Xj650rj girl spring spacer?

Hi all. New owner of old bike. changing Fork oil. Took off caps circlips, when plugs came out so to did one and a half inch piece of half inch pipe ! A spacer to increase spring pressure. Bike handles well, should I reinstall pipe? Is this a common trick?

to release circlip I used handlebar hold down clamps as a pivot for a piece of three eighths Rod to press down on a socket on top of the shock plug to remove circlip. Worked well.

Auto typing stinks! Can not correct post title!

 

please, please, please keep all questions about your machine in one thread.

Spacers are stock, so replacement spacers will be too. The spacer is there to set the spring preload.

 

Sorry , old newbie.
just measured springs 19 inches. Spacer is just a length of plumbing pipe! Original spring length 24 inches? Are mine just old hence the homemade spacer?
Tthanks in advance for help with this.

 

It's likely that they are aftermarket springs. Progressive brand springs are several inches shorter than stock. Spring sag is a thing, but it's not to the degree that most people think.

PVC pipe is an inexpensive and durable spacer, and is also reccomended by most aftermarket spring manufacturers.

 

My local Yamaha dealer sold bikes new , talking to owner he told me this was hot way to firm the forks up when bikes were new . I just rebuilt the front forks on my Johnny Cash bike when I tore them down had a PVC pipe , so I put these back in.

 

Put it back together today with the spacers , I liked how it handled. I also have a mint 1978 xs650e the xj handles so much better ov er the same roads. I have just finished my 61 first year riding , just turned 77.