Installing racetech springs and gold valves
+5
mtbeerwah
Bosco15
broncsrule21
Ewok1958
reddog
9 posters
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Installing racetech springs and gold valves
reddog Sat 16 Apr 2016, 10:24 am
So who has done this so far? Did you do it yourself? I'm pretty reasonable when it comes to mechanical stuff, but the gold valves have me stumped. Shops around here want $250 upwards for the work, with one quoting nearly $600 by the time they also ordered in the shock and dust seals
reddog- Posts : 2523
Join date : 2010-09-27
Age : 46
Location : Allanson WA
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
Ewok1958 Sat 16 Apr 2016, 11:20 am
I had mine done by Laurie at Suspension Smith in Queanbeyan (NSW), that is, Racetech springs and Gold valves. I wasn't present when the work was done so have no knowledge of the process to make the changes. I paid $400 all up (parts and labour). That probably doesn't help you much. 
Ewok1958- Posts : 3940
Join date : 2010-08-03
Age : 66
Location : Bega, NSW
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
broncsrule21 Sat 16 Apr 2016, 11:41 am
My bike has the Holeshot/Racetech/Cogent springs set up. Had a shop install it, as fork work is farther than I trust myself...Cant comment on pricing but I am satisfied with the results..much plusher, way better on bumpy raods.
broncsrule21- Posts : 22
Join date : 2015-12-07
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
Bosco15 Sat 16 Apr 2016, 7:48 pm
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XLSLJv9e2E8
Bosco15- Posts : 1359
Join date : 2013-12-04
Age : 55
Location : Newcastle
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
broncsrule21 Sat 16 Apr 2016, 10:06 pm
good vid
Last edited by broncsrule21 on Mon 18 Apr 2016, 11:25 am; edited 1 time in total
broncsrule21- Posts : 22
Join date : 2015-12-07
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
reddog Mon 18 Apr 2016, 8:32 am
Found this yesterday http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/9493-installing-racetech-gold-valves/ gives me much more confidence to take the job myself. Just got to consult the manual for oil fork height and order the seals
reddog- Posts : 2523
Join date : 2010-09-27
Age : 46
Location : Allanson WA
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
mtbeerwah Mon 18 Apr 2016, 9:04 am
reddog wrote:Found this yesterday http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/9493-installing-racetech-gold-valves/ gives me much more confidence to take the job myself. Just got to consult the manual for oil fork height and order the seals
good find reddog..that's quiet comprehensive.
mtbeerwah- Posts : 1787
Join date : 2010-02-20
Location : Brisbane
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
broncsrule21 Mon 18 Apr 2016, 9:35 am
Yes, very good find. I love the ride with the gold valves and new springs.
broncsrule21- Posts : 22
Join date : 2015-12-07
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
reddog Mon 18 Apr 2016, 11:26 pm
Ordered the shock fork seals and dust seals today. All balls kit, they are half the price of the OEM kit. I've used these before on a fork rebuild on a 2001 Rm80 that I rebuilt for my wife a while back. They worked much better than the other cheap seals I bought previously. Anyways looking forward to having a crack at this whilst the rain is hanging around over here in the West. If I get my shit together I'll take photos and do a bandit specific write up if I don't stuff it up.
reddog- Posts : 2523
Join date : 2010-09-27
Age : 46
Location : Allanson WA
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
Bosco15 Tue 19 Apr 2016, 5:41 am
A great little technique that I have picked up for measuring your fork oil height, after you have replaced seals, valves, springs etc.
Make sure that you pump the forks, gently, in order to charge the cartridges/valve system with oil before setting your oil level.
Some guides just measure the amount of oil, but measuring the gap between top of fork and oil is the most accurate method.
This home made tool allows you to overfill and then suck out oil to the correct level.
Pics taken from the net. They don't have to be this complex, but you get the general concept.
Bosco15- Posts : 1359
Join date : 2013-12-04
Age : 55
Location : Newcastle
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
reddog Tue 19 Apr 2016, 8:18 am
Great idea mate, just have to find some small gauge tube as I have a syringe and plastic tubing.
reddog- Posts : 2523
Join date : 2010-09-27
Age : 46
Location : Allanson WA
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
#Tag Wed 20 Apr 2016, 9:08 am
I use just plastic tubing.
Measure from the shoulder of the syringe and cut the tubing to the oil height and rest the shoulder of the syringe on the top of the fork when withdrawing the excess oil.
Measure from the shoulder of the syringe and cut the tubing to the oil height and rest the shoulder of the syringe on the top of the fork when withdrawing the excess oil.
#Tag- Posts : 609
Join date : 2014-06-01
Location : Bega
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
reddog Wed 04 May 2016, 11:05 pm
Got the forks apart... for those that have done the racetech kit before, I presume you need to cut the spacer so that it and the new spring are the same length as the original spring and spacer. I measured the old stuff and together they are approximately 440mm. The new spring and spacer are above the dissasembled fork, the original spring appears to be a progressive.
reddog- Posts : 2523
Join date : 2010-09-27
Age : 46
Location : Allanson WA
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
Dekenai Thu 05 May 2016, 5:03 am
Yep, cut the spacers so that the 'stack height' (i.e. spring plus spacer) is same as original...best done by spinning them up in a lathe so you get a nice parallel cut.
Dekenai- Posts : 797
Join date : 2009-09-02
Location : Tuggers, ACT
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
reddog Thu 05 May 2016, 9:41 am
Thanks @Dekenai, the race tech instructions aren't written too well. I'll take them up the machine shop tomorrow and try to figure out the valve stack so I can build up the gold valve prior to installation.
reddog- Posts : 2523
Join date : 2010-09-27
Age : 46
Location : Allanson WA
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
reddog Fri 06 May 2016, 4:46 pm
Going to pick up the spacers from the machine shop in the next few hours. The instructions aren't clear about where to drill the 1.3mm hole in the gold valves either. This kit just seems like a generic thing going by the shit instructions.
reddog- Posts : 2523
Join date : 2010-09-27
Age : 46
Location : Allanson WA
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
Ewok1958 Fri 06 May 2016, 6:05 pm
reddog wrote:Going to pick up the spacers from the machine shop in the next few hours. The instructions aren't clear about where to drill the 1.3mm hole in the gold valves either. This kit just seems like a generic thing going by the shit instructions.
How the hell do you drill a 1.3mm hole?
Ewok1958- Posts : 3940
Join date : 2010-08-03
Age : 66
Location : Bega, NSW
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
Bosco15 Fri 06 May 2016, 6:14 pm
Go all the way through with a 1mm drill and then 1/3 of the way through next to it. 
Bosco15- Posts : 1359
Join date : 2013-12-04
Age : 55
Location : Newcastle
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
paul Fri 06 May 2016, 6:21 pm
Very carefullyEwok1958 wrote:reddog wrote:Going to pick up the spacers from the machine shop in the next few hours. The instructions aren't clear about where to drill the 1.3mm hole in the gold valves either. This kit just seems like a generic thing going by the shit instructions.
How the hell do you drill a 1.3mm hole?
paul- Posts : 7740
Join date : 2011-08-19
Age : 72
Location : Morphett Vale Sth. Aust.
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
Ewok1958 Fri 06 May 2016, 6:45 pm
Bosco15 wrote:Go all the way through with a 1mm drill and then 1/3 of the way through next to it.
Ewok1958- Posts : 3940
Join date : 2010-08-03
Age : 66
Location : Bega, NSW
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
Chook Fri 06 May 2016, 7:05 pm
Ewok1958 wrote:reddog wrote:Going to pick up the spacers from the machine shop in the next few hours. The instructions aren't clear about where to drill the 1.3mm hole in the gold valves either. This kit just seems like a generic thing going by the shit instructions.
How the hell do you drill a 1.3mm hole?
Chook- Posts : 4094
Join date : 2012-01-20
Age : 60
Location : Suburban Bendigo -
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
Ewok1958 Fri 06 May 2016, 8:10 pm
Chook wrote:Ewok1958 wrote:reddog wrote:Going to pick up the spacers from the machine shop in the next few hours. The instructions aren't clear about where to drill the 1.3mm hole in the gold valves either. This kit just seems like a generic thing going by the shit instructions.
How the hell do you drill a 1.3mm hole?
Well there ya go.
Ewok1958- Posts : 3940
Join date : 2010-08-03
Age : 66
Location : Bega, NSW
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
reddog Sat 07 May 2016, 9:16 am
#55 drill bit according to the destructions
Once I figure out where to drill it I'll be cooking with gas
Once I figure out where to drill it I'll be cooking with gas
reddog- Posts : 2523
Join date : 2010-09-27
Age : 46
Location : Allanson WA
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
paul Sat 07 May 2016, 10:19 am
Pretty close ................reddog wrote:#55 drill bit according to the destructions
Once I figure out where to drill it I'll be cooking with gas
http://bobmay.astronomy.net/misc/drillchart.htm
paul- Posts : 7740
Join date : 2011-08-19
Age : 72
Location : Morphett Vale Sth. Aust.
Re: Installing racetech springs and gold valves
Dekenai Sat 07 May 2016, 10:58 am
You are in jet drill territory mate,
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Weber-Dellorto-carb-Jet-drill-set-98018-100-jetdrill-/291571988276?hash=item43e30b7734:g:dZ4AAOSw0HVWAsMa
Hunt for cheaper.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Weber-Dellorto-carb-Jet-drill-set-98018-100-jetdrill-/291571988276?hash=item43e30b7734:g:dZ4AAOSw0HVWAsMa
Hunt for cheaper.
Dekenai- Posts : 797
Join date : 2009-09-02
Location : Tuggers, ACT
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