Can I "Borrow" a coil spring....

[Dino Brown]

I am in the market for a Titanium coil spring!

Before laying down the cash, I would like to make 100% certain I am purchasing the correct spring.

Does anyone have an extra (400# x 2.5/2.7 (and/or) 450# x 2.5/2.7)
STEEL coil spring they would be willing to lend me for a day or two?

*** I assure you, the bike will not see dirt.
Simply want to pedal "it/them" around the neighborhood!
Hell, I could even pedal it around *YOUR* neighborhood!

The shock is a Manitou Swinger 6 way
My weight 175-180 w/gear

Thank you in advance!

Yes! The kind deed will earn you a free lunch (beer will be included).

[2wheel_lee]

You have a PM. I didn't mention that I also have a couple 400# steel springs, but I'd bet that they are too light for you (I ran a 500 on my VPX, and Jason now runs a 450).

[Dino Brown]

According to the Intense website, I would need a 400# spring (weight/sag)
According to a coil spring calculator, I could use either 400 or 450#...

Is the coil 400 X 2.5... 2.75?

[2wheel_lee]

Intense's spring recommendations have rarely ever been accurate for anyone (actually no one that I know of).

Since your shock has a 2.5" stroke, you want a spring that says 2.75" or 2.8". This allows you to turn in the preload adjuster and not bottom out the spring.

[doublewide]

Originally Posted by 2wheel_lee

Intense's spring recommendations have rarely ever been accurate for anyone (actually no one that I know of).

Since your shock has a 2.5" stroke, you want a spring that says 2.75" or 2.8". This allows you to turn in the preload adjuster and not bottom out the spring.

2wheel lee-a-pedia. I bet you that you have forgotten more info than i know!


shitty

[mtnbikerfred]

Dino,

You want to run the lightest spring with as little pre-load possible to get you to ≈25% sag. What this means is your spring rate will not be "stacking up" as much as you go through the travel, so you'll have a nice smooth, controllable rebound like this....


Lee's right (as usual). If you run too light or too short a spring, you'll take away travel with pre-load. Ever notice how much longer the springs "free length" is than it's "rated length"? Not can you bottom the spring out before the shock is fully compressed, but the rate starts going up (quickly) as you pass the rated length.

I calculated 483lbs for you. I'd start with the 500lb rated spring.

[Dino Brown]

Originally Posted by mtnbikerfred

I calculated 483lbs for you. I'd start with the 500lb rated spring.

Thanks for the 411 Fred!
Truth be told, the 500lb. spring is way too stiff. I can barely compress it!

Here is what I came up with:

**180lb x 2.5 stroke x 7.7"travel x 25%SAG= 550lb! NO WAY!!!

** Intense "Official" recommendations: 180/2.5/7.7"/33%= 400lb.

** Somewhere in the middle... 180/2.5/7.7/30%= 450lb spring!

** Another option: 180/2.7/7.7/30= 400lb

** Yet another option: 180/2.7/7.7/33%sag= 350lb.

Best thing to do is borrow/purchase a STEEL coil and figure it out from there. May pick one up before the BMX trip tomorrow. You *WILL* be joining us- won't you Fred!!!

[stjunkie]

Originally Posted by Dino Brown

According to the Intense website,

Wait a second, did you say "Intense". This can't be true. I don't remember seeing the sky falling on my ride into work today.

[Dino Brown]

Originally Posted by stjunkie

Wait a second, did you say "Intense". This can't be true.
I don't remember seeing the sky falling on my ride into work today.

Uhhh.... I can explain!


I'm sooo screwed!

[mtnbikerfred]

OK. Assuming you're not lying about your weight... I had the travel/ratio wrong. Calculated weight is 403lbs.

A 450lb spring @33% sag will require .71" of pre-load. A 400lb will require .81". Make sure the spring is rated at least that much longer than the shock travel and Bob's your uncle.

Something else to consider From Fox Racing:
Correction For Suspension Progression

Anything plus or minus (±) 7% can be ignored.

• Rising Rate (7% - 15%): subtract 50 lbs.
• Extreme Rising Rate - rare (15% - 25%): subtract 100 lbs.
• Falling Rate (7% - 15%): add 50 lbs.
• Extreme Falling Rate - common (15% - 25%): add 100 lbs.

Or, simply ride with the calculated spring rate and let personal preferences make your determination.

[RacinJason]

Ok Dino

Here is the deal . You can use either a 400 or a 450 spring.
With the 450 you will use no preload to get the sag you want. and you will have no option to go softer.
With the 400 you will dial it in 2-4 turns to get your recommended sag.

You have to figure out your average weight that you will be when using the bike
with all of your gear on that you plan on wearing.

How did my bike feel with the 450 on it. I am 185 -187 lbs in race mode and 190-195 lbs in XC mode with a camel back and spare tubes and pump and tools on me.

All brands and materials are different so borrowing springs will just wast your time. Unless you borrow the exact spring you are going to buy.
I have even had 2 springs from the same mfg that are from different batches turn out to be different. You would have to have a spring scale to really know.

I have steel springs all over the place at my house but they wont help us set up your bike.

[2wheel_lee]

Originally Posted by doublewide

2wheel lee-a-pedia. I bet you that you have forgotten more info than i know!


shitty

Have you been talking to my girlfriend? She constantly teases me about how much stuff I forget. Honestly, I know my memory is really bad. Oddly, I have a knack for remembering technical details. Admittedly, I can't tell you all about the different sizes of cotter pins used on many older crank arms used back in the 70s and early 80s - that has since escaped me.