RT emulator installation

[LWC82PE]

I’m just looking for some assistance on installing the emulators before I start drilling. I read the VMX article and mine appear to look very similar to the PD valves so im guessing the installation process is very similar.

Anyway I’ve currently got 4 compression holes each about 5mm OD and 8mm apart. The instructions I got with them say to drill out these holes to 5/16 and to add 2 more holes and then these 6 holes should be 10mm apart center to center. The problem is my holes are already 8mm apart and I can’t obviously make them 10mm apart. So if I drill them out to 5/16 and then add the 2 additional holes the same distance apart (8mm) will this weaken the rods too much?

What should I do?

Should I do as the instructions say and drill out my current holes to 5/16 and add 2 more holes the same distance apart (8mm)?

Or should I drill the current holes to 5/16 and drill the 2 new holes 10mm apart from the other holes and still have the originals 8mm apart?

Or should I drill 2 additional holes 8mm apart like the others but drill all holes to smaller than 5/16 diameter?

Or should I do something else?

I really don’t want to stuff this up and weaken my rods but am not sure what I should do. I can do what the instructions say and drill out to 5/16 but my holes wont be 10mm apart like they request and only 8mm apart.

Should I ask Race Tech?

i cant imagine this as being difficult to do as its just drilling holes

I think Bent may be able to help as he has installed a lot of these in KYB forks on TT’s etc right?

[brent j]

I drilled the existing holes to 8mm and added the extra set 10mm above. The difference in spacing has no effect on the operation of the emulators.

I'm using PE forklegs (with PE or IT465) damper rods.
I replace the seals once a year and check out the internals then.
I've had no problem with weakening the dampers by having the holes at 8mm spacing as standard.

Brent

[LWC82PE]

thank you Brent! so although both brands say the holes should be 10mm apart 8mm is still ok then. i actually did some more acurate measurments and my holes are about 8.5mm apart.

did you drill the additional 2 holes that you made 10mm apart from the others 8mm OD aswell?

ive actually bought a spare set of forks from canada to get some spare damper rods incase things dont go as planed

[brent j]

Yes I made the extra holes 8mm od, the std holes are closer than the instructions but I've had no probs with a heavy bike in over two years. As I say I inspect them once a year, no cracks, no dramas.

Incidently, the damper rods in my 43mm forks are alloy and the holes are just on (or just under) 10mm apart, I've drilled tham and added the extras. I have no doubts they will be ok. Keep in mind that the manufacturers recommend sizes to give a large margin of safety.

Brent

PS I'll have to check what the forks are off, they are 43 and they are Yamaha. Now you 've got me wondering 

[LWC82PE]

good. i can progress with this now. ive had a very good day. other dramas with getting hard to get shock parts is starting to all turn out nicely.