Show us ya shim stacks

[Vintage Not Pimpage]

So has anyone come up with some good woods stacks for their YZ?

I've just revalved mine for the second time and am not completely happy with it. I ride lots of super gnarly rooty rocky crap that is 3rd-4th gear, its is the kind of place that turns bikes you think are set-up well? Into bucking beasts.

Anyway will post up my stacks in a minute but if anyone has some good set-ups I'd love to see them

Cheers

[adam728]

I assume you are talking 06+? Because there will be quite a difference in the older years.

[Vintage Not Pimpage]

Any forks, a database would be really handy. I have some 01 forks I could never get right too.

[adam728]

Went thru mine a couple of times to end up here.

2005 YZ250, stock springs

180 lb rider, probably mid-B speed now (made it to A in the past, but am way out of shape)

Trail riding, the more technical the better.

Forks were terrible when I got it, horrific deflection. Had it revalved several times, then went at it myself. Found it had a VERY stiff midvalve stack (was a pro-SX bike in a past life). Softened it up bit by bit, eventually stopped here. Currently I'd say they are great in rocks and roots, a bit soft overall, but still never bottom, thanks to the overly-aggressive TCV system on the 2005 250's. If I go in them again I'd probably just add 1 more face shim on the base valve and leave the mid and rebound alone.

Shock sucks. I need to start over on it, again. Quite soft, but kicks really hard on sharp edge hits at speed. Packs up in whoops as well. At one point I was told it had too little HS, so I replaced every 0.2mm thick shim in the compression with a 0.25mm. I think it was worse, but I've been so frustrated with it that I find it hard to remember. Stick tracks much straighter and kicks less than the original stiff setup that was in there. If I remember right my last notes were to try adding 2 face shims and going smaller on the crossovers (30/28 instead of the current 32/30).

[kan3]

I've just revalved mine for the second time and am not completely happy with it.

Post it up and maybe we can help

Shock sucks. I need to start over on it, again. Quite soft, but kicks really hard on sharp edge hits at speed. Packs up in whoops as well. At one point I was told it had too little HS, so I replaced every 0.2mm thick shim in the compression with a 0.25mm. I think it was worse, but I've been so frustrated with it that I find it hard to remember. Stick tracks much straighter and kicks less than the original stiff setup that was in there. If I remember right my last notes were to try adding 2 face shims and going smaller on the crossovers (30/28 instead of the current 32/30).

Personally, I think your comp stack looks fine(in the picture). If you were pretty fast then I'd say another face shim or two but as it sits it's pretty good. You can also try going to a FC HSC spring which will give you more adjustment. I think your rebound looks too soft though and if you're still only around 6-7 clicks out then it's obviously too soft. I would try something more like listed below. You want to get that clicker out around 12 at least so you have some decent free bleed.

36.3(3)

36.15(3)

28.11

36.3

34.3

32.3

30.3

28.3

26.25

24.25

22.25

Edited December 5, 2012 by kan3

[adam728]

Post it up and maybe we can help

Personally, I think your comp stack looks fine(in the picture). If you were pretty fast then I'd say another face shim or two but as it sits it's pretty good. You can also try going to a FC HSC spring which will give you more adjustment. I think your rebound looks too soft though and if you're still only around 6-7 clicks out then it's obviously too soft. I would try something more like listed below. You want to get that clicker out around 12 at least so you have some decent free bleed.

36.3(3)

36.15(3)

28.11

36.3

34.3

32.3

30.3

28.3

26.25

24.25

22.25

Thanks for the tips. The clicker settings in that pic are where I started when I put it back together. Today I should be

Forks - 8-10 compression, 12 rebound

Shock - 8 compression, 12-14 rebound, 1-1/2 high speed compression. Rebound stack is stock.

[jar944]

Very few SSS woods/rocks/HS stacks floating around.

[kan3]

Very few SSS woods/rocks/HS stacks floating around.

There are a decent amount of posts in the suspension forum for 06 and above kyb forks. Honestly, they don't need much work as they're very good stock. Generally, a slightly softer midvalve and/or a slightly softer base valve is all they need.

Thanks for the tips. The clicker settings in that pic are where I started when I put it back together. Today I should be

Forks - 8-10 compression, 12 rebound

Shock - 8 compression, 12-14 rebound, 1-1/2 high speed compression. Rebound stack is stock.

I would try more ls rebound if you get bored and want to open the shock again. Personally, I like the heavier ls rebound stacks like DaveJ suggests and what I posted above. I just don't like his soft comp stacks he usually pairs with them. I think even just a few more 36.2 face shims would help a bit.

Edited December 5, 2012 by kan3

[Vintage Not Pimpage]

Forks

comp

32.11 x10  removed 5

22.11

32.11 x2

30.11

28.11

26.11

24.11

22.11  removed and put as dual stage

20.11

18.11

16.11

14.11

2-1.6X20

1-25X11

Mid

2-10X20 -removed 1

1-10X18

1-10X16

1-10X14 - removed

2-30X11

2-30X17

Float should be .45 now (.25 stock)

Shock

Comp

40.2 x7  removed 3

29.1

38.25

36.25  removed and added to rebound

34.25

32.25

30.25

28.25 x1 removed 1

26.25

24.25

22.25

20.25

Reb

36.25  added

36.15 x5

25.1

36.25

34.25

32.25

30.25

28.25

26.25

24.25

23.25

I'm having similar problems as Adam with the shock, too harsh and kicks and deflects of big tree roots and rocks. Rebound clicker is at about 6 out still even after adding a thicker face shim, I have another 36.2 I can add to the rebound.

The forks are probably using too much travel, the bike corners really well now but gets harsh on big hits and deflects (I think its already too deep in the stroke when it hits) so I'm thinking I will go back to basics and change it too this.

comp

32.11 x10  removed 7

30.11

28.11

26.11

24.11

22.11

20.11

18.11

16.11

14.11

2-1.6X20

1-25X11

Mid

2-10X20 -removed 1

1-10X18

1-10X16

1-10X14 - re-install

2-30X11

2-30X17

Float should be .35 now (.25 stock)

Edited December 5, 2012 by Vintage Not Pimpage

[kan3]

I'm having similar problems as Adam with the shock, too harsh and kicks and deflects of big tree roots and rocks. Rebound clicker is at about 6 out still even after adding a thicker face shim, I have another 36.2 I can add to the rebound.

The forks are probably using too much travel, the bike corners really well now but gets harsh on big hits and deflects (I think its already too deep in the stroke when it hits) so I'm thinking I will go back to basics and change it too this.

I'm going to agree with you on your assumptions. The fork mid and base is too soft causing you to ride too low in the stroke. I'm sure it does corner well considering how low the front is riding. I'm assuming you have your oil level a bit higher and maybe even your fork rebound out around 12-14 clicks? If not I'm sure you're riding really low in the stroke all the time.

For the fork I would go a little more than you plan on doing to start with. The float on the 06/07 forks is .35mm stock not .25mm. The 08+ are around .25 stock. This means you're actually around .55float and .45float for your suggested change.

Base:

32.11(12)

30.11

28.11

26.11

24.11

22.11

20.11

18.11

16.11

14.25 (.25 should be stock)

Mid:

20.11(2)

18.11

16.11

14.11

11.30(2)

17.30(2)

20.11 --- (Insert shims here to close up the float.)

Float - .35mm Stock

For the shock I would try something more like the new yz250 valving but with more rebound:

Comp:

40.2(10)

34.11

29.11

38.2

36.2

34.2

32.2

30.2

28.2

26.2

24.2

22.2

21.2

HSC:

Factory Connection Spring

HSSK08 - If you're fast

HSSK04 - If you're med/slower

Drill all ports to 2.9-3.0mm

Rebound:

36.2(8)

25.11

36.25

34.3

32.3

30.3

28.3

26.3

24.3

23.3

For the Midvalve, I don't think soft mid and high float is a good mix. Experiment with soft mid/low float or stiffer mid/higher float.

[NitrousR1]

Hello I'm revalving my 2008 YZ250F shock currently. I ride only woods with lots or accel/braking bumps, roots rocks, no logs, NO MX and no jumps for this bike. only trails/woods. I recently re-valved my forks basically a shuffle/removal and got them pretty nice, definatly better then stock. My shock is too stiff, to stiff initially on accel/braking bumps, and just stiff everywhere. It turns out these have been revalved before as the stacks don't match up with my stock specs. Here are the stock specs and the current re-valve specs.

Stock Stack 2008 YZ250F shock

Shock Compression

40.20 quantity 7

36.15

30.15

40.20

38.20

36.25

34.25

32.25

30.25

28.25

26.25

24.25

22.30.

Measured Compression

40.20 quantity 9

36.11

32.11

40.25

38.25

36.20

34.25

32.25

30.25

28.25

26.25

24.25

23.25.

It appers they added 2 more face shims to the Compression stack for a total of 9, which would make it even stiffer then stock for my riding. Also they played around with shim thickness down the taper. Some are thinner and some are thicker then stock. Slightly larger diameter clamp on the compression, but thinner as well. 23.25 compared to the stock 22.3

Stock Rebound

36/0.20

36/0.20

36/0.20

36/0.20

36/0.20

36/0.20

36/0.20

28/0.10

36/0.30

34/0.30

32/0.30

30/0.30

28/0.30

26/0.30

24/0.30

22/0.30

Measured Rebound

36/0.20

36/0.20

36/0.20

36/0.20

36/0.20

28/0.10

36/0.25

34/0.25

32/0.30

30/0.30

28/0.30

26/0.30

24/0.30

23/0.30

21/0.30

On rebould 2 36.2 face shims were gone as well as ending in a smaller shim. 2 of the shims are thinner. Slightly smaller clamp on the rebound as well. has a 21.3 clamp, stock is 22.3

What would you guys recommend? I don't have any extra shims now, only whats in the shock as i currently have it apart for a rebuild. Would you recommend to shuffle some of the shims or remove some? I'm thinking remove maybe 3 face shims from compression to soften it up. Would it make sense to swap the clamp shims? giving the compression a smaller clamp and the rebound a bigger clamp. I'm up for any suggestions.

Thanks

Ryan

[mellephants]

Hi everyone. I'm rebuilding my shock for the first time. I'm 190lb, I do B class hare scrambles and C class motocross on the same bike. It works pretty well overall, but in the woods I would like faster high speed compression to help track straighter over logs, rocks, roots, etc. I'm aware that I should probably go to a 5.5 kg/mm spring for my weight and speed, but haven't done it yet.

 

2002 YZ250, original shock

16mm shaft, 46mm shock body

Stock 4.9 kg/mm spring

Rebound 12 clicks out

Low comp 16 clicks out

High comp 2.25 turns (max)

 

Compression (measured)

40.2 x11

34.12

30.12

40.15

38.25

36.25

34.25

32.25

30.25

28.25

24.25

22.2

 

Rebound (measured)

36.22 x6

28.12

36.32

34.32

32.32

30.32

28.32

26.32

24.32

23.22

 

After reading this thread and others, I was thinking I would start by moving some of the Compression face shims to the other end of the stack (in other words, remove them from service, or just use them as spacers). I would then assemble the shock, fill with nitrogen, and go ride. Then I may try disassembling the HS comp adjuster, and try drilling the holes from 2 to 3mm. I can do that without taking the main shock assembly apart, right? Is this a reasonable approach?

 

Compression new

40.2 x7

34.12

30.12

40.15

38.25

36.25

34.25

32.25

30.25

28.25

24.25

22.2

40.2 x4

Edited March 18, 2015 by mellephants