Fork Preload spacers? ***GHETTO****

GreyHornet919 · 02-04-2012, 09:36 PM

I'm a Bicycle Tech in a Very hight end shops. I work on bikes that cost more than my 9er on a daily basis... Anywho Im the Fox Shox suspension thec, and so that means I'm the "suspension guy" anywho in MTB forks there are preload spacers used quite often to "stiffen" the spring rate ... without swapping springs....

Anyone tried this with the 9er fork?
I cant afford new springs and im sitting in about 1/2 the travel in sag and when i brake it almost bottoms out.

beefsalad · 02-04-2012, 09:49 PM

Uhhhhh, I just shoved 1" schedule 40 PVC spacers into my forks...even WITH an upgrade...

AllanB · 02-04-2012, 10:19 PM

Get springs to suit your weight. They are around US$100 and well worth saving the $. Pissing around with spacers will only mask the issue and raise your front ride height.

GreyHornet919 · 02-04-2012, 10:32 PM

dude planning a Wedding can't spare $100 , I know that would be the main solution, I just figure this is a quick fix. I ride daily (my only wheels , no cage)

any tips for lifting the front of the bike to unweight the fork so i can open her up?

honda ng gingsa · 02-05-2012, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreyHornet919

dude planning a Wedding can't spare $100 , I know that would be the main solution, I just figure this is a quick fix. I ride daily (my only wheels , no cage)

any tips for lifting the front of the bike to unweight the fork so i can open her up?

Things ive learned: preload affects the ride height but affects the spring stiffness very little.

Propping it up: i went with jacking it up under the headers and split the weight with a thick strap under the steering head/upper triple, suspended from above (ceiling joist, A-frame ladder...get creative).

mcromo44 · 02-05-2012, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreyHornet919

I'm a Bicycle Tech in a Very hight end shops. I work on bikes that cost more than my 9er on a daily basis... Anywho Im the Fox Shox suspension thec, and so that means I'm the "suspension guy" anywho in MTB forks there are preload spacers used quite often to "stiffen" the spring rate ... without swapping springs....

Anyone tried this with the 9er fork?
I cant afford new springs and im sitting in about 1/2 the travel in sag and when i brake it almost bottoms out.

More spacer length will only "stiffen" metal springs if the resultant decreased installed height results in some coil binding (or coil stack), otherwise, the only thing that is being changed is the preload force, which is really a form of stored energy.
One can not properly tune a front spring with spacer length, unless the springs are correct to be begin with.
919s have mush springs.
If you can't afford springs, but can make spacers, or spacer washers, try a 6-10 mm addition and see if it helps you re your Rider Sag Height. Ignore Free Sag in such circumstances, and just go by Rider Sag Height.

As for front brake dive on 919s, that is better dealt with by other means.
See the recent "Front Spring Rates" that's also in the Mech & Tech section.

AllanB · 02-05-2012, 01:42 PM

The existing fork oil will be toast too - so allow more $ for a litre of top quality 10 wt cartridge fork oil.

I'd highly recommend giving up drink, cigarettes, porn, coffee or whatever your daily/weekly vice is to save up for some new springs. The front end will be transformed.

boogunoogun · 02-05-2012, 03:12 PM

Screw the dj at the wedding. Lol. When you send the invites ask everyone for their 2 favorite songs. Then you and the wife go through and filter out the shitty ones, add your own, and make a smart playlist if you have an ipod. That way nothing repeats even if at some point in the wedding you want to skip to a certain song. Also have a friend around to make sure its ok. Once you start it you should be good.

Save that money and you can buy springs. Scew the photographer and make a friend do it, then you can get an ohlins =)

nd4spdbh · 02-05-2012, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boogunoogun

Screw the dj at the wedding. Lol. When you send the invites ask everyone for their 2 favorite songs. Then you and the wife go through and filter out the shitty ones, add your own, and make a smart playlist if you have an ipod. That way nothing repeats even if at some point in the wedding you want to skip to a certain song. Also have a friend around to make sure its ok. Once you start it you should be good.

Save that money and you can buy springs. Scew the photographer and make a friend do it, then you can get an ohlins =)

pff... just screw the woman all together... money WAY AHEAD!

AllanB · 02-05-2012, 03:42 PM

Actually the boys above have a point - there is nothing cheap about motorcycling so it would be good to ensure she fully understands this before you get married!