Fitting Progressive Fork Springs to Diversion 900

[anon]

YAMAHA DIVERSION CLUB
TECHNICAL LIBRARY
ARTICLE 02/01 - FITTING PROGRESSIVE FORK SPRINGS TO DIVERSION 900
Compiled from various postings by Terry Barber and others

First of all, you need to get hold of the springs – MPS (www.thefastone.co.uk) are one source, but their delivery times can be a bit erratic.
Make sure you get the right ones for your bike model.

Earlier models do not have preload adjustment, and so use different springs.
Price should be about £60 including oil (15W)

The fairing has to come off but it’s not a big job, only take 5 minutes.
I think I could have got away without removing the fairing but it did make it easy to get to the bolts.

I haven't posted step by step pics as some of the jobs you have to do are straight forward, I couldn't take the pics when I undid the top bolt to release the springs (had me hands full).
Be careful and push down a bit on the nut to stop the spring forcing the nut out thus protecting the aluminium threads from stripping.
A bit hard to put back together but again watch the threads and don't cross thread them.

Step by step (mostly)

Don’t forget to chock the front end	Remove grommets - pull
Remove grommets - push	Remove clock fascia
Reveals fairing screws A	Reveals fairing screws B
Indicator wires Indicator nuts	Indicator nuts
Remove lights	Pull fairing out from indicator locations
Pull fairing forward to remove	Speedo drive off
Brakes off	Brakes out of the way
Mark leg positions	Back off adjusters
Remove wheel spindle clamp bolt	Remove wheel
Remove fork brace and mudguard	Undo top brace
Undo bottom brace	Slide leg out
Drain oil	Fill up with new oil
Don't use normal measurement with new springs (below)	Fit new springs
Fit spacer	Original on left, new on right
'96 on, fit washer and disc	Re-fit and torque up

Notes:

Don't use the fork level measurement from the Haynes manual, with progressive springs they are thicker and more coils so you do not need as much oil.
Hagon progressive springs recommend 150mm from top of leg if you have Hagon springs.
They recommend 15W oil as well, not 10W which surprised me.

If you’re going to buy something for your bike then get some front progressive springs.
What a difference, the front handles like a dream.
Pushed it a little bit harder tonight round the corners and the bike still had suspension travel to ride over the bumps.
Only tested it with 1 up but with 2 up it can only get better.
No more trying to pitch my partner over the bars with heavy braking.

Got to work out the preload settings yet so some slight tweaking is on the books.

Questions and answers:

1, Are the fork springs you bought the American Progressive springs? Did you check out the offerings from Hagon, Hyperpro and Maxton, if so what made you choose Progressive Springs are from Hagon


2, Your forks have adjustable preload, my Divvy which I've had for six weeks is a 30,000 mile '94 with no preload adjustment. I presume that my springs will be different but were you asked what year your bike was when you ordered them? .
I suspect that your springs will be different with your bike being 94 model and mine 96 and yes they did ask what year my bike was.

3, Do your forks have an oil drain plug or did you have to remove and upend them?
Correct, no drain plugs so to drain them you have to take them out and up end them

4, Did you replace seals etc.
Seals did not require replacement as no leaks scour marks or anything

[CD]

When I replaced my steering head bearings there was no need to remove the fairing and on that the top and bottom triple clamps have to come off. Well worth trying the job with fairing still in place. For protection, cover it with lots of soft sheets.

[geirhaugum]

The suspension on my 99 mod was very soft. I change to Hagon progressive fork springs and 15W fork oil on my 99 mod. Hagon recommend 15W, but I felt the suspension get to stiff and change the oil to 10W. I'am very satisfied with this solution and can higly recommend Hagon + 10W.