Post by 5twins on Jan 26, 2005 12:58:54 GMT -5
Progressive makes one of these, but it costs too much for what it is, in my opinion. You can make your own for a few dollars with stuff from the hardware and auto parts stores.
The problem: measuring the amount of oil in each tube (springs removed, forks compressed) and, more importantly, equalizing the amounts if you over-fill. You can make a simple "dip stick" to check the level from an old coat hanger or something, but how do you accurately draw out the over-filled amount? Go to the hardware store and get a 12" to 16" length of brass tubing, 3/16" to 1/4" in diameter, and a short section of rubber or plastic hose that will fit snug over the end. You will also need a small plastic syringe that you will connect to the other end of the plastic or rubber tubing. If the hardware store doesn't have these, auto parts stores usually carry them. The last thing you'll need is a pair of vice grips, the 6" needle nose style work the best but and version will do.
Attach the syringe to one end of the brass tube with a short length of the rubber or plastic tubing. A couple wire ties or regular tie wire here may aid in keeping it together. Lightly grip the brass tube 6" up (or whatever your spec is) from the other end. Insert that end down into your fork tube. The vice grips act as a stop so only the amount of tube equaling your spec sticks down into the fork. To use the tool, slightly over-fill each leg then draw off the excess with the syringe to get down to your spec. To use the tool as a dip stick for checking existing levels, set the vice grips higher, like 7" or 8" up from the bottom. Insert your "dip stick" into the fork leg, withdraw, and measure the distance from the top of the oil to the vice grips on the stick.
Progressive says that equal amounts (or levels) of oil in each leg is important. I tend to agree and it's easy enough to do with this tool. In fact, I think it's probably more important to match the levels than to have the exact factory specified "CC" amount in there. After all, you can tune your forks to a certain extent by changing the oil amount, but if you want each leg to work the same way, it should have the same level of oil as the other one.
The problem: measuring the amount of oil in each tube (springs removed, forks compressed) and, more importantly, equalizing the amounts if you over-fill. You can make a simple "dip stick" to check the level from an old coat hanger or something, but how do you accurately draw out the over-filled amount? Go to the hardware store and get a 12" to 16" length of brass tubing, 3/16" to 1/4" in diameter, and a short section of rubber or plastic hose that will fit snug over the end. You will also need a small plastic syringe that you will connect to the other end of the plastic or rubber tubing. If the hardware store doesn't have these, auto parts stores usually carry them. The last thing you'll need is a pair of vice grips, the 6" needle nose style work the best but and version will do.
Attach the syringe to one end of the brass tube with a short length of the rubber or plastic tubing. A couple wire ties or regular tie wire here may aid in keeping it together. Lightly grip the brass tube 6" up (or whatever your spec is) from the other end. Insert that end down into your fork tube. The vice grips act as a stop so only the amount of tube equaling your spec sticks down into the fork. To use the tool, slightly over-fill each leg then draw off the excess with the syringe to get down to your spec. To use the tool as a dip stick for checking existing levels, set the vice grips higher, like 7" or 8" up from the bottom. Insert your "dip stick" into the fork leg, withdraw, and measure the distance from the top of the oil to the vice grips on the stick.
Progressive says that equal amounts (or levels) of oil in each leg is important. I tend to agree and it's easy enough to do with this tool. In fact, I think it's probably more important to match the levels than to have the exact factory specified "CC" amount in there. After all, you can tune your forks to a certain extent by changing the oil amount, but if you want each leg to work the same way, it should have the same level of oil as the other one.
