K2 / Proflex Riders Group
General => Tech Forum => Topic started by: whisperdancer on February 14, 2007, 03:02:30 am
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Recently I came across a page with an adaptor for x57 rear shocks.
How can this thing work?!?!?
(http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/4719/proflex1legendatg6.jpg)
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looks like it slides up one of the legs and then fits into place...
the worrying things is that it extends the shock out by about 100mm, so I am not sure how that works exactly.
callum
rds
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ive been looking into making ( im a cnc lathe programmer/setter )a similar (but shorter) adaptor for the strut bikes but ive been put off as i need to figure out how to stop the shock pivoting on the bottom mounting bolt. what i really need is for someone to loan me a 165mm i2i shock so i can make a prototype then run a few off when im happy with them (free cnc`d adaptor if anyone loans me one and i can get it to work ok)
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or it is the shortest nr4 i have ever seen....Cnc eh....
you need three parts a cone type end,a middle spacer part which can be made to any length then an actual shock mount.The middle spacer can be made in any length to suit the particular eye to eye of the shock to be used.They all thread together to form one solid "block"
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how to stop the shock pivoting on the bottom mounting bolt.
why isn't that happening on the one in the photo?!
I've got around this problem by rotating the adapter 45 degrees so it can't pivot sideways or up and down. The only time it would pivot is if the wheel was knocked at a 45 degree angle. Kinda works.
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I believe the problem here is pivoting, as I don't believe that one screw and two nuts will tight the shock enough...
The slot is just an open slot:
(http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/5679/prfzg0.jpg)
For this to work, the adapter should be rotated 90 degrees.
That's me thinking.
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Rotating 90 degrees doesn't work as then any lateral (sideways) movement pivots it - I tried that! Mine is set at 45 degrees and seems to work.
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Good point.
Maybe a piece with a sleeve that covers the shock end.
If the sleeve was "sloted" like the end of a seat post tube, maybe we can use something like a clamp as in a seatpost...
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I made one, but mine allows for lateral movement not vertical. I'd be a bit worried with the one in the first post bending, but I have had no problems so far with mine.
(http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k316/sammydogg/955_2.jpg)
This pic isn't the best (bit too far away), but I will post a close up when my camera is back from repairs.
Mine is pretty crude, but it seems to work.
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That looks a lot like mine, but as I say mine's at 45 degrees
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When you sid 45 degrees, that really makes a lot of sense.
I'll probably turn mine this weekend.
All I need to do is make a proper version out of a decent grade metal that doesn't weigh a heap and rust like I do now.
I'll post some pics though when I get the camera back.
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Risse do an adapter for the proflex x55/x56 rear strut. I was going to make some but the economics don't work out unless you're a real proflex nut enthusiast (i.e. us lot!!).
I'm sure I've got a 165mm SID kicking aorund.
callum
rds
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They make an adapter?? I must of missed that. Time to contact them to find out how much.
I've got a Fox RP3 I can get my hands on and would love to put into the bike.
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........."Cnc eh....
you need three parts a cone type end,a middle spacer part which can be made to any length then an actual shock mount.The middle spacer can be made in any length to suit the particular eye to eye of the shock to be used.They all thread together to form one solid "block""
i reckon i can turn one out of one piece of ally, ive got an idea that im working on that i think might work. at the moment im basing the idea on the only spare shock ive got (astro 5) which i know wont fit cos its too long but im hoping that the idea will work, unfortunately i dont think it will work with a piggy back type of shock but i might look into that in the future. i just need a shock that will fit!
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All this machining and engineering makes me dizzy...
Another approach - call it the Neanderthal method - is to taper the strut end of the shock so the "eye" actually will go into the cone recess on the strut. This can be done nicely on a lathe or in 20 minutes with a Dremel grinder.
Then you drill and tap a longitudinal hole in the shock end for the strut bolt. For extra strength, a little epoxy to fill in the joint and "Bob's your uncle." (JB Weld mixed with some CF matt is best)
I've been riding a Manitou air shock mounted like this for two years with no sweat. (BTW I'm weighing in at 210# and like to jump.)
Seems to me the machinist guy from Ontario made some terrific aluminum adapters as well... name is escaping me... good pictures, too. Called 'em ULM's or something.
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If you can get to the gallery for "Frankd3000" he's the guy. Very nice work on some adapters.
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Ah yes, Andrew in Canada(Frankd3000). During the spamming, he got locked out of the forum. Anyway he made these "Mula" (modified upper link adapters) for cane creek cloud nine shocks. Really nice work he did.
Will, Bob's your Uncle? Love it. That is a good idea, never thought of modifying the shock.
Terry
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I believe the problem here is pivoting, as I don't believe that one screw and two nuts will tight the shock enough...
The slot is just an open slot:
([url]http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/5679/prfzg0.jpg[/url])
For this to work, the adapter should be rotated 90 degrees.
That's me thinking.
And invert the shock so the resevior is not hanging to the side.
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yes i remember a thread that a guy made an adapter,a protpe then the real thing,really tidy little uit,made from a block of alloy.
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Well holy friggin' crap! No wonder i couldn't log on all this time - my password was changed. (and the friggin' Smiley don't work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRR!!!!)
Anyways - HEY GUYS!
Whisperdancer - you know what? I don't get it either. I suspect that whoever made that adaptor just tightened the holy bejesus out of it to keep it inplace. IMHO, a good way to break things and/or possibly injur one's self.
The adaptors I made were for use with the conical (tapered) struts ONLY. You might notice that most attempts with an adaptor here are ones with a flat bottom that use a single bolt to hold it all together - NOT a very good idea! The key problem here is that you're relying on the strength of that bolt to keep it all together. Don't get me wrong here, i'm not saying it doesn't work, but it's not nearly as stout as using something made to specifically fit the conical shape where it mates to the strut. At the very least a stack of washers underneath the adaptor block should be used to take some of the load, but it's still not anywhere near as strong as having the proper mating shape.
With regards to the adaptors I made - I blueprinted the original taper on my Noleen shock to make something that I wouldn't have to worry about. If it was good enough to work in the first place then I was determined to follow suit. Once I had the numbers I needed I made a test piece, I tesed it and it was never a problem, no matter how much I tried to beat the crap out of Frank (yes, Frank is fine ..... just sleeping). The "rotation" is set to 90*. The 45* never worked as good because you were still leaving room for the shock to play in a direction where it was possible, which is definetly not desired.
Bonus points to Terry (shovelon) for remembering the MULA (Machined Upper Link Adaptor). While it was for adapting a shock to a CrossLink i'm still incredibly flattered that someone remembered it.
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Who could forget the MULA? It was the insperation for my adapters. I still need to take pics.
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Well holy friggin' crap! No wonder i couldn't log on all this time - my password was changed. (and the friggin' Smiley don't work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRR!!!!)
good to see you made it,most of the smileys do work now..... [smiley=nod.gif]
ps i only changed the password last night when i saw the post about you being blocked,i thought i would try to log on as you ,but of course i had to change your password to something that I knew...I logged on with no probs....dont forget to change it to your own one...
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good to see you made it,most of the smileys do work now..... [smiley=nod.gif]
ps i only changed the password last night when i saw the post about you being blocked,i thought i would try to log on as you ,but of course i had to change your password to something that I knew...I logged on with no probs....dont forget to change it to your own one...
Freaky timing!!!!!!!!!!! (nope, NO Smileys ..... oh well) No Gallery either, eh, kiwi?
Jazz - you STILL haven't taken pics?????? LOL! Oh well I guess I can't criticize. I sold two rear adaptors a while ago and never heard back from either buyer. (shrug) Hmmm, hope nothing happened to them!
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the gallery does still exist but i dont know where,one f the other guys might post a link to it.We still suffer from the after effects of the hacker(check help) and Dave has partially shut us down because the galleries and the files section were the way in
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Heres a link to the gallery
http://idriders.com/proflex/galleries/
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hi frankd3000,
your adapator is the best solution for my problem. i have a Proflex 857 and i want to replace the shock.
can you tell me:
- what kind of material you used for the adaptor?
- how long (eye-to-eye) is the Cloud Nine you have?
- how was made the adaptor? did you made it on a CNC machine?
thanks
Jorge
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The adaptors I made were for use with the conical (tapered) struts ONLY. You might notice that most attempts with an adaptor here are ones with a flat bottom that use a single bolt to hold it all together - NOT a very good idea!
Indeed, mine had a cone that fitted perfectly into the hole, still had to do the 45* thing though...
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hi frankd3000,
your adapator is the best solution for my problem. i have a Proflex 857 and i want to replace the shock.
can you tell me:
- what kind of material you used for the adaptor?
- how long (eye-to-eye) is the Cloud Nine you have?
- how was made the adaptor? did you made it on a CNC machine?
thanks
Jorge
- 6061 T651 aluminum
- i2i was 6.5" with a 1.5" stroke ..... this was the closest thing I could find that would match what I already had
- I had one of my co-workers make some on a CNC lathe
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Indeed, mine had a cone that fitted perfectly into the hole, still had to do the 45* thing though...
(shrug) Don't know what to tell you. It doesn't make sense. The stays won't flex side-to-side enough to need to do it from what i've experienced. Strange.
How is you shock attached to your adaptor?
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Heres a link to the gallery
[url]http://idriders.com/proflex/galleries/[/url]
Thanks.
Ahhhhh, memories. (insert winking smiley here)
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Heres a pic of frankd3000's rear adaptor, talk about quality! i'd give a kidney to have one like that
(http://idriders.com/proflex/galleries/frankd3000/IMG_1325.JPG)
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To be honest mine is essentially the same as above (just not as nice to look at!). I do the 45* thing because I was worried that if 90* sideways it did move quite a bit laterally... if you think that's acceptable and it won't break I'll take your word for it, but it just felt wrong when I did it... (obviously 90* the other way is a no go!!)
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Mine is pretty similar in function as well, but no where near as pretty and I'm sure mine would weigh 10X as much.
I'd happily trade mine for frankd3000's.
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- 6061 T651 aluminum
- i2i was 6.5" with a 1.5" stroke ..... this was the closest thing I could find that would match what I already had
- I had one of my co-workers make some on a CNC lathe
Thanks Frank3000,
when i get this on my bike i'll post it. until then is a work in progress. i'm upgrading the 857 components.