[billjab]

:blink: alright so i adjusted my front suspension useing the QUAD magazine article and it worked great. I am around 155-160 pounds and i got the front suspension set for my weight by backing the preload almost all the way out and messing with the compression and rebound. I realized after i did that, that i need to back my rear shock's preload way off too....theres only one problem ...the nut that locks the shock in place wont work with the tool for the front shock and i tried everything i could think of to loosen it but it won't budge....how did you guys get it loosened? thanks for your help

 

[Clone]

I get a long drift punch and beat on it with a hammer to loosen the locking nut.

 

[tlronny]

Sadly I do the same thing but it works !

 

[Clone]

Sadly I do the same thing but it works !
[/b]

Yeah, didn't really want to say it b/c that is pretty crude way of doing things, but it isn't that easy to get to........

 

[tlronny]

Sometimes if you only loosen the first locking ring you can actually turn the whole spring around by hand.
It helps to lift the bike off the ground too to take the tension off the shock.

 

[billjab]

yeah i took a screw driver and hammer n started hitting it but it didnt move....is a drift punch like the shock tool?

 

[tlronny]

Your screwdriver isnt big enough then - thats what I used !

 

[SandJunkie]

Just give it a tap with an axe

JUST KIDDING!!!

A drift punch is just a bigger version of a regular steel punch...imagine a 12" long tapered punch?...like that...we use them to line up holes on steel girders and stuff...

They should have them at Home Depot

 

[OKTRX450R]

They make shock tools? LOL!

Same here, drift punch and just knock the top lock ring loose...then as tlronny said spin the lower ring and shock spring together up the shaft.

 

[billjab]

haha sounds good cuz after i didnt mess with my suspension i came up short on a step up at my race yesterday and it threw me over my bars n i got ran over by my own quad haha so im definatly gonna get a drift punch to loosen this thing up n mess with my rebound too

 

[billjab]

alright i got it loose.....what are some of your settings for around 150- 160 pounds set up for mx? thanks

 

[tlronny]

Your shooting for around 3.5 inches of sag from fully topped out to you sitting on it.
This is only approx. remember !

 

[OKTRX450R]

alright i got it loose.....what are some of your settings for around 150- 160 pounds set up for mx? thanks
[/b]

Everyone likes the suspension a little different...I take a sharpie and put a mark on one of the tabs on the ring just above the spring...turn the ring 2 complete turns softer and tighten the upper ring back down. Go ride it...adjust as necessary.

Same with the comp and rebound...one complete turn in the direction I want, then ride, adjust from there.

Also, it really pays off to have a notebook and write down what you did each time and then comment after the ride...only adjust 1 thing at a time also. Preload / hi comp / low comp / rebound...only one at a time.