shock adjustment

[chop1543]

Can the adjuster at the bottom be turned in either direction when adjusting the tension on the shock? When standing over the shock looking down, do you turn the adjuster clockwise, counter-clock wise, or doesn't it matter? The drawings in the manual are kinda vague. The explain how the adjustment works, and I get that the higher up on the cam one goes, the tighter the spring, and as a result, the stiffer the shock.

[RooDog]

The cams will turn in either direction, tighter or looser, how else would they be adjustable?
Of course once at the softest setting there is only one way to go. But at the tightest setting, I, personally , would avoid going over the top and slamming down to the lowest point just outta general respect for the mechanism.
....RooDog....

[chop1543]

Got it....and I get it! Thanks, RooDog. Actually, I was considering what you said about jumping from highest to lowest spots on the cam.

[kitabel]

Never mind

[RooDog]

The spring becomes stiffer, the shock is unchanged.
Oddly, the spring rate (lbs. per inch of compression) goes down as the spring is tightened, since the spring pitch (coils per inch) is smaller.

The spring rate does not change only the pre-load is changed.

[kitabel]

Never mind

[nifty]

A coil spring is a rolled up torsion bar
Ultimately the wire diameter and wire length determine spring "strength" or resistive force.

Hence 2 springs of identical wire diameter, but different wire lengths, the longest wire length will have less "strength" or resistive force, because there is less "wind-up" or torsion over the length of wire.

The cam adjusters vary the assembled length of spring, compressing or shortening spring increases "pre-load" strength of spring by increasing torsion by "winding-up" the wire, i.e. increases resistive force.

Nifty

[kitabel]

Never mind

[nifty]

IMHO
If the hypothetical wire was vertical, it is not a coil spring, it is a column.
When the hypothetical spring is fully compressed/coilbound, it is no longer a spring, it is a column.

The coil diameter does not alter spring strength.
The difference in wire length caused by changing coil diameter is what alters spring strength

I don't buy the cam changing the pitch being relevant
Its the diameter and length of wire that's relevant
The length of wire determines pitch.

The angle of wire/coil pitch is irrelevant to coil spring "strength"/resistive force, because the forces within the wire are all torsional
As the cam shortens the assembled height, the wire is twisted more/increased torsion, thus resistive force of coil spring is increased.

Nifty

[RooDog]

A coil spring is a rolled up torsion bar
Ultimately the wire diameter and wire length determine spring "strength" or resistive force.

Hence 2 springs of identical wire diameter, but different wire lengths, the longest wire length will have less "strength" or resistive force, because there is less "wind-up" or torsion over the length of wire.

The cam adjusters vary the assembled length of spring, compressing or shortening spring increases "pre-load" strength of spring by increasing torsion by "winding-up" the wire, i.e. increases resistive force.

Nifty

Nifty....
Exactly right, but I chose not to explain spring theory to folks who should already be aware of how they work. I studies coil springs when choosing to cut coils to lower an automobile front suspension. By cutting a portion off of the coil the spring rate is increased, because of less wire length, while also lessening the installed height, thus lowering the car.
....RooDog....

[nifty]

For the record:
Before deleting and editing to multiple “Never mind”, Kitabel wrote-

The spring becomes stiffer, the shock is unchanged.
Oddly, the spring rate (lbs. per inch of compression) goes down as the spring is tightened, since the spring pitch (coils per inch) is smaller

Assuming the quality of the spring material is constant, the factors that determine spring rat are:
1. Wire diameter (thicker = stronger tension)
2. Coil diameter (smaller = stronger tension)
3. Pitch, working coils per inch, and angle with regard to horizontal (fewer/steeper = stronger tension)

If there were infinite coils per inch (the wire is vertical), the rate would be infinite.
If the coils were stacked solid (almost horizontal) the rate would be zero.

But since each adjustment notch shortens the spring, the pitch is decreased.
Each notch of adjustment adds less tension than the preceding notch, and more than the next notch.

Nifty

[kitabel]

That was so clever.
Rather than trying to explain this again, try any chassis mfg., NASCAR, Wiki, Adams, Carroll Smith, etc. about pitch.

[RooDog]

Coil Spring Rates....

https://suspensionsecrets.co.uk/how-to- ... ing-rates/