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springs
cjtheman - 13/2/09 at 12:22 PM

hi all
i just finished giving my spax shocks a bit of touch up
i have got spring compressors for car springs but they wont fit
any locost method of putting springs back on the shocks without damaging paint
cheers
colin

[Edited on 13/2/09 by cjtheman] Rescued attachment shock.JPG
Rescued attachment shock.JPG

r1_pete - 13/2/09 at 12:29 PM

I made a device for putting bike shox back together from a mastic tube gun.

basically cut the fixed end off, looped the legs over to grip the springs, plus a bit of cloth and jubilee clips to keep everything straight. The pumped untill the end would screw on the shock.

[Edited on 13/2/09 by r1_pete]

thunderace - 13/2/09 at 12:31 PM

how did you get them off?
if its not a lot use two ratchet straps from £ shop.

britishtrident - 13/2/09 at 03:34 PM

Provided you don't need to compress the spring too much heavy duty cable ties but take care.

nitram38 - 13/2/09 at 05:33 PM

If you have to compress the springs to get them on, then you have the wrong springs......

SPYDER - 13/2/09 at 05:54 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nitram38
If you have to compress the springs to get them on, then you have the wrong springs......


Possibly incorrect but I can see where you are coming from ie. preload of the springs.
I had springs made to specific length for our Phoenix and then made our own top and bottom caps in order that they fit exactly with no preload and no slack either.
Fitting the spring still requires around 15mm or so of spring compression in order to locate the slotted end cap thingy.
This may also be the case with the OP.
We have a custom made compression device specifically designed for bike shocks.
If the springs only require a small amount of compression then I would try the ratchet strap idea already suggested.
Geoff.

[Edited on 13/2/09 by SPYDER]

cjtheman - 13/2/09 at 06:44 PM

thanks for your replies
i need to compress aprox 1" or so
and the bloody springs are solid
will try ideas above and let you know how i get on
cheers
colin

SPYDER - 13/2/09 at 06:59 PM

quote:
Originally posted by cjtheman
......
i need to compress aprox 1" or so
and the bloody springs are solid...
cheers
colin


If you need to compress them that far then you may indeed have incorrect springs. You could be introducing a significant amount of preload as nitram38 suggested.
Are they the springs you took off?
Geoff.

cjtheman - 13/2/09 at 08:10 PM

yes they were the spring i took off
so what size spring should you have on there
if i had say 10" between hole centres what length spring would i need
just so i can check when i go in the shed tomorrow
cheers
colin