An oldie but a goodie (spring pre load)

[Huzo]

This is only directed at those who are unconvinced/undecided or disbelieving of the fact that winding on pre load does not compress the spring and stiffen the suspension.
While looking at this shock yesterday I thought how obvious it was that..
Winding the rings DOWNWARD does not compress the spring, but alternatively “pushes” the damper UPWARD.
As such, only increases ride height.
It can only alter the PRE LOAD if the damper has “topped out” and as such will only alter static sag.

[fotoguzzi]

This is only directed at those who are unconvinced/undecided or disbelieving of the fact

yet your title does not say anything about who it's directed at so even those other people have to open and read to find out it's not directed at them.   
How about a title like, suspension facts, believe it or not.

[Zoom Zoom]

I'm not sure I understand your point???

If the shock is fully extended to begin with, then the spring would in fact start being compressed as the preload is increased. A ruler would confirm that. OTOH, if the shock was not already at its full extended length, making the spring tighter would probably cause the shock to extend until it reaches its full length, then continued tightening would begin to compress the spring.

Am I missing something???

John Henry

edit: After re-reading your post, I think we agree...

[Huzo]

I'm not sure I understand your point???

If the shock is fully extended to begin with, then the spring would in fact start being compressed as the preload is increased. A ruler would confirm that. OTOH, if the shock was not already at its full extended length, making the spring tighter would probably cause the shock to extend until it reaches its full length, then continued tightening would begin to compress the spring.

Am I missing something???

John Henry

edit: After re-reading your post, I think we agree...

Yes.
If the shock is “topped out” then yes, the spring will compress with pre load but when your bike is sitting on it’s wheels without you on board, the shock is not topped out.
Winding on pre load will raise the damper body, therefore the top eye.....Therefore the ride height.
The compressed length of the spring will always be the same, but the eye to eye length will be changed.

[Sasquatch Jim]

You can't get sumpin for nutten.

[Huzo]

You can't get sumpin for nutten.

You’ll need to be clearer.
Shrouding a comment in smoke will not add to it’s validity. Adjusting pre load is not giving you sumpin, other than ride height alteration.
The performance of the spring is the same, but altering the preload has added or subtracted to the eye to eye length.
There is not one legitimate text book on the subject of shock performance that will tell you that increasing pre load will “stiffen” the spring rate.
You can not produce it because it does not exist..

[Huzo]

yet your title does not say anything about who it's directed at so even those other people have to open and read to find out it's not directed at them.   
How about a title like, suspension facts, believe it or not.

Nup..
I like this one.

[LowRyter]

What kind of microscope do you recommend for me to count the angels on point of a needle?  Optical?  Electron?  Laser scan?  MRI?

[bad Chad]

Ugh.

[Ncdan]

This is a great topic for me as I have never been completely comfortable with understanding how much to adjust my rear spring shocks, in what direction, to accomplish what outcome necessary for what purpose of riding (this in itself is confusing, no?)
Seriously, you knowledgeable guys here give me something to work with on the subject. Thanks

Dan

[larrys]

This is only directed at those who are unconvinced/undecided or disbelieving of the fact that winding on pre load does not compress the spring and stiffen the suspension.
While looking at this shock yesterday I thought how obvious it was that..
Winding the rings DOWNWARD does not compress the spring, but alternatively “pushes” the damper UPWARD.
As such, only increases ride height.
It can only alter the PRE LOAD if the damper has “topped out” and as such will only alter static sag.

 

Well, everything in OZ is upside down...
Be well,
Larry

[Huzo]

What kind of microscope do you recommend for me to count the angels on point of a needle?  Optical?  Electron?  Laser scan?  MRI?

If you want to count angels, you could just go to heaven and ask to see the records..
 Now when counting angles..? Well, as Dorothy said...”I really can’t say..”
There may be some schooling required here.
Do you mean Magnetic Resonance Microscopy...? (MRM)
MRI is actually Magnetic Resonance Imagery...Beetle would be a good bloke to ask..