Author Topic: EMULATORS  (Read 12068 times)

Offline sas mayhem

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EMULATORS
« on: June 11, 2011, 04:43:43 PM »
what is involved in installed them? Does it require a complete tear down of the forks? special tools? Just wondering so I can can get set up before they arrive.

Cheers
Ron
09 Connie
...try to live a day without doing one of the 5 D’s....Deny, Defer, Deflect, Discount and Deceit...tougher than it sounds....

Offline Steve in Sunny Fla

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2011, 06:42:38 PM »
yes, basically a full tear down. You have to remove the damper rod and drill it out so it's non - functional. HTH, Steve

Offline sas mayhem

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2011, 07:10:18 PM »
How long does it take about. ... with no issues?
09 Connie
...try to live a day without doing one of the 5 D’s....Deny, Defer, Deflect, Discount and Deceit...tougher than it sounds....

Offline George R. Young

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2011, 07:54:27 PM »
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Offline Rick Hall

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #4 on: June 11, 2011, 08:07:22 PM »
2-3 hours for the first, an additional hour for the second.

Tear down the forks to their component parts. You may need a damper rod holding tool. A 15/16" nut welded on the end of a 24" piece of 1/2" pipe will do. Some have luck with a large broomstick jammed into the top of the damper rod, I don't.

Drill three cross holes in the damper rod (it's actually a stubby tube), one of the holes is just enlarging the existing hole.

Reassemble, adding new fork seals and bushings if required. Since you have the forks apart, it's often wise to do them now  ;)

Drop the emulator down the tube, add/adjust oil level, install the fork spring. Keep in mind the emulator adds 1/2" to the spring height, so your preload adjust will be 1/2" higher "pre" emulator.

Rick
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Offline sas mayhem

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #5 on: June 12, 2011, 02:39:35 AM »
Thanks for the reply's, since I'm at it I might as well install drain holes too.

Cheers
Ron
09 Connie
...try to live a day without doing one of the 5 D’s....Deny, Defer, Deflect, Discount and Deceit...tougher than it sounds....

Offline Strawboss

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2011, 03:48:03 PM »
I have mine in and the ride is a lot sharper than I want, so, I need to have less pre-load as I never touched the factory settings to decrease compression damping. I have the instructions at home but I'm at work now and was reading up on Race Tech's site. So I lessen pre-load by backing the bolt out of the body and tightening the jack nut? Any ideas how much?
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Offline sas mayhem

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #7 on: June 12, 2011, 05:06:32 PM »
I just got home from work and took off both forks, it was pretty straight forward.  Now I need to get to Lowes and get the tools that George R. Young mentioned in the above link.

Cheers
Ron

Strawboss what do you mean by "sharper"?
09 Connie
...try to live a day without doing one of the 5 D’s....Deny, Defer, Deflect, Discount and Deceit...tougher than it sounds....

Offline sas mayhem

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2011, 06:07:10 PM »
Well I'm back and the dampeners are removed.  I was very surprised of the consistency of the fork oil, it was like very hot transmission fluid.  Very runny.  :-\

Well when I get home from work tomorrow there should be my Race Tech kit waiting for me.  :)

Cheers
Ron
09 Connie
...try to live a day without doing one of the 5 D’s....Deny, Defer, Deflect, Discount and Deceit...tougher than it sounds....

Offline sas mayhem

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #9 on: June 12, 2011, 06:19:29 PM »
I have mine in and the ride is a lot sharper than I want, so, I need to have less pre-load as I never touched the factory settings to decrease compression damping. I have the instructions at home but I'm at work now and was reading up on Race Tech's site. So I lessen pre-load by backing the bolt out of the body and tightening the jack nut? Any ideas how much?

I found this too, Strawboss, this might answer you question.

also what is the best type of measuring device to put in the proper amount of fork oil?
« Last Edit: June 12, 2011, 06:52:52 PM by sas mayhem »
09 Connie
...try to live a day without doing one of the 5 D’s....Deny, Defer, Deflect, Discount and Deceit...tougher than it sounds....

Offline Strawboss

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #10 on: June 12, 2011, 10:12:38 PM »
I mean the ride is harsh, much more harsh than what I'm hearing, my mirrors droop down on some sharp bumps and the fairing rattles. I measured the oil exactly 4 times and the distance from the top of the fork tubes. Factory settings with straight 15w oil. I went to the site and it looks like maybe 1.0 springs instead of the 1.1's I have and reduce the compression damping. Not sure. Going home tomorrow to read up.
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Offline rcannon409

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #11 on: June 12, 2011, 10:30:17 PM »
Try loosening the preload on the emulator spring 1/2 turn. This makes a huge difference in  feel.  I've used emulators on several older forks and I feel like I've removed 1/2 turn on ever unit.

Offline Strawboss

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #12 on: June 12, 2011, 10:33:22 PM »
OK, I'll do it tomorrow and let you know on Wed what happens. Race Tech also said the emulators take up space and compress the springs a bit already.
COG 5852-AMA Life 302525-NRA 9098599-SASS
2001 Concours-1982 KZ550A-1979 Triumph Bonneville-1995 Honda SA50

Offline Steve in Sunny Fla

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #13 on: June 13, 2011, 06:26:59 AM »
I have emulators in both my bikes, and when you get them right they really help the compliance of the ride.I use 15 wt fork oil, set at 6" with the forks COMPRESSED and springs out. My emulators have 4 holes in the blow-off plate and blue springs with 2 turns preload. WAYYYY better than the stock emulator setup- Steve

Offline sas mayhem

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #14 on: June 14, 2011, 06:27:05 PM »
My emulators have 4 holes in the blow-off plate and blue springs with 2 turns preload. WAYYYY better than the stock emulator setup- Steve

What color spring would one use,? Blue or yellow. And how much of a difference would it make?  I'm 220 lbs now on my way to 200ish.  Would that be a factor?

Cheers
Ron
09 Connie
...try to live a day without doing one of the 5 D’s....Deny, Defer, Deflect, Discount and Deceit...tougher than it sounds....

Offline Strawboss

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #15 on: June 15, 2011, 08:01:40 AM »
OK, took my emulators out, why I did not catch the initial set-up with pre-load is beyond me, it appears from the factory it is set up for heavy riders or race conditions. The manual for the emulators state that you should back out the adjustment to where the washer is just touching the top of the springs of the emulators, this is called "zero pre-load". Then they advise to mind the jam nut and apply 2 turns for "normal" street riding, refer to heavy riders as stated above if applicable. Careful how you adjust the emulator pre-load as its easy to turn the adjustment screw and jam nut simultaneously. I backed mine out 2 full turns and the washer was still against the spring of the emulator. I don't want to say it was like night and day because it wasn't, but it was noticeable in that it was much smoother over bumps at speed.
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2001 Concours-1982 KZ550A-1979 Triumph Bonneville-1995 Honda SA50

Offline sas mayhem

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #16 on: June 21, 2011, 12:47:49 PM »
I love these set up,  Sooooo much more confidence in the turns without any wobble and it really soaks up the bumps.  Noooo brake dive either, making low speed maneuvering a breeze .  Now I need to  invest with a ZZR 1200 rear shock to tie it all together, when I can.

Cheers
Ron
09 Connie
...try to live a day without doing one of the 5 D’s....Deny, Defer, Deflect, Discount and Deceit...tougher than it sounds....

Offline Steve in Sunny Fla

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #17 on: June 21, 2011, 05:07:16 PM »
I'm tellin ya, drill the pop off valve, it makes a ton of difference over small stuff. I can't even feel transitions in the pavement, no bad effects at all - Steve

Offline sas mayhem

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #18 on: June 21, 2011, 09:00:01 PM »
I'm tellin ya, drill the pop off valve, it makes a ton of difference over small stuff. I can't even feel transitions in the pavement, no bad effects at all - Steve

So you mean drill 2 more holes the same size?
09 Connie
...try to live a day without doing one of the 5 D’s....Deny, Defer, Deflect, Discount and Deceit...tougher than it sounds....

Offline Steve in Sunny Fla

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Re: EMULATORS
« Reply #19 on: June 21, 2011, 09:18:22 PM »
I have a total of 4, same dia as the stocker. My emulators came with one hole. I know they started coming with 2 on the newer ones. RT will suggest you drill them and if you don't like it they'll sell you new valves for cheap, like 3.00 ea, so it's not so bad if you don't like it. I did a ride swap with SteveJ last weekend, he's ridden my bike before so he honed in on the handling this time - his first question was about the emulators, as he noticed how smooth riding the front is. Steve