Hitchcocks Forum

Basic question but does it matter which way up the dual rate springs (both legs the same of course) are installed. The springs are supplied by Hitchcocks part number 144219A. They are to go into my 2005 Electra X. Any comments?

Close coils on the bottom.

The heaviest part of the front fork spring is fitted uppermost.

So far, it's a draw 1-1 !

Wheaters, I am going by the instructions that come with progressive springs. The close coils to the bottom. It is the same for front forks and rear suspension.

(I fitted a set to the CX500 Custom front forks when I added a sidecar to it.)

One theory – one of many – is that in a variable or progressive spring the tighter coils should be fitted to the top. Progressive springs operate at their lowest ‘weight’ rating until the closest wound coils bind, then as more coils bind, the spring action moves progressively to the higher ‘weight’ rating. With fork action the tighter coils become coil bound first and at that point, if placed at the top, add to the sprung weight of vehicle, rather adding to the unsprung weight, an undesirable outcome. The spring's performance will remain the same whatever orientation is used. Bottom line: you will never know any difference in riding whichever way you fit them!

Papasmurf,

I don't mind which way up they go because it isn't my bike, I was just amused by the two opposite answers..... Maybe a good compromise would be to fit one each way up? ) But in this case I'll bet that no rider will never notice anyway..

I like threads like this - nearly as much fun as reading the heated arguments that develop on car forums about which oil, which tyres cleaning materials etc are best for a particular vehicle.

If the Hitchcocks instructions supplied with the springs states place the tighter coils at the bottom there must be valid reasoning behind that.


Perhaps fitting them inverted works better with the stock fork damping and this together with the reduced air gap resultant from the extra coils being submerged below the fork oil simply enhances the overall effect.

I was able to tell after a fork oil change that I'd absent mindedly refitted my progressive forks springs with the heavier part at the bottom when they should have have been at the top - but that was on a bike with far superior suspension to that fitted to the ElectraX and other similarly suspended Enfields. I lasted 10 miles before turning around to investigate what was wrong with the bike. At one point I thought that I hadn't fully tightened the fork legs in their yokes because the difference in handling was that noticeable [to me].

Well thanks people. Now I have to work it out myself I see the logic of putting the heavier section low down and as Presto implied the 'weaker' section will work first which ever way up. So I will go with the tighter coils at the bottom - unless you know a different theory?????