fox dhx 3.0 spring weight

Mike E · 02-17-2005, 04:11 AM

I have been looking and looking but no luck. Wondering if people out there can help me figure out the needed spring weight for me. I have a Norco 6 with a dhx 3.0 (#550). I weigh about 150 with gear. What spring weights are people running specifically with their norcos

TIA

IFO · 02-17-2005, 06:01 AM

doesnt your Norco come with a owners manual ???
it should list it...

if not contact Norco they will have a answer for you.

switch · 02-17-2005, 07:31 AM

If I were a bettin' man, I'd bet the 550# is as much spring as you'll need.

Why don't more companies put tech specs on their site. There are some that have application guides, and I don't see why Norco doesn't have one.

Millstone · 02-17-2005, 08:38 AM

550 is more than enough I would think. Check your sag, set your preload. It's all in the owners manual for the shock. Or should be. If you didn't get the manual go back to the shop and ask for it.

Mike E · 02-17-2005, 05:03 PM

Thanks for the replies. Purchased bike used so no manual.

I was thinking that it would be too much as well. It is hard measuring the sag on a coil shock on your own.

I am also having some difficulty understanding how to set the preload. I know that I really should not be more turning the preload washer(??) more than two turns after it seats on the spring. However, when I back out the spacer, the shock tends to slowly compress down to the spring because of the weight of the bike no matter how far I back the washer out. I hope this is not confusing people? I just don't get a sense of where 0 turns of the washer is.

corey@nsmb.com · 02-17-2005, 06:03 PM

I bet Fox has some guidelines for rider weight and spring weight.

Otherwise, it's really the shops job to ensure the bike you buy leaves set up for you. Sending you out the door on an over or under sprung bike is brutal, they should (and do) talk with you and make sure you are set up properly before you leave.

In the case of a used bike, you are on your own. Do a little research on the web...I don't think I've ever seen a bike manufacturer provide spring weight set up data for any bike, it seems to fall on the suspension manufacturer.

corey@nsmb.com · 02-17-2005, 06:08 PM

4by, you gotta go to the Fox website and do some reading. All of your questions can be answered, and all of the terminology is explained and detailed.

You are only going to get a bunch of opinions here, if you want the real deal, get it from the horses mouth. It will save you time and make this a heck of a lot easier for ya to understand.

Mike E · 02-17-2005, 06:23 PM

I thought I have read it over carefully (website). I don't recall that they posted suggested spring weights for their coil shocks. I wonder if it is because each bike has different leverage ratios.

I also don't recall that it addressed my question about how the shock would just settle into the spring and start to compress the spring no matter how far the preload washer is turn out

I will look again

switch · 02-18-2005, 03:16 AM

Check out this PDF file. It has all the information you need about setting the shock up. Go to page 14, and read carefully from there.

Mike E · 02-18-2005, 03:38 AM

Thanks for the suggestion but I would like people to know that I did do my homework and that I would still like to hear what spring rate people are running on their 4 bar suspension bikes as the website is not helpful in that way. Please include your weight

switch · 02-18-2005, 09:22 AM

On my Kona Coiler, with 5" of travel and a 7.75x2.0 shock, I run a 550lb spring. I weigh 230lbs.

The 2005 Coiler has 6" of travel, and the same shock, so I'd probably run a higher spring rate as the leverage ratio is higher.

jeremyb · 02-21-2005, 05:48 AM

Okies, from Norco's website they put it as a 5.5" to 6.5" adj travel bike, FOX DHX-3 7.857x2" coil shock

Using the ever helpful spring rate calculator from MTBR:

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.ph...alculator+V5.0

For your weight you'd need:

5.5" 350lb
6.0" 400lb
6.5" 450lb

This calculator is really accurate, it said I needed a 450 for my almost 200lbs on a 7" bike with a 2.5" Swinger 4way and it was dead on, those figures are assuming a ~30-35% sag, which is basically ideal for DH riding

Mike E · 02-21-2005, 06:17 AM

Thanks a bunch. That is what I am looking for. Buy you a beer next time you are in town.

jeremyb · 02-21-2005, 07:46 PM

Sweeet, tis a long ride from New Zealand but I hope to make it one day!!

02-17-2005, 04:11 AM	#1
Mike E Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 205 Rep Power: 2812	fox dhx 3.0 spring weight I have been looking and looking but no luck. Wondering if people out there can help me figure out the needed spring weight for me. I have a Norco 6 with a dhx 3.0 (#550). I weigh about 150 with gear. What spring weights are people running specifically with their norcos TIA

02-17-2005, 07:31 AM	#3
switch two foot hucker Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Old Buck Posts: 30,095 Rep Power: 13897290	If I were a bettin' man, I'd bet the 550# is as much spring as you'll need. Why don't more companies put tech specs on their site. There are some that have application guides, and I don't see why Norco doesn't have one. __________________ It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities. - Josiah Stamp Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race. - H.G. Wells

02-18-2005, 03:16 AM	#9
switch two foot hucker Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Old Buck Posts: 30,095 Rep Power: 13897290	Check out this PDF file. It has all the information you need about setting the shock up. Go to page 14, and read carefully from there. __________________ It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities. - Josiah Stamp Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race. - H.G. Wells

02-18-2005, 09:22 AM	#11
switch two foot hucker Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Old Buck Posts: 30,095 Rep Power: 13897290	On my Kona Coiler, with 5" of travel and a 7.75x2.0 shock, I run a 550lb spring. I weigh 230lbs. The 2005 Coiler has 6" of travel, and the same shock, so I'd probably run a higher spring rate as the leverage ratio is higher. __________________ It is easy to dodge our responsibilities, but we cannot dodge the consequences of dodging our responsibilities. - Josiah Stamp Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race. - H.G. Wells

02-21-2005, 05:48 AM	#12
jeremyb Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 173 Rep Power: 10	Okies, from Norco's website they put it as a 5.5" to 6.5" adj travel bike, FOX DHX-3 7.857x2" coil shock Using the ever helpful spring rate calculator from MTBR: http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.ph...alculator+V5.0 For your weight you'd need: 5.5" 350lb 6.0" 400lb 6.5" 450lb This calculator is really accurate, it said I needed a 450 for my almost 200lbs on a 7" bike with a 2.5" Swinger 4way and it was dead on, those figures are assuming a ~30-35% sag, which is basically ideal for DH riding __________________ Dropin Series IV http://dropin.vorb.org.nz New Zealand Mountain Bike http://www.vorb.org.nz

02-17-2005, 06:01 AM	#2
IFO Cove STD goodness...Yummy Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 13,653 Rep Power: 4442274	doesnt your Norco come with a owners manual ??? it should list it... if not contact Norco they will have a answer for you.

02-17-2005, 08:38 AM	#4
Millstone Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 2,585 Rep Power: 0	550 is more than enough I would think. Check your sag, set your preload. It's all in the owners manual for the shock. Or should be. If you didn't get the manual go back to the shop and ask for it.

02-17-2005, 05:03 PM	#5
Mike E Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 205 Rep Power: 2812	Thanks for the replies. Purchased bike used so no manual. I was thinking that it would be too much as well. It is hard measuring the sag on a coil shock on your own. I am also having some difficulty understanding how to set the preload. I know that I really should not be more turning the preload washer(??) more than two turns after it seats on the spring. However, when I back out the spacer, the shock tends to slowly compress down to the spring because of the weight of the bike no matter how far I back the washer out. I hope this is not confusing people? I just don't get a sense of where 0 turns of the washer is.

02-17-2005, 06:03 PM	#6
corey@nsmb.com I want to ride. Join Date: Dec 1977 Location: The Darkside Posts: 10,543 Rep Power: 666	I bet Fox has some guidelines for rider weight and spring weight. Otherwise, it's really the shops job to ensure the bike you buy leaves set up for you. Sending you out the door on an over or under sprung bike is brutal, they should (and do) talk with you and make sure you are set up properly before you leave. In the case of a used bike, you are on your own. Do a little research on the web...I don't think I've ever seen a bike manufacturer provide spring weight set up data for any bike, it seems to fall on the suspension manufacturer.

02-17-2005, 06:08 PM	#7
corey@nsmb.com I want to ride. Join Date: Dec 1977 Location: The Darkside Posts: 10,543 Rep Power: 666	4by, you gotta go to the Fox website and do some reading. All of your questions can be answered, and all of the terminology is explained and detailed. You are only going to get a bunch of opinions here, if you want the real deal, get it from the horses mouth. It will save you time and make this a heck of a lot easier for ya to understand.

02-17-2005, 06:23 PM	#8
Mike E Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 205 Rep Power: 2812	I thought I have read it over carefully (website). I don't recall that they posted suggested spring weights for their coil shocks. I wonder if it is because each bike has different leverage ratios. I also don't recall that it addressed my question about how the shock would just settle into the spring and start to compress the spring no matter how far the preload washer is turn out I will look again

02-18-2005, 03:38 AM	#10
Mike E Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 205 Rep Power: 2812	Thanks for the suggestion but I would like people to know that I did do my homework and that I would still like to hear what spring rate people are running on their 4 bar suspension bikes as the website is not helpful in that way. Please include your weight

02-21-2005, 06:17 AM	#13
Mike E Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 205 Rep Power: 2812	Thanks a bunch. That is what I am looking for. Buy you a beer next time you are in town.

02-21-2005, 07:46 PM	#14
jeremyb Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 173 Rep Power: 10	Sweeet, tis a long ride from New Zealand but I hope to make it one day!! __________________ Dropin Series IV http://dropin.vorb.org.nz New Zealand Mountain Bike http://www.vorb.org.nz

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