Front suspension fork spring pitch

[Caladin]

I am doing a much overdue oil change for my front suspension forks. I read over the instructions thoroughly before starting the job. As I was disassembling the first fork I noticed after pulling the spring out that the it seemed to have been put in upside down. The tight winding of the spring were at the bottom, this is contrary to what the service manual says it should be. On disassembling the second fork I found that it to was the opposite of what the manual says.

Here is what the service manual shows: (Pg. 4-53)

So how should I insert the fork springs? As it has been for since I purchased the bike (new '06), or as the manual says it should be? Has anyone else found this with their own forks?

 

[Caladin]

Well, the more I think about it, I believe that it really doesn't matter what way the springs go in as long as they are both in the same way. So I reassembled the fork legs with the tighter coil of spring to the top as per the manual.

And in case anyone wonders what fork oil with 65k km (40k miles) looks like....

Top oil:

Bottom oil:

 

[troyw]

Gross, eh? I think the fork oil from the factory is about -5 weight too.
I'd recommend not putting the stock springs in at all. I'd put in Race Tech
springs of appropriate weight, refill the oil with some nice Bel Ray, get
Gold Valve emulators, and feel the transformation of the bike. Heck, the
springs and heavier oil alone made a big difference in mine.

- Troy

 

[Guitar Man]

I guess it's finally time to change my fork oil. I didn't think it could look that bad in a seemingly short period of time.

 

[FZyLarry]

+1 on the RaceTech springs and some new/good oil. I went that route and it made a world of difference on how the bike handles. Just fyi, the springs took about 1" of sag out of the front end.