Spring preload question
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: 48.067222,12.863611
Spring preload question
Okay, trying to set up my ohlins shocks for a solo trip....
Increasing the spring preload increases ride height, does this mean that if I'm adding more weight, I'd need to increase the preload from where I currently have it?
If I increase the spring preload, is the collar getting closer to the top of the shock (lengthening the spring)....I feel stupid right now.....
Increasing the spring preload increases ride height, does this mean that if I'm adding more weight, I'd need to increase the preload from where I currently have it?
If I increase the spring preload, is the collar getting closer to the top of the shock (lengthening the spring)....I feel stupid right now.....
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,741
Likes: 45
From: Indian Land, SC
Okay, trying to set up my ohlins shocks for a solo trip....
Increasing the spring preload increases ride height, does this mean that if I'm adding more weight, I'd need to increase the preload from where I currently have it?
If I increase the spring preload, is the collar getting closer to the top of the shock (lengthening the spring)....I feel stupid right now.....
Increasing the spring preload increases ride height, does this mean that if I'm adding more weight, I'd need to increase the preload from where I currently have it?
If I increase the spring preload, is the collar getting closer to the top of the shock (lengthening the spring)....I feel stupid right now.....
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: Livermore, CA
Best of luck!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
Okay, trying to set up my ohlins shocks for a solo trip....
Increasing the spring preload increases ride height, does this mean that if I'm adding more weight, I'd need to increase the preload from where I currently have it?
If I increase the spring preload, is the collar getting closer to the top of the shock (lengthening the spring)....I feel stupid right now.....
Increasing the spring preload increases ride height, does this mean that if I'm adding more weight, I'd need to increase the preload from where I currently have it?
If I increase the spring preload, is the collar getting closer to the top of the shock (lengthening the spring)....I feel stupid right now.....
You adjust the preload the same way you did the first time. Remember? You adjust it so that your rider sag is about 1/3 of the total travel of the Ohlins piston.
My #6 Ohlins have around 93 mm of travel. You want to adjust the preload on the shocks as a function of the fully extended shock (with rear wheel off the ground) versus you and all your gear on the bike with the rear wheel on the ground. So you want to measure from center to center of the mounting bolts with the rear wheel off the ground, then take another measurement with the rear wheel on the ground with you and all your trip weight firmly on the bike (this is called rider sag). You want to adjust the preload to where the difference between these two measurements is about 31 mm, or 1/3 of the total travel of the shock piston. My wife helped me with the measurements, because it's pretty difficult to do it yourself with any degree of accuracy. Not saying it can't be done alone, but another person measuring makes for more accurate measurements and much less time spent in the process.
This is all from memory so I hope I have not screwed up this procedure for you but if I have, I am sure Howard will come in and straighten me out.
And don't feel stupid, no reason to feel that way because you are not stupid. You own Ohlins don't you?
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 529
Likes: 1
From: Illinois
Glad this was brought up, I gotta mess with mine to , I've lost bout 50 lbs. bout 2 weeks goin on a 14 day trip thinking by the time I get er loaded up with the wife's stuff in the rack bag and tools I might be where I need to be tell I get back, but I haven't checked them since I put them on last summer.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: 48.067222,12.863611
fffff
You adjust the preload the same way you did the first time. Remember? You adjust it so that your rider sag is about 1/3 of the total travel of the Ohlins piston.
My #6 Ohlins have around 93 mm of travel. You want to adjust the preload on the shocks as a function of the fully extended shock (with rear wheel off the ground) versus you and all your gear on the bike with the rear wheel on the ground. So you want to measure from center to center of the mounting bolts with the rear wheel off the ground, then take another measurement with the rear wheel on the ground with you and all your trip weight firmly on the bike (this is called rider sag). You want to adjust the preload to where the difference between these two measurements is about 31 mm, or 1/3 of the total travel of the shock piston. My wife helped me with the measurements, because it's pretty difficult to do it yourself with any degree of accuracy. Not saying it can't be done alone, but another person measuring makes for more accurate measurements and much less time spent in the process.
This is all from memory so I hope I have not screwed up this procedure for you but if I have, I am sure Howard will come in and straighten me out.
And don't feel stupid, no reason to feel that way because you are not stupid. You own Ohlins don't you?
My #6 Ohlins have around 93 mm of travel. You want to adjust the preload on the shocks as a function of the fully extended shock (with rear wheel off the ground) versus you and all your gear on the bike with the rear wheel on the ground. So you want to measure from center to center of the mounting bolts with the rear wheel off the ground, then take another measurement with the rear wheel on the ground with you and all your trip weight firmly on the bike (this is called rider sag). You want to adjust the preload to where the difference between these two measurements is about 31 mm, or 1/3 of the total travel of the shock piston. My wife helped me with the measurements, because it's pretty difficult to do it yourself with any degree of accuracy. Not saying it can't be done alone, but another person measuring makes for more accurate measurements and much less time spent in the process.
This is all from memory so I hope I have not screwed up this procedure for you but if I have, I am sure Howard will come in and straighten me out.
And don't feel stupid, no reason to feel that way because you are not stupid. You own Ohlins don't you?
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
If you ride 2 up most of the time should I have the wife on back when I check the rider sag. I want to thank ruff for starting this thread. The info is helping me hope it is helping him.
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