Fork Problem

[CPH Lambretta]

I have a problem with my fork. I just built it up with all new parts ,but there is not very much suspension travel. Its like the bottom fork buffers are too fat and are taking up half the travel. I have BGM dampers fitted and there is only 20mm of shaft showing from the bottom of the damper body to the rubber rings. Looking at pictures of other scoot fitted with these dampers they have double as much shaft showing.
The fork buffers are from SIL, will they just compress over time? Or is there something wrong with using GP forks with push in buffers with LI links and rods with fixed balls?
Cheers Nick

[shocky]

MAYBE THE TOP DAMPER MOUNTS HAVE BEEN WELDED IN THE WRONG POSITION CHECK OUT THIS INFO AND POST YOUR MEASURMENTS http://www.lcgb.co.uk/workshop/fdampers.html

[dapper]

I think the bit where the ball sits is deeper in one type of link than the other, from memory. Have you got too many top hats in the top of the forks too. The later ones are just plastic and about a quarter of an inch thick, whereas the early top hats were thicker, I think.

[byron]

i wouldn't mix rods/balls/cups.
the Li/SX links to use with fixed ball rods have a deeper cup than the loose ball GP links.
as dapper said, check the seating of the springs/rods inside the fork legs.
without the dampers fitted, do the links look at a "normal" angle ?

[CPH Lambretta]

Hi all thanks for the replies, I have the correct type of spring stops and have checked that they aren't double up and I have the correct link/rod combination (LI links/ big fixed ball rods).
Byron I don't think the links sit at the correct angle, its as if the bottom buffers are too fat and they are taking up half the travel. I wondered about putting some of the thin upper buffers in the bottom to see how that looks but I don't have an extra set to try.
Shocky I had the same thought as you, I will messure the height of the damper brackets tomorrow.

[sean brady scooters]

maybe just a quick fix but you could just remove the bottom buffers and cut some rubber off them....
just use a small hacksaw,and make sure they are both the same...

[CPH Lambretta]

You know what Sean I was thinking the same thing. I might give it a go just to see if it looks better.
The original bottom buffers I took out (from 1970) were flattened down to about half the height of the new ones I put in.

[dapper]

You know what Sean I was thinking the same thing. I might give it a go just to see if it looks better.
The original bottom buffers I took out (from 1970) were flattened down to about half the height of the new ones I put in.

The bottom buffers always do that because they constantly have the fork links pressed down against them by the springs when the scooter is at rest. Eventually they get a flat compressed top to them. The top buffers almost never get compressed except when you go over a really deep pothole.
Have you tried it all put together with the wheel on and all, and put the scoot off its stand?