Kmod Spring Settings

[boondocker97]

I just got my first new Kmod skid with Raptor shocks (well most of it, anodizing blemish might require rail exchange but it's being taken care of). I was reading through the instructions and the initial spring settings are all based on spring length measurements. It seems this is fine for initial setup, but my dirt bike and ATV suspension experience has always been that steel springs compress and have a shorter free length over time. As a result the spring preload needs to be re-adjusted periodically to maintain the same sag/ride height measurements.

I'm thinking that after I get it set where I like it on the first ride that I'll record the sag at the rear bumper and re-measure the free length and actual preload on the springs at that point. I'm curious to see how much it changes over the first few rides and if there is noticeable improvement to setting it back. Previous experience has shown me the initial part of the life of a set of suspension springs shows the largest changes. If I would have sprung for the Ti springs (some pun intended) this wouldn't be as much of an issue.

Has anyone else experimented and observed anything like this?

Also, the Kmod setup has stock sled and turbo starting points. Running just a big bore, I'm thinking I'll start somewhere between the two. I'm sure I'll get it figured out just fine, but curious what other people running big bores with Kmods have found on how close their settings ended up to one or the other.

260lb street clothes rider with 162 x 2.6 track. Prefer trees but like to ride it hard through bomb holes and rough trails too.

 

[boondocker97]

Finally got my skid all put together. Free length on the front track shock spring is 8-1/2" inches new. Rear track shock spring is 11". I set the preload per the directions for my sled and weight so each spring has 3/4" of preload to start with. I'll see how that feels on the first ride out.

An observation I had: I found it strange how far the front arm shock needs to be compressed to get the limiter straps set at the recommended location. As it sits there's only a few inches of usable shaft travel. Seems a shorter, lighter shock could be used. The longer shock tube does allow for more oil capacity and should provide less fading on really rough trails.

 

[Bushpilot]

I have the KMOD with Raptors and I find that even after 1300 miles that with the preload set right this skid has not sagged at all. It is super smooth and absorbs whatever bumps get in its way.

When my daughter rides the sled she is half my weight, she says it is stiff but still like riding in a sports car. If I take time to adjust it for her weight it absorbs the bumps better for her but she seems to like the stiffer suspension.

Either way it helps lift the sled on top of the snow and keep the front manageable with a great ride.

 

[9071000]

I have the KMOD with Raptors and I find that even after 1300 miles that with the preload set right this skid has not sagged at all. It is super smooth and absorbs whatever bumps get in its way.

When my daughter rides the sled she is half my weight, she says it is stiff but still like riding in a sports car. If I take time to adjust it for her weight it absorbs the bumps better for her but she seems to like the stiffer suspension.

Either way it helps lift the sled on top of the snow and keep the front manageable with a great ride.

ditto