Probably a very simple question but my Googlefu has failed me.
Are all shim washers the same? Only ever played about with existing washers in shim stacks before but want/need to change the tune on a [s] couple of forumites [/s] * RS deluxe.
Do I need a specific type of washer (I'm guessing Sram sell them for about £30000000 each) or would any shim washer of the correct thickness id & od do? Eg Ebay link
*Freudian typo, sorry.
Bump for the weekend folks...
There's a tuning guide download on SRAM's website with all the ID, OD, thicknesses and amount of shims to use.
I looked into this once and found a motorcycle tuning place that had loads of shims in stock but I think they came in packets of 25. While not expensive per shim, the overall price got a bit silly.
The other issue that my research threw up was that with the stock piston, there's a very limited affect you could have. The best tuners actually open up the piston so the shims can start having a proper influence on the damping.
MTBR is usually a better place for really technical discussions than here.
Having said that, I know there's at least one tuner on here so if anyone what's to chip in and explain why what I've learned is right, or wrong, I'd love to hear it.
looks like those ebay ones are shim washers so wont be made from spring steel. they are just ment to be used as packing washers to set clearances of bearings etc and will probably bend if you were to use them in a damper,
Ha ha, that's pretty much the answer I was looking for K thank you.
Thanks noeffsgiven I've found the relevant RS manual and happy enough I know what to do with the stuff, unfortunately I'm going from M to L and it requires a few shims that are not in the stack already which is the major sticking point.
No doubt you're right to get the best out of the shock Onzadog, fortunately I'm not looking for granular adjustment or even necessarily that dramatic, it's just it's the wrong stock tune for the frame so figure I should at least take that advice before I do anything more drastic. I like to start at the beginning before I break stuff that way I know just how badly I got it wrong. 😉
Ha ha! They sell them as a "tune assembly" rather than shims, suddenly its all much easier!
GIGO I guess.
Thank you folks
Drop me a message with what sizes you want and I should be able to help.
Super ta Rick, will double check and drop you a line
are you intending on pressuring the damper with air or do you have a nitrogen source and the right bits?
the MTBR discussion looks like it can be a but of a pain getting the right pressure in (though this is a monarch, but I don't think they are too different in terms of how to get air in and out.
https://www.mtbr.com/threads/i-give-up-ifp-pressure-on-2013-monarch-rt3-how-do-you-set-it.948980/
Oh it'll be air, I've done full strips and rebuilds of an older monarch and monarch plus before I've just not messed with the shims.
Truth be told this is as much as anything an excuse for a play with something new. The shock has cost me <£50 (though I don't have it yet so who knows...) and as a second hand one it'll be fully stripped and checked before use any way.
Worst that happens is I've spent relatively little on a weekends fun faffing and have nothing but oily hands, a bit of new knowledge and a smile to show for it. Not the most terrible use of the money.
Worst that happens is I’ve spent relatively little on a weekends fun faffing and have nothing but oily hands, a bit of new knowledge and a smile to show for it. Not the most terrible use of the money.
absolutely. I'm with you there!
I still have that monarch shock you sent me a while ago. Would you like it back to strip for parts?
I also have some spare shims I bought for converting Marzzochi B55 TST2 from the 'off/on' functionality to a shim-controlled compression, so if they are the correct size I can send some of those?
BOAS
I'll double check what I need - was on the list of "to dos" that didn't get done this weekend, turns out my wife was right* and I was optimistic with my timings!
Did you not put the monarch to use in the end?
*it's safe to say that, she doesn't post here.
I did, but then a mate gave me an old DHX5 coil shock, with 4 springs of varying rate and, frankly, given the amount I was riding the bike at the time a coil shock proved to be much more reliable. It's still on there and functioning so well I might as well leave it on.
So I now have a box with enough bits in to build two Monarch shocks, along with seal spares etc, albeit one of the shafts is still scratched.
Happy to chuck it all in the post if you might find it useful?
I may take you up on that in due course, I've my new bike too build then have a scrabble together project to do for a Ukrainian guest so will be on the scrounge for various things I don't have on my shelves.
That being said no point posting it to me just to sit on a shelf here (again 😂) if I can't use it.