03 KX 125 Forks Shim Stack

Questions and comments about converting to beefier forks..
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Indawoods
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03 KX 125 Forks Shim Stack

Post by Indawoods »

Here is a couple of pics of my shim stack... before and after I changed them....

Image

Image

I removed 3 of the largest shims in each valve...
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Post by skipro3 »

that's what I did on my '02 forks. They are a little softer on the initial stroke and I still don't bottom out except on the hardest of hits. Perfect? Nope. Better? Oh, yea!

BTW static ride height remains the same.
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Post by Indawoods »

If she is too soft I will add one back... just kinda harsh the way it was....
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Post by Indawoods »

If anyone is wondering how I got them out without spilling a drop of that expensive fork oil.... well.... :lol:

Image
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Post by canyncarvr »

I just kind'a lean my bike over a bit.

Re: '..removed three of the largest...'

That's setup as a two-stage stack, right? That's what that separator is (small washer on the LH end, middle row).

I don't see 'three' of anything in any one place. :hmm:

What's your midvalve setup?

Are your shims .1mm or .15mm (.004" or .006")?

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Post by Indawoods »

Ya know... I was thinking it was a 2 stage but wasn't sure... that little one threw me off when I disassembled it.

It's the 3 in the second row on the first pic that were removed. 5 total of the same size....

Didn't get into the mid-valve yet... gonna run with this first to see how she works.

Unknown shim thickness... my calipers are analog! :mrgreen:
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Post by canyncarvr »

Analog? You do math, don'tcha?

Besides..that's what the .004 and .006 were for.

oops. :oops: I read 'before' and 'after'...but didn't compare the two pics.

DOH!

What size are the two to the right in the top row? Are those both 24s? Not sure from looking..but they don't look to be the same as the three you took out (one of 'em is angled a bit in the pic)

Do they cover the piston ports is what I'm after. If not..then they were setup as bleeders (allowing fluid past without bending).


Ski...you had single stage stacks..with something like eight or ten 24s against the piston. Right? Took out four?

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Post by Indawoods »

They did cover the ports... I will go measure them... I am sure they were all the same size but when they are that close in size... hard tellin without measurin'
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Post by Indawoods »

24's and .16mm
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Post by skipro3 »

Yup
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Post by canyncarvr »

OK...so you had five 25x.15mm, now have three..then that separator.

After that? The three (or four) that follow. They are 24s, too?

Put it like a stack config?:

24x15 (4)
22x15
20x15
17x15
16x15
11x15 (2)
17.5x50 (2)

First number the outside diameter, second the thickness number of 'em in paranthesis.

Where's the top stuff? There should be a brass check plate sort of thing under the spring.

Image

You have one shim? That's it? The spring sits directly on that shim? How does it fit with the inner diameter of the shim? That's not going to give the spring any sort of 'seat' to sit on.

Image


...kind'a fuzzy.......

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Post by Indawoods »

Mine differs from yours as in the cup is upside down. It is assembled exactly like this... started out as 5 24's and I did not measure the others... but if I get back in there (and there's no doubt I will) I will measure the others....

Image
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Post by Indawoods »

Where is your shim under the spring?

Image
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Post by canyncarvr »

There isn't a shim under the spring. The check plate has a 'collar' that fits over the stud that centers/seats the spring.


In the pic, it's MY cup that's upside down. I put it right side up when I put it back together. Putting it USD is some shade-tree hot-rod 'trick' to some witchcraft thing or other. Seemed dumb to me, so I put it back in the way Kayaba thought it should go.

Is your check sitting on the piston, still? Just thought of that..and I can't tell from the pic if it's there or not. I see the comp holes in the piston but can't make out the rebound holes.

In which case..if the check is ON the piston..what on earth is a shim doing sitting on top of it? It's not supposed to be there.

What does that do for your comp oil flow (besides screw it up)?

So..is the check on your piston in the pics?

Then what is the washer doing on TOP of it? You asking, 'Where's the shim under the spring' kind'a lends itself to me thinking you've got one.


There's plenty of room for me to be incorrect..I'm no suspension guru.

But I'll bet'cha $25 it ain't supposed to be there.

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Post by Indawoods »

Geesh CC... I don't know about yours but mine is purdy darn close to this.. Instead of shim, I should have said check plate...



Image
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Post by canyncarvr »

OK. So it is.

I like MY check plate BETTER! :neener:

Nothing in the way of compression oil flow..it's obviously superior. :wink:

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Post by Indawoods »

I think yours is just plain missin'! Kinda like the upside down cup possibly? :mrgreen:
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Post by canyncarvr »

Nope.

It's plainly visible in the pic. It's just not a plain old (boring, neither upgraded nor refined, probably cupped out) shim, is all. :butthead:
Last edited by canyncarvr on 01:29 am Mar 28 2009, edited 1 time in total.

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Post by Indawoods »

That bent up maltese cross thing? :neutral:
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Post by canyncarvr »

>|<>QBB<
Indawoods wrote:That bent up maltese cross thing? :neutral:
See? You DO know 'right' when you see it!! :wink:

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