Race Tech shock spring not tapered. Q3 KDX220

freeindeed · Post by **freeindeed** » 02:14 pm Mar 28 2018

So I am changing the rear shock spring on my 2001 KDX220.
Stock is a 5.0 rate spring. So I started installing a Race Tech 5.2 spring.

The Race Tech Spring does not taper down on the bottom like the stock spring.
The result is the slotted stock spring guide is too small in diameter to fit snugly inside the bottom of the spring.
Race Tech included an aluminum spacer to help fill in the extra space left void by the too large diameter spring.
However this aluminum spacer (combined with the stock spring guide) still does not FILL in all the extra space. (It also has too narrow of a slot to fit through the shock shaft: but maybe a person could saw the extra material off.)

The result is the overall strength of the shock assembly may be weakened, the spring may not be centered on the shaft, and the spring may be able to move around laterally.

Is there a different aftermarket spring that mimics the taper of the stock spring? Factory connection? Or Canon?

Post by **KDXGarage** » 07:53 pm Mar 28 2018

Crazy question, but did you try it flipped the other way (upside dwon)?

Can you post a pic of the spring adapter? I have never heard of such an adapter.

I know they used to come with one that would make it work well with the KDX's.

Thanks.

John_S · Post by **John_S** » 08:01 pm Mar 28 2018

I put a race tech spring on my 220. I pressed the new aluminum spacer onto the bottom of the spring, slid the spring onto the shock, and then put the factory retainer on. I know what you mean that there some play but I figured with as much tension as you put on the spring to set the preload the spring wasn't going to move around once it's set.

John_S · Post by **John_S** » 08:05 pm Mar 28 2018

Heres the one I installed. Your adapter being slotted makes me think you have the wrong piece.

Post by **KDXGarage** » 08:10 pm Mar 28 2018

That is the one I was used to seeing. It was steel.

Does the spring say "6228"?

John_S · Post by **John_S** » 08:42 pm Mar 28 2018

That is the eBay listing from when I bought it so not sure that's my exact spring or a stock photo. My spring is numbered 622854.

Freeindeed yours should be 622852 assuming the last 2 numbers are the spring rate.

Post by **KDXGarage** » 09:22 pm Mar 28 2018

They are indeed the rate.

freeindeed · Post by **freeindeed** » 09:57 pm Mar 28 2018

Jason wrote:Crazy question, but did you try it flipped the other way (upside dwon)?

Can you post a pic of the spring adapter? I have never heard of such an adapter.

I know they used to come with one that would make it work well with the KDX's.

Thanks.

Yes, I tried flipping it both ways. Either way it is about the same looseness.
I do not know how to post a picture at this time.

freeindeed · Post by **freeindeed** » 10:07 pm Mar 28 2018

John_S wrote:I put a race tech spring on my 220. I pressed the new aluminum spacer onto the bottom of the spring, slid the spring onto the shock, and then put the factory retainer on. I know what you mean that there some play but I figured with as much tension as you put on the spring to set the preload the spring wasn't going to move around once it's set.

Yes, you are right there is no need for me to cut a bigger notch in the aluminum spacer. Just press it into the bottom of the spring or just slide it over the shock onto the assembled shock.
Yes that movement you experienced is the same one I am concerned about.
How do I know a jolt couldn't move that spring laterally? Or a possible fatigue failure could occur?

It seems Race Tech should be able to make a spring that either fits the stock "spring guide" or a spacer with the "spring guide" that fits more snugly.

freeindeed · Post by **freeindeed** » 10:10 pm Mar 28 2018

John_S wrote:Heres the one I installed. Your adapter being slotted makes me think you have the wrong piece.

That could be. There did not need to be a slot in it to slide on the KDX. And the slot that was there was for a smaller shock shaft.

freeindeed · Post by **freeindeed** » 10:14 pm Mar 28 2018

John_S wrote:That is the eBay listing from when I bought it so not sure that's my exact spring or a stock photo. My spring is numbered 622854.

Freeindeed yours should be 622852 assuming the last 2 numbers are the spring rate.

Yes, mine says SRSP-622852.

freeindeed · Post by **freeindeed** » 10:36 am Mar 29 2018

Would the rear shock spring spacer from a 1994 KDX200 work?
Kawasaki #13070-1161.

John_S · Post by **John_S** » 11:39 am Mar 29 2018

Call Race Tech and see what they say about it having play.

freeindeed · Post by **freeindeed** » 02:17 pm Mar 29 2018

John_S wrote:Call Race Tech and see what they say about it having play.

I emailed Race Tech but did not hear back. So I called them and they requested pictures of the gap between the two parts, so I sent them 2 pictures.

I called Factory connection and their equivalent spring #ALN 0052 has an inside taper of .071', while the stock spring has a taper of about .240".
They claimed a steel adapter will come with theirs to fill in the gap (on the bottom of the shock spring). They said a little gap is OK so the shock can
move around. Did Kawasaki make a design error by making a snug fit between the inside of the shock spring and the fitting (spring guide)?

Post by **KDXGarage** » 09:06 pm Mar 29 2018

The springs that Race Tech and Eibach are selling probably fit well on a 46 mm body and fittings on a KX or YZ. If one puts it on a KDX, then it can work pretty well with the adapter. The stock springs are for the 44 mm body and (as you have seen), have a smaller ID than the aftermarket (one size fits all) spring.

freeindeed, did the RT spring not come with the adapter that looks like the "E" part? Is this the part that looks like the letter C?

freeindeed · Post by **freeindeed** » 01:31 pm Apr 05 2018

Sorry for the delay in responding.
What do you mean by 44 mm body? Is that the outside diameter of the aluminum shock body? My 2001 KDX220 is 49mm at its smallest diameter.

The Race Tech adapter (or spacer) is made out of insubstantial aluminum that does look like a C, however it did not need to be a C (it has no need for a slot.)
Its got a large inside diameter that the stock spring guide fits in
So no, the Race Tech adapter does not look like the "E" part, because the E spacer (if I am looking at the right one) does not have a slot.

freeindeed · Post by **freeindeed** » 01:37 pm Apr 05 2018

I am still waiting for Race Tech's response to the picture I sent them of the insubstantial aluminum spacer that leaves 1/8" play in the spring.

Since I do not like the 1/8" play or trust the strength of the aluminum spacer (instead of steel) I will just return this spring.

Instead I plan to order the factory connection spring and see if they can provide a more robust assembly with less play although I kind of doubt it.

Post by **KDXGarage** » 02:51 pm Apr 05 2018

The piston inside is 44 mm. I am not sure of the OD.

Can you post a picture?

freeindeed · Post by **freeindeed** » 03:39 pm Apr 05 2018

How do you post a picture?

Post by **KDXGarage** » 10:43 pm Apr 05 2018

Upload it to a picture hosting site and use the <IMG> tags to place a link to that picture.

Otherwise, can you e-mail it to me? administrator AT kdxgarage DOT com

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