[zedro]

There is only one true way to know that your DHX is set up correctly and working properly....

You should feel a big CLUNK about 1/3 into travel, and upon rebound. Then, AND ONLY THEN...will your DHX be performing at an optimal level(like the rest of ours).


(patiently waiting for Push fix kit)

does that happen when you sit (or push) on the bike and it happens when the damper settles and again when you release it? cause mine only does that in that case with slow movements, not a big clunk but something. I have a feeling it has something to do with the ProPedal valve thingy opening and closing. I dont feel it at all on the trail tho.

 

[OGRipper]

Thrillseeka, listen to zedro.

You shouldn't need to "accept" too much sag, especially for your kind of riding. The shock doesn't sag too much by design, it sags too much if your spring is too light.

If you follow the order of set up you will find out soon enough if you need a heavier spring. If it sags too much (without cranking up the damping), I'd say get a heavier spring.

Sounds like you're compensating for a light spring by using too much propedal. Like Z said, that's cool if you like it that way, but (with all respect) it also sounds like this is your first complex shock and you might not really have the knowledge to make that call. I suggest following the recommended set up (and getting a heavier spring if needed) so you know what that feels like, then making the informed decision for yourself that you like it set up another way. It can be a pain in the butt short term (lots of trial and error) but tinkering is part of game (and part of the fun for some, including me!). Lots of folks really crank up their damping for dirt jumping, but they also often run heavier springs than manufacturer's recommendations.

 

[Curb Hucker]

On a related note....does a titanium spring do anything other than save weight. I know the DHX5 is available with a titanium spring but I don't want to splurge if it just bling!

Boner

A Ti spring looks cooler , but besides weight it does have a more reactive feel to it. If youre racing or concerned about weight I see it as a good investment.

As said below, a shock will behave right only, and only when you have the right spring rate for your weight and what youre going to be doing. If youre racing, but also use the bike for freeride/drops its probably wise to invest another $30 in a 2nd spring. Or you could be cool like me and have 3 springs

My DHX comes next monday, cant wait

 

[DirtEveryDay]

This all sounds good, guys! And don't worry about "hurting my feeling" by calling me a novice, I AM! I can take it.
Now...who's got a 500lb spring?
Oh, and where is actually a good place to buy them? Fox apparently doesn't have a mtn. bike area on their site. I'll callmy boy at the DropNZone and see what he's got for me.

 

[Curb Hucker]

call 801-474-0081 for Go-Ride, or 800-369-7469 for Fox to get yourself a spring

 

[DirtEveryDay]

OH, also, what do you all consider "too much sag??" Right now, the bike squats about 1 1/2" to 2" when I sit on it. And like I said, the adjuster is half way down the body. From what others have said, I shouldn't need much more than a half dozen turns max to get what I need.
And I don't race. I only freeride, huck, jump gaps, and urban. And my idea of urban is 20step stair set gaps, 6' to flats and garage drops! I of course love smaller, more technical stuff, but just wanted to state what this poor shock is in for. Of course, I've been doing on a HT, so all should be well now!

 

[Alloy]

OH, also, what do you all consider "too much sag??" Right now, the bike squats about 1 1/2" to 2" when I sit on it. And like I said, the adjuster is half way down the body. From what others have said, I shouldn't need much more than a half dozen turns max to get what I need.
And I don't race. I only freeride, huck, jump gaps, and urban. And my idea of urban is 20step stair set gaps, 6' to flats and garage drops! I of course love smaller, more technical stuff, but just wanted to state what this poor shock is in for. Of course, I've been doing on a HT, so all should be well now!

Most people try to keep sag in the 25% to 35% range depending on how you ride and what kind of bike your have. For DH 35 is considered on the high end of the spectrum although some guys claim they run more. Generally anything over 35% is usually considered too much. Right now I'm running about 30%
Which would be about 2.3 inches on my 7.5" travel bike.

So if your running 1.5 to 2 a seven inch bike, that should be about right.

 

[Jm_]

OH, also, what do you all consider "too much sag??" Right now, the bike squats about 1 1/2" to 2" when I sit on it. And like I said, the adjuster is half way down the body. From what others have said, I shouldn't need much more than a half dozen turns max to get what I need.
And I don't race. I only freeride, huck, jump gaps, and urban. And my idea of urban is 20step stair set gaps, 6' to flats and garage drops! I of course love smaller, more technical stuff, but just wanted to state what this poor shock is in for. Of course, I've been doing on a HT, so all should be well now!

And how many turns of preload did you use to acheive this?

 

[DirtEveryDay]

And how many turns of preload did you use to acheive this?

Don't know..lost count. Seriously, my crew was in such a rush to hit a new dropzone I found that I only had time press in the headset and throw the front fork on a virgin Yeti frame, and finished EVERYTHING else in a pasture! Including bleeding the brakes, running cable, and even installing the bb/cranks! Not too bad I must say, and not one scratch! So, I was a bit hurried when it came to setting up the shock. No directions, no starting reference points, nuthin'. But my crew had fun...

Alloy: That's why I asked how much sag is acceptable, I always thought an inch was on the max end of the spectrum, for urban/freeeride rigs, anyway.
The thing that still bugs me the most is that when I had the Dirtbag, you sit on it, it squats, and pretty much just holds it's position right there. This Yeti is different. I can sit on it and it squats, I wiggle and it seems to squat more, I lean back and it squats more. That's the one thing making me think it needs a stiffer spring.
Is there a "break in period" for the DHX? I don't thinkso, but I've been wrong about everything else...

 

[Jm_]

Don't know..lost count

As I expected.

 

[Curb Hucker]

if youre going to be riding like me, and trying to destroy your bike, its very improtant for the sake of your shock to have the perfect spring. For your type of riding i'd recommend 20-25% of sag. This is with min. air volume and 2 turns or so of preload. To measure sag accurately when mounted on the bike measure the distance of the compressed shock, and divide that by the un-loaded length of the shock

 

[DirtEveryDay]

As I expected.

Like it matters? How many turns "in" from where??? It's not like it came perfectly set up for me, it came INSTALLED ON THE SHOCK. I just started cranking it in until I got it up to 2" of sag. Jeez, it squatted so much at first that I felt I needed to leave the bars loose as they would just spin in my hands when I sat on it.

 

[DirtEveryDay]

...This is with min. air volume and 2 turns or so of preload.

That's almost exactly how my Dirtbag was. It was nice.

 

[Jm_]

Like it matters? How many turns "in" from where??? It's not like it came perfectly set up for me, it came INSTALLED ON THE SHOCK. I just started cranking it in until I got it up to 2" of sag. Jeez, it squatted so much at first that I felt I needed to leave the bars loose as they would just spin in my hands when I sat on it.

I could explain this to you...but you've already burnt me out..

have fun snapping your spring in two and breaking the shock...

 

[zedro]

Like it matters? How many turns "in" from where??? It's not like it came perfectly set up for me, it came INSTALLED ON THE SHOCK. I just started cranking it in until I got it up to 2" of sag. Jeez, it squatted so much at first that I felt I needed to leave the bars loose as they would just spin in my hands when I sat on it.

there is a maximum amount of preload before you overstress the spring, and take yourself out of the proper spring rate. The amount you can preload depens on the spring manufacturer, so check the manual.

 

[DirtEveryDay]

That's why I'm not riding the bike and asked if I need a stiffer spring!!! Geez!

And I'm not sure what JM is "burnt out " on, he didn't bring a whole lot to the converstion....a little short on staying power, huh buddy?

 

[Curb Hucker]

preload starts when the ring is screwed on enough so the spring doesnt rattle and is snug in the collars. If you need 6 turns of preload you definatly need a bigger spring. Buy a 500 I bet that will solve your problems

 

[The Kadvang]

I try to use little to no preload at all... like vv said, just enough so the spring is snug.

 

[DirtEveryDay]

preload starts when the ring is screwed on enough so the spring doesnt rattle and is snug in the collars. If you need 6 turns of preload you definatly need a bigger spring. Buy a 500 I bet that will solve your problems

Now THAT is EXACTLY the only thing I needed to know. I just didn't know to ask that! Yes, it's definately 6 turns past spring contact. But I HAVE backed it off quite a bit as I started understanding the other functions of the shock, so I'll check again, but it's definately still way to tight.

 

[zedro]

Now THAT is EXACTLY the only thing I needed to know. I just didn't know to ask that! Yes, it's definately 6 turns past spring contact. But I HAVE backed it off quite a bit as I started understanding the other functions of the shock, so I'll check again, but it's definately still way to tight.

Fox recommends between 1 and 3 turns of the preload collar, Manitou springs for example limits from 1mm to 8mm. If you really want to be sure of your preload settings, measure the free spring length, then install the spring and preload until its 1mm shorter (as a minimum setting). After that you can start counting the turns.

 

[Dusty Bottoms]

does that happen when you sit (or push) on the bike and it happens when the damper settles and again when you release it? cause mine only does that in that case with slow movements, not a big clunk but something. I have a feeling it has something to do with the ProPedal valve thingy opening and closing. I dont feel it at all on the trail tho.

Yes, it's mostly a slow speed thing, but I only ride in paking lots so it really affects my game. Kidding aside, I don't think it's a bad thing to want "the latest and greatest" shock to work without residual noise/vibration, after all we paid a lot of coin for these!

Anyway, there is a big long thread about this issue on the link below, apparently a few people have already sent theirs back to Fox for a fix, and received them back only to have the clunk return in a 1/2 mile. Push is also on the case and should have a fix sometime next month. I'll likely wait for Push, can't beat the turn time.

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=61888

 

[zedro]

Yes, it's mostly a slow speed thing, but I only ride in paking lots so it really affects my game. Kidding aside, I don't think it's a bad thing to want "the latest and greatest" shock to work without residual noise/vibration, after all we paid a lot of coin for these!

i agree. I actually just assumed it was an oddity in my linkage system before you brouht it up.

 

[ohio]

Jesus christ, just get the heavier spring. How many times do people have to say it? YOU NEED A HEAVIER SPRING. This thread should have died after 3 posts.

 

[leprechaun]

I feel kinda bad posting so late in this tired story too,but i have the same bike and shock.
-Get the stiffer spring asap.
-I am 130 lbs and run the 400lb spring.I am running 30% sag with 1 mm preload.
-We have springs in stock here.
Go 500lbs.If you are just jumping and urban use the 500 and thread in the large blue bottom adjuster all the way in.Heck run lots of pressure for big drops too.Then you can deflate it when doing DH runs or rough trail.
-You can use a Manitou,or Progressive spring,but not a Fox Vanilla one.
-Listen to Zedro.
-Then go huck yourself.

Krispy

 

[Jm_]

Jesus christ, just get the heavier spring. How many times do people have to say it? YOU NEED A HEAVIER SPRING. This thread should have died after 3 posts.

This guy understands my pain!

 

[zedro]

-You can use a Manitou,or Progressive spring,but not a Fox Vanilla one.

Krispy

did your coils not physically fit? or is there another issue? because my Vanilla RC spring (500x2.8) fit the DHXs collars perfectly. I found the Manitou spring a bit too loose for comfort, so i shimmed the ID with some tape on the upper collar and wire on the lower.

 

[DirtEveryDay]

Jesus christ, just get the heavier spring. How many times do people have to say it? YOU NEED A HEAVIER SPRING. This thread should have died after 3 posts.

Eat me, the spring was in the mail before my last post, I was still trying to "learn" my shock. But thanks for the useful input.

Oh, and threads don't die if...YOU POST ON THEM, so thanks for keeping it alive!

 

[DirtEveryDay]

I feel kinda bad posting so late in this tired story too,but i have the same bike and shock.
-Get the stiffer spring asap.
-I am 130 lbs and run the 400lb spring.I am running 30% sag with 1 mm preload.
-We have springs in stock here.
Go 500lbs.If you are just jumping and urban use the 500 and thread in the large blue bottom adjuster all the way in.Heck run lots of pressure for big drops too.Then you can deflate it when doing DH runs or rough trail.
-You can use a Manitou,or Progressive spring,but not a Fox Vanilla one.
-Listen to Zedro.
-Then go huck yourself.

Krispy

Thanks, Krisp, nice to hear from someone with the same rig.

I really don't feel bad if this story was tiring, though. I learned a bunch from those that actually took the time. Peeps saying "get a stiffer spring" doesn't educate me on the shock much, does it? So thanks to those who ACTUALLY know what they are talking about! I would still like to know more, but apparently, it's not worth trying to learn here.