Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 11:52:00 -0700
Reply-To: "Steven X. Schwenk" <sxs@SCHWENK-LAW.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: "Steven X. Schwenk" <sxs@SCHWENK-LAW.COM>
Subject: Re: Spring spacers
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Jim:
Increasing the spring length will not increase suspension travel. Travel is
determined by the length of the stroke of the shock. Streaching the spring will
have the same effect as inserting a spacer. By adding a spacer, you are really
lengthing the spring by the thickness of the spacer, although stretching the
spring will result in different spring stiffness properities than adding a
spacer...not sure exactly how they would differ....but it would seem that a 12"
spring with a 1" spacer would be stiffer than the same 12" spring streached into
13" spring.
My Yamaha 250 YZ has about 13" of travel front and rear. Nevertheless, adjusting
spring preload on the rear shock is critical to obtaining proper suspension
performance. This adjustment will vary depending on track conditions, rider
weight, riding style, etc. There is no one-size-fits-all spring pre-load
adjustment, whether on a race bike or a syncro. All I want to do is make the
same adjustment on my syncro for my use that I do on my motocross bike, which
calls for a somewhat stiffer and more balanced adjustment than the factory
provides....nothing radical, just fine tuning. Since there is no adjustment on
the syncro, the easiest and cheapest way to adjust pre-load is to insert a spacer,
which slightly compresses the spring thereby stiffening it and thus also
decreasing the suspension sag, or vehicle height when loaded.
I would not want to venture lengtheing the suspension travel on a syncro. This
would be a very complex and expensive thing to do, if done properly.
steve
Jim Arnott wrote:
> Well, if you're buying new springs, which WILL be custom, have them made the
> way you want them. Or, of course, one could fab up Vanagon weight jackers...
> Honestly though, if I were 1.) a syncro owner, and 2.) was unhappy with V.A.Gs
> idea of suspension, I'd just increase the spring length. For really gnarly
> stuff, one wants a soft long travel suspension with properly valved shocks.
> (See the current crop of motocross motorcycles...)
>
> Regards,
>
> Jim
>
> Steven X. Schwenk wrote:
>
> > I agree completely, Jim. Two points, though. Would you have a custom
> > spring made for each wheel...since the weight on each wheel is
> > different...or would you get one weight spring and fine tune each wheel like
> > tha NASCAR guys by adjusting pre-load? Either way, I think you're talking
> > about $800 for four new springs.
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