Topic: Looking for advice/tips on upgrading CB 500 fork springs to Progressive

[Lenny55]

Hi guys, well my new progressive springs are here, and I'm just wondering if any of you have any experience with upgrading the CB 500.

The manual gives several tips and notes regarding lots of other bikes, but nothing specific to the 500. 

Could it be that they just drop right in where the old ones used to be?

Part # is 76-1106.  The bike is a '73.

Any thoughts are appreciated, Lenny.

[SonnysTile]

watching this one as my new springs are sitting here waiting for weather and free time.

same bike.

[Alan F.]

I always thought it was that simple, use your stock preload spacers to start with and fine tune from that point with longer or shorter spacers.
Clean fork oil helps too.
-A

[Lenny55]

Planned on changing the oil for sure, any recommendations for oil? 

Probably a bit of a loaded question judging by some of the other oil discussions I've seen on here

[Lenny55]

Well I replaced the springs today.  Went with a Belray 10 weight fork oil.  The old oil was pretty dark when it first came out, but lightened up gradually as the dampers drained.

The progressives ended up being about an inch and a quarter longer than the stock springs.  It was a bit of a chore to get the lock nut threaded onto the damper rod while trying to hold the damper rod up and compress the spring at the same time. 

I threaded the lock nut down until I had about a 1/4" of threads showing on the damper rod so that the fork bolt would have some threads to tighten down to.  I don't see where I could set the preload with any spacers since the fork bolt and the damper are threaded together.  I am also realising as I type this that I probably should have locked the the fork bolt and the lock nut together.  Lock nut....hmmmmm, wonder why they call it a lock nut?  It seems to me that you would also use the lock nut to preload the spring.  Some parts of my manual are vague at best.

Anyhow, took it for a short ride and it felt quite a bit better than the stock setup I think.  Definitely not as soft as it was before.  Have to put some more miles on it I guess.

Thanks for listening.  Advice is much appreciated.

Lenny.