Unloaded rear suspension sag?

[Skyfarmer]

Never having had a rear sus bike, I have no idea...

This is an old GT LTS with polymer elastomer rear unit, old elastomer was shagged, so got another ..but non original part.
As i fit it up now, there is maybe 2 inch of sag when the bike sits on its own.

I have spent since maybe 10 this morning till 3 pm tinkering with it..adding washers under the elastomer, making a press/compression tool to pre load it, then add more spacers..but this only warps the plastic end caps. So tomorrow going to a mates and will turn my own top cap out of alloy, a complete thicker unit.


Gave up on that and thought i'd fit the newly service Pace RC36 Evo3's...dropped the top bearing race in the dirt..lost a ball..grrrrrr..

have now stopped for the day before I do some damage to it..starting to get very angry and frustrated...getting to the point where i was going to deliberately smash it so i'd not have to look at it again.

 

[mattr]

Suspension of that age/type should have almost no sag at all.
You sure you don't have an elastomer that's too short, or completely the wrong grade?

 

[mattr]

And turning up a spacer might make the whole thing ride like crap, as all the spring rates etc will be wrong! And you'll lose travel at the other end.

 

[Skyfarmer]

Well ..no idea about the correct ness of the elastomer..it was sold as a GT LTS elastomer.

It is maybe to soft too , when i sit on the bike the suspension nearly bottoms out. only maybe ½ inch travel left.
As you say, making up a spacer may reduce travel at other end...but no way of knowing until I try. but ride like crap or not..better than having to shorten the pedal cranks to stop them hitting the ground.

 

[Skyfarmer]

I have asked on here before, but no one can tell me if I have a GT LTS 3 or 5...was there ever a GT LTS 4 ?

I thought it was a 3, but a video I saw on you tube showing a '5' elastomer strip down, show the elastomer shock unit I have.

I have the shock in this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgLSeRW2Y7c


and ordered one of these

http://www.suspensionforkparts.net/esho ... h-kit.html

 

[Skyfarmer]

I might be better trying one of these

https://www.benscycle.com/p-4223-gt-lts ... tomer.aspx?

 

[suburbanreuben]

Re:

Pics!
or we're just guessing!

 

[Skyfarmer]

Sorry, took none today ..I left the workshop in a bad mood. All I have is pics that i have posted before where no one could give me any more info.

On the initial thread

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=292560&p=2190104#p2190104,

it was thought that it was a LT3..but the shock now makes me think different...the serial number did not seem to help either
S7JA2698


I'll go and get some pics..only a short drive up to the workshop.

This is the old one my mate took apart.

 

[Skyfarmer]

 

[mattr]

Sag is measured end to end on the shock. Not ground to top eyelet.
Usually quoted as a % of full shock travel/stroke. Made quite difficult by elastomers, as you never quite know where full stroke is!

Either way, that looks very odd, unless the frame is filled with lead and you are knocking on the door of 25 stone!