should be good. Time will tell.
Do the other fork and don't forget to torque all the bolts down. I raised my forks till the machined portion of the top area was flush with the bottom of the top triple clamp, so probably about 3/4" lowered in the front.
Just checked rider sag, 38mm. Traxxion recommends 35mm but I think that is for a normal suspension the S10 with nearly 7-1/2" (more like 7") a little more might be better. I will get to ride some testing roads tomorrow and report back.
