Spring on Stratos PRo

[dan_mtcycle]

I just picked up an MC San Andreas w/ Stratos Helix Pro shock with a spring that's a bit light for me (400). I weigh 180 lbs. will be riding DH, aggressive trails, drops limited to 6 ft to flat and tranny.

1. - What weight spring should I get? 600???

2. - How do I change the spring?

[KonaDude]

Originally posted by dan_mtcycle
I just picked up an MC San Andreas w/ Stratos Helix Pro shock with a spring that's a bit light for me (400). I weigh 180 lbs. will be riding DH, aggressive trails, drops limited to 6 ft to flat and tranny.

1. - What weight spring should I get? 600???

2. - How do I change the spring?

When trying out new springs, don't use huge increases in spring rate. It may be expensive, but try in 50 pound increments increasing the rate until you find what's right. Remember also to adjust the air pressure in your shock. DO NOT allow it to go below 100PSI. If you do, be sure not to compress the shock. Get it inflated as soon as possible, but don't ride, it will cause cavitation (air mixing with oil). The air in these shocks is a spring too, and it kicks in at the end of travel, mainly. Run it with more pressure for a more progressive rate.

To remove the spring I believe you have to remove the shock from the bike, take out the aluminum reducers in the eyelets (if they're relatively long), deflate the shock completely (remember not to compress it. Now, you must remove the air valve. Just unscrew it using a 10mm wrench (I believe some older ones were not metric, so be careful. If 10mm fits loose or not at all, find a non-metric wrench that fits better, I don't recall the size). Unthread the preload collar, remove the spring retaining clip, and your spring should come off. Reverse this order to reassemble, and remember to inflate the shock to over 100PSI.

Hope this helps.