Forum

[papasmurf]

I am toying with the idea of replacing the fork springs on my 500 Bullet Electra X (ish)and replacing them with progressive springs.(From our hosts.).............
However I can't find a correct visual description of the forks fitted to my Electra X anywhere.
The workshop manual is as much use as a chocolate fireguard and there appears not to be video on Youtube showing a strip down the forks fitted to my bike..........
It is possible to change the fork oil like any normal bike. Drain plug at the bottom of the fork, pour new oil into the top after removing the blanking plug. (Which reveals a large hexagon key type "grub screw," with a hole in it and the oil is just poured in.)..............
If it is a massive full strip down use umpteen special tools just to change the springs quite frankly I can't be bothered.............
Can anyone help?

[PeteF]

In my experiance you will get all lot more effect by changing to a thinner oil.
I didn't notice any differance just changing the springs.

[papasmurf]

Having fitted progressive springs to other bikes, the difference is, with my weight on the bike the bike sits lower.
Changing to a different oil won't do that.

[Adrian]

Depending on how "-ish" your Electra-X is Papasmurf, the internals are the same as the other pre-EFI classic Bullet forks since 1988, as far as I can tell, just the slider castings were changed for the QD front wheel spindle on the disc brake hub and the central mountings for the mudguard.



Parts book to the rescue, exploded drawing version of the Electra-X forks here:



http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/pa ... Front_Fork



Standard Indian Bullet 2003 here:



http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/pa ... k_Assembly



That's good, same internal construction. Our hosts' front fork technical notes therefore will take you from here!




A.

[papasmurf]

Adrian I am sorry but those parts drawings are as much use as a chocolate spanner.
Neither makes it clear what has to be done just to remove the springs.
If it is any more than drop the forks out and undo the cap at the top of each fork and change the springs I really do not want to even attempt it.
All the other spring changes I have done have not even needed the oil to drained out because the springs come out of the top.
It has been a very quick job. (On the CX500 Custom it took less than five minutes.)

[Adrian]

You asked for help, but did you read my whole reply, Papasmaurf? I did refer you to our hosts' fork strip tutorial in the technical notes (I would have hoped you would have found the one headed "Fork Spring Replacement 1988 on") as being applicable to the Electra-X forks, but assuming you got that far, did you actually look at them?



If you had, you would have been able to see precisely what is involved in a fork strip, and apart from some minor differences in removing the front wheel, mudguard and brake caliper due to the front disc brake, it's the same job to change the fork springs. With this information at your fingertips (or on your screen) you would then be in a position to decide whether it's worth the faff or not.



A.

[papasmurf]

Adrian I had already looked at "Fork Spring Replacement 1988 on") and referenced it in another thread.

My Electra X does not have those forks, which is why I asked the question.

[PeteF]

Ah, yes, it will sit a bit lower.

[Adrian]

Well, exactly WHICH forks do you have? Any chance of a picture, please?

I did say depending on how "-ish" your Electra-X is, I thought I had seen a picture of yours with an Electra-T disk brake front end (same forks, different mudguard). If not we need to look elsewhere, but I can only think of late Thunderbird or B5/C5 EFI models(both variants).



A.

[papasmurf]

Adrian, which forks the bike has is the problem, they are NOT like any of the one's detailed in out hosts information.

There is just a drain plug on the bottom of the fork leg, and at the top end with the cap unscrewed is large "grub screw" with a hole in it to put fork oil in.
If I took the grub screw out there is no way the spring would come out through the hole.
What I do not want to do is take the fork legs out and find I have to strip everything out just to get the springs out.
That appears to need numerous special tools and to use new seals.