Fork preload

[sam097]

Took apart my 45mm shivers and they had a 5mm preload spacer on them. I noticed the spring had no preload on it when I took it apart. I have now set the oil level and reassembled the forks with the 5mm preload spacer and the spring doesn't have any tension on it in the tube. I screwed it back together and the fork has about 1/4" of slop in it before the spring starts to compress. You can hear it sliding in the top cap. The springs are .45's and they are 460mm long like the manual lists. What's going on here or am I misunderstanding preload???

[sam097]

I figured it out. I hadn't assembled the other fork yet and when I did I took few measurements and found a discrepancy. There is a spring in the inner tube that didn't fall out when I took them apart. The spring is missing in the fork in question and that's why there isn't any preload.

[motopsycho87]

That's pretty weird. I'm certain mine don't have additional springs...

[sam097]

Originally Posted by motopsycho87

That's pretty weird. I'm certain mine don't have additional springs...

Take a good look next time you have them apart. I couldn't get it to fall out, even after a good cleaning. Its up inside the aluminum tube that houses the rebound valve and its a fairly stout spring. I'm really enjoying how easy these forks are to work on.

[motopsycho87]

part 28 is marked "rebound spring" that what you mean? looks tiny!

[sam097]

Yeah that has to be it. It looks tiny in pic but its pretty sturdy. Thick coil winding. Keep an eye out for it next time you tear down.