Inital reassembly settings for rear suspension remote control unit

[TheRadBaron]

I'm putting the rear suspension back together on my '84 and I'm having some trouble with the remote contol unit that adjusts the preload and damping of the rear shock. 
For the damping, my Clymer manual says to turn the damping adjustment wire counterclockwise until it stops, then set the damping on "3" and assemble it.  There's a few problems with this, though.  I didn't turn the wire once I had the shock removed, but I was able to turn it counterclockwise by 4 or five turns before it stopped.  If I put it together this way, the setting will not even be close to what it was before (though it might not have been correct before, either).  Also, if the wire is turned all the way counterclockwise and the setting is set at "3", there's no more counterclockwise movement available to adjust the setting up to "5".  What is the proper way to do this?
And for the preload, the manual says to set the preload setting on the remote control unit to "3" and assemble it onto the adjustment chain.  It doesn't specify where to actually set the preload on the shock itself, though.  My thinking is that I should adjust the preload all the way loose, and assemble everything with the remote control unit preload set to "1".  Does this sound right?

[racerman_27410]

 leave your spring preload where it is and set the preload adjuster on the remote to 1


tighten the damping  spring/rod clockwise until it stops then back off like 1/4 turn (this will allow you to access to full amount of rebound adjustment).... set damping adjuster to 5 and then assemble everything.


this will allow you to actually have some control over the damping (set it on three to start out) and the spring is never going to need to be looser than it is right now so you will be able to crank in some extra preload if carrying a passenger/luggage. (you were riding the bike before, correct ?)


have fun !


KOokaloo!

[TheRadBaron]

I just went out and looked at the way that everything works on the bike.  If I turn the damping rod all the way CLOCKWISE until it stops, then a 1/4 turn COUNTERCLOCKWISE, and set the damping to "5", as I turn the damping down (to 4,3,2...) it rotates the rod back CLOCKWISE.  This doesn't seem right because it seems like the rod will just go back that 1/4 turn clockwise then stop before the full range of adjustment is reached.  Am I doing something wrong?
As far as the preload goes, I've never actually ridden the bike.  I bought it in a semi-broke down state and proceeded to tear into it.  I'm only about 150 pounds, but I'll be doing some two-up riding with my skinny wife from time to time.  Do you suggest I set the shock up for some additional preload, or leave it as the preload backed all the way off as "1"?
Thanks for the help.  This is the last real thing keeping the bike from being done.

[racerman_27410]

well its been awhile since i messed with the stock shock so i probably got it backwards... reverse what i said ...... tighten the rod fully CCW then back off CW 1/4 turn. (my penske is CW to increase damping)

if you find you have too much preload its easy enough to re position the chain and adjuster to allow you to adjust the preload to your liking... then you can get it into a range where you can accomodate different lading.


KOokaloo!