[goldwing1951]

Hi All
I am fairly new to Goldwings, but not new to motorcycles in general. Never having experienced air suspension before, I have the following questions.

1. The handbook states acceptable pressure for the front forks as 0 [zero] to 6psi. If zero psi is ok, why have air at all?
With oil damping, I cannot see the point of it.

2. If the air pressure was wrongly increased to way above 6psi, for example 20psi, would the increased pressure cause oil to get past the oil seals? The seals in my Aspy were renewed 300 miles ago, but I see seepage round the dust covers

Many thanks for any information

Kind Regards

Alan

1984 Goldwing Aspencade GL1200 [built in USA, but now a British citizen]

 

[DaveO430]

The 6 psi is on the center stand with the weight off the forks so it goes way up with the compression of the forks. It just adds to the springs for higher weight. If you started at 20 PSI it would be a lot more when you hit a bump, maybe enough to blow the seals. More likely is scratches or pits in the fork tubes causing seepage or I have seen seals installed upside down.

 

[Rednaxs60]

The air ride system is to maintain ride height front/rear as you load the bike. Theoretically the suspension system should be sufficicent without any air pressure being used but this is not always the case.

To minimize air use, I'd recommend upgrading the front fork springs to 1.1/1.2 kg/mm straight rate fork springs. The rear air shocks can be refurbished and stiffer springs used. The suspension system is some 38 years old and could use a good once over.

Good luck

 

[Scootertrash]

Brethren,
I use 0 psi In My 1990 Forks To Be Safe.
Scootertrash

 

[goldwing1951]

Hi Guys
Many thanks for your replies. I am starting to understand a bit more about the air ride system.

I have some repair bills from the previous owner, and there seems to be a trend towards failing fork seals,
IE: l/h seal replaced at 37885 miles, r/h seal and bush replaced at 43035 miles, seals and bushes replaced at 45824 miles. Not what I would have expected from Honda.

Last October, new fork bushes for the UK mot test. I had noted seepage a short time prior to the test. now, 300 miles later, guess what? seepage again from the l/h seal, just over 53k miles.

I think Dave O430 could be right, there may well be damage on the leg. I have made myself a tool for assistance in removing the forks, so I will be doing my own overhaul when the time comes.

I had to have a local shop change the bushes, and was somewhat suprised when they told me they could not operate the compressor. I had to show them how. Ok, so there's not many wings around here, but I do not know what pressure was applied.

This is the root cause of my original question aboot the fork pressure. My wing has the LCD display, with fuel/temperature etc shown in bars. 1 or 2 bars being the level for the forks. Problem is, I cannot see how the pressure can be set or checked with any precision using such a gage. The thing being, whatever pressure is applied, is in addition to existing atmospheric pressure within the fork, and trying to think out what if happening pressure-wise inside the forks when riding makes my brain hurt

Thanks again for the information, very much appreciated. If I come across anything interesting I'll let you know ...

Kindest regards to you all

Alan

 

[craigd]

If I remember correctly, going back 40 years. The original intent of the air caps was to bleed off excess pressure as the tubes heated up from riding. The higher pressure upset the spring rates and dampening.

 

[Bryanlj]

Look up Phillpots to have your forks redone as you are in UK.
We used 2 people power to get the top nuts on

 

[goldwing1951]

Following on from my previous posts, I can now aks the question 'Does oil flow uphill?'
I have raised the front of the wing on a screw jack, so that the front wheel is a few millimeters off the ground, so that the forks are fully extended, and I have released the air pressure from the front forks, but the oil keeps leaking.
I raised the dust seal, to find the void space below was full of what appears to be tranny fluid, which was dribbling over the edge and running down the fork leg.
I drained this out with a syringe and kitchen roll, till the void space was as clean and as dry as I could get it.
Next day the void space was full again, so my question is as above, how is the void space filling up?
I suppose the next step is to drain the forks, then investigate the source of the leak.

By the way, has anyone ever sucessfully sealed the sightglass on the front brake reservoir. seepage from there too!
Happy Days

Kind Regards

Alan

 

[DaveO430]

The seals almost have to be installed upside down or some serious damage to the tubes for that to happen.

 

[Bryanlj]

The answer is yes every time you compress the forks oil is forced but up inside and between tube and slider.
I have had some bad aftermarket seals over the past few years and now only buy from sources i trust.
You may well have pitting on the tubes and i think i have already suggested Phillpots, they straighten, grind down, diamond hard chrome and finish to size

 

[Bike...and Dennis]

By the way, has anyone ever sucessfully sealed the sightglass on the front brake reservoir. seepage from there too!
Happy Days

Kind Regards

Alan

There are kits available to replace the sight glass. eBay would be a good place to start looking.
If I remember correctly, my last fork seal purchase was OEM and had the instructions backwards.
Upside down.

 

[goldwing1951]

Hi Guys
thank you for you continuing replies.
latest update:
yesterday I drained both fork legs, and trialled my 'device for removing the fork caps without getting hit in the head.' a bit fiddly to start, but once I had worked out the technique, it eas easy, with very little effort. will be equally easy to replace them.
As the first cap broke seal, I heard air hissing out, even though I had released all the air, [ or so I thought ]. That might explain the continued oil seepage. It certainly tells me that the air gage is not very accurate.
I have replaced the l/hand caliper seals, and want to fix the sight glass leak before proceeding further. Still waiting on fork seals.
Brianlj, I will give Phillpots a look-see. Hopefully I will not need to go to that extreme, but they are worth knowing about.

More Later
Kind Regards
Alan

 

[Bryanlj]

Depends where in country you are, have heard of a firm called dynasurf nearer manchester