CB500 V fork springs

Hi all,

Haynes manual doesn't list the spring standard and service sizes for the V(97). Does anyone happen to know what these are?

Thanks in advance.

Just had a look in the haynes manual and you are right, it doesn't list a service limit for the V model.

From looking at the R model, it looks like Honda have set the service limit at 1% shorter than the standard length, so for the V model you would get:

Standard length : 409.1mm (100%)
Possible Service limit : 405.0mm (99%)

I don't have a technical basis for this, just a hunch based on the figures for the R-model.

Have you measured your fork springs? I did measure mine when I changed the seals and oil and they were pretty close to the 'standard' length so I assumed they were fine.

Thanks for that. I haven't stripped them down yet, waiting for the seal to come in and going to do the strip down this weekend.

Cheers

I've got them stripped down now, but didn't get to the shop for the seals before it closed at 1230 on a saturday. Should have checked before hand. Oh well.

One of the springs measures around 409.1, but the other measures 410.5 ish. I rechecked measurments a few times and still got these results. Should I have any concerns about it being above assumed standard limit, or the difference in sizes?

I don't think this kind of difference should matter - if you think about it I'm not sure that you mount the forks into the head with this level of prescision, so the difference in the two springs with a free length that differs by approximatly 1mm probably isn't significant.

Thanks for the help. Can't wait to get the seals now and finish the job.

Chris_B wrote:Thanks for the help. Can't wait to get the seals now and finish the job.

Good luck!

I assume you have also changed the fork oil? I found that having new oil improved the handling a bit on mine.

Thanks.

I put new fork oil in (10W) because I want to feel what stock is like opposed to what may or may not have been used by previous owners. The old oil smelt rank and was dark grey. The new stuff (Shell fork, I think) Smells much better and was a nearly clear.

I just unstrapped the bike tonight and when I put the bike down off of centre stand, It seemed lower. It doesn't seem to spring up as I remember it. Going to finish cleaning front brake before I can do the 'brake-and-bounce' test, and very slow test ride.

Is it normal for it to feel so different when new oil is in, or is it possibly in my head after being back on a 125 for past few days?

Thanks again.

Chris_B wrote:I just unstrapped the bike tonight and when I put the bike down off of centre stand, It seemed lower. It doesn't seem to spring up as I remember it. Going to finish cleaning front brake before I can do the 'brake-and-bounce' test, and very slow test ride.

If you've re-assembled the forks correctly and have the same amount of stanchion sticking out the headstock the height should be the same. Probably not as bouncy as before because the new oil is damping the forks properly.

As you say I reckon it's psychological!

Thanks for your help, gents. All back together and took out a few times this weekend and all seems fine.