[Farticus]

I've just taken delivery of a new (HL) 5 Spot with DHX Air, and having had a quick read of the shock manual I can see it's been designed to confuse the mechanically-disadvantaged such as me. I've not a clue what all the adjustments can do beyond main chamber air pressure and rebound. My head goes especially fuzzy when I get to "propedal & boost valve interaction".

The recommended sag settings look strange for 2" stroke shocks. In the past I've run ~25% sag which is what the table in the manual says for all shocks with 2.25+" strokes, but it recommends 0.25" (12.5%) for the 2" version.

Is there, or can we setup, a DHX-A database? Stuff like:
Turner model:
Rider weight:
Typical riding terrain / style:
Main air chamber pressure:
Sag:
Rebound (clicks from fastest):
Boost valve pressure:
Bottom out resistance (# turns from least):
Propedal (clicks from lightest):

 

[tscheezy]

No specific "database" pre se, but if you type "dhx psi" into the search field at the bottom of the turner page, you will find a lot of input. Some of it is on the DHX coil, but aside from spring rate the info is quite applicable. I use basically the same BO, BV, and PP values on both flavors of shock.

Oh, and the 0.25" of sag is a well-known typo.

 

[SCUBAPRO]

Turner model: '05 Spot
Rider weight: 145 in gear
Typical riding terrain / style: Dry, loose, rocky
Main air chamber pressure: 120psi
Sag: ~35%
Rebound (clicks from fastest): 6
Boost valve pressure: 135psi
Bottom out resistance (# turns from least): 0
Propedal (clicks from lightest): 1

 

[elmadaleno]

This is actually a very good idea

Turner model: '06 Spot TNT
Rider weight: 180 in gear
Typical riding terrain / style: varied, no jumps over 3-4 ft
Main air chamber pressure: 200psi
Sag: 25%
Rebound (clicks from fastest): 6
Boost valve pressure: 75 psi
Bottom out resistance (# turns from least): 2
Propedal (clicks from lightest): 0

I am still working on the settings, I might increase sag a bit and put more pressure in the BV

 

[SCUBAPRO]

Turner model: '05 Pack
Rider weight: 145 in gear
Typical riding terrain / style: Dry, loose, rocky
Main air chamber pressure: 145psi
Sag: ~30%
Rebound (clicks from fastest): 7
Boost valve pressure: 135psi
Bottom out resistance (# turns from least): 1.5
Propedal (clicks from lightest): 3

 

[FXRob]

Turner model: 6 Pack
Rider weight: 165lbs w/gear
Typical riding terrain / style: aggressive trail
Main air chamber pressure:195
Sag: don't know
Rebound (clicks from fastest): 2-6
Boost valve pressure: 105psi
Bottom out resistance (# turns from least): cranked in about 2/3
Propedal (clicks from lightest)ut for dh, all the way in for long climbs

 

[Farticus]

Keep 'em coming!

I've done the search Tscheezy suggested which has turned up a few more, including this from DT himself:
Rider weight: 175
Main air chamber pressure: 170
Sag: not stated
Rebound (clicks from fastest): Full fast (post says full slow but elsewhere that seems to have been changed to full fast)
Boost valve pressure: 75
Bottom out resistance (# turns from least): Wide open
Propedal (clicks from lightest): wide open for rocks, full closed for pavement

A few thread seem to suggest schraeder valve (for the main chamber) clearance issues with the rocker?? Apart for making immediate modifications to my new frame, can the shock be run the other way up?

 

[MK_]

Hey SCUBA, are you sure about those settings? 120psi on a Spot gives your 35% sag, 135psi on the Pack gives you 30% sag. You got 5in rockers on that Pack or something?

Farticus, here's how I would go about setting up the shock:

Pump up the boost to about 120psi. Back off propedal knob completely (zero propedal) as it is a little spring which assists the air pressure in the boost chamber, keeping the boost valve closed. All it does is make the initial stroke a little harsher, and you can achieve the same effect by upping the air pressure a bit and it makes the stroke smoother. Now pump up the air spring to achieve ~25% sag. These should be good base settings. If the rear feels harsh, then you will need to reduce the pressure in the boost. Do that in 5psi in(de)crements. Ride between changes. Keep the BO adjuster at full open for now. During your first ride, monitor the shock, if it bottoms out easily, deflate the BV, turn the BO knob in half turn, pump it back up to whatever pressure you settled on and ride some more. Just make sure not to compress the shock without a minimum of 75psi in the BV.

My settings:
05 5Spot
Weight: 175lbs
Main Spring: 165psi
BV: 140psi
BO: Almost 2 turns in.

_MK

 

[xjbebop]

fwiw...

Turner model: 05 5 spot large
Rider weight: about 200 loaded
Typical riding terrain / style: so cal / trail cruiser
Main air chamber pressure: 180
Sag: 25% +/-
Rebound (clicks from fastest): 1
Boost valve pressure: 80
Bottom out resistance (# turns from least): 1/4 from full open
Propedal (clicks from lightest): 1

Keep in mind: not all pump gauges are created equal. Find one of quality that you like and stick with it for accurate reference. (I like the one cheezy showed us a few months back from REI that has a separate 'valve engagement' knob. I forget off hand who makes it.).
Also set up your fork to match and 'balance' the bike.

 

[SCUBAPRO]

Hey SCUBA, are you sure about those settings? 120psi on a Spot gives your 35% sag, 135psi on the Pack gives you 30% sag. You got 5in rockers on that Pack or something?
_MK

I have the stock rocker on the Pack. Yes, 145PSI = ~30% sag. I'm going from memory here because I no longer use a DHX-A on my Pack. It didn't really work well, for me, on such a high leverage ratio bike but works OK on the spot. I blew through the DHX-A's travel way too easily on the Pack. I'm trying out a CCDB on the Pack right now. So far so good...

 

[MK_]

I have the stock rocker on the Pack. Yes, 145PSI = ~30% sag. I'm going from memory here because I no longer use a DHX-A on my Pack. It didn't really work well, for me, on such a high leverage ratio bike but works OK on the spot. I blew through the DHX-A's travel way too easily on the Pack. I'm trying out a CCDB on the Pack right now. So far so good...

That's a really low pressure. No wonder you were blowing through the travel. At any rate, I just put my money down on a Pack and am awaiting your review of the CDDB as it will most likely go on it.

_MK

 

[SCUBAPRO]

Correction in Main Chamber Pressure

Turner model: '05 Pack
Rider weight: 145 in gear
Typical riding terrain / style: Dry, loose, rocky
Main air chamber pressure: 155psi
Sag: ~30%
Rebound (clicks from fastest): 7
Boost valve pressure: 135psi
Bottom out resistance (# turns from least): 1.5
Propedal (clicks from lightest): 3

MK, Thanks for pointing the error out...155PSI = ~30% sag

 

[FM]

Turner model: '02 RFX w/ 5" rockers
Rider weight: 175+ gear + canned beer, lights, fold up shovel and/or pads
Typical riding terrain / style: short winter night rides with extended trail building/ hucking/drinking breaks
Main air chamber pressure: 180
Sag: 25% +/-
Rebound (clicks from fastest): 2
Boost valve pressure: 130
Bottom out resistance (# turns from least): middle of range
Propedal (clicks from lightest): 0 for DH/XC, full-on for climbing

 

[DGC]

mine

I've just taken delivery of a new (HL) 5 Spot with DHX Air, and having had a quick read of the shock manual I can see it's been designed to confuse the mechanically-disadvantaged such as me. I've not a clue what all the adjustments can do beyond main chamber air pressure and rebound. My head goes especially fuzzy when I get to "propedal & boost valve interaction".

The recommended sag settings look strange for 2" stroke shocks. In the past I've run ~25% sag which is what the table in the manual says for all shocks with 2.25+" strokes, but it recommends 0.25" (12.5%) for the 2" version.

Is there, or can we setup, a DHX-A database? Stuff like:
Turner model:
Rider weight:
Typical riding terrain / style:
Main air chamber pressure:
Sag:
Rebound (clicks from fastest):
Boost valve pressure:
Bottom out resistance (# turns from least):
Propedal (clicks from lightest):

2005 - 5 Spot
177 lbs. riding weight
terrain: quite varied rocky technical, long climbs, long decents.....with quite varied terrain from big boulder stuff to high speed chop, my settings change ride to ride sometimes. Listed are the most often used settings.
main: 170 psi.
boost: 85 psi.
sag: 30%
Rebound: 13-15 clicks
BO: 3.25 turns in
PP: 10+ clicks long climbs, wide open decending, some rides 4-5 clicks in full ride.

 

[stevo5]

Sweet feel!

04-05 5 SPOT

Rider Weight 190
Main chamber 180
Boost 110
Bottom out 1 1/2 turns
Rebound 7 clicks in from full fast
Pro pedal 0 to 5 clicks

 

[Clyde S Dale]

Turner model: '05 Five Spot
Rider weight: 210lbs
Typical riding terrain / style: dry, loose, rocky SoCal
Main air chamber pressure: 205
Sag:~30%
Rebound (clicks from fastest): 4
Boost valve pressure: 135
Bottom out resistance (# turns from least): 2 & 1/3
Propedal (clicks from lightest): 3

 

[SCUBAPRO]

Update

Turner model: '05 Spot
Rider weight: 145 in gear
Typical riding terrain / style: Dry, loose, rocky
Main air chamber pressure: 125psi
Sag: ~34%
Rebound (clicks from fastest): 6
Boost valve pressure: 130psi
Bottom out resistance (# turns from least): 0
Propedal (clicks from lightest): 1