215.VM2.K5 VIBRATION CANCELLATION FLUID
HANDLING – INSTALL - TUNING
HANDLING AND INSTALL
l 215.VM2.K5 comes in three different formulas – SPI-3, SPI-4 and SPI-5. For most applications, SPI-3 (noted with a #3 sticker) is to be installed in the upper chamber of the fork and the shock. SPI-5 (noted with the #5 sticker) is only to be used in the lower chamber of the fork. SPI-4 is used as alternative damping fluid within the fork and/or shock for freestyle or extreme high speed applications. SPI-4 can also be used as alternate lower chamber fluid in extreme cold weather applications.
l Allow 215.VM2.K5 to settle after shipment or after pouring to allow all air bubbles to rise. DO NOT mix 215.VM2.K5 with other products.
l Keep 215.VM2.K5 at room temperature or higher before proceeding with installation.
l Wear safety glasses when working with any suspension assembly, particularly during teardown and bleeding.
l Use nitrile gloves and always have adequate ventilation when working with 215.VM2.K5.
l Wiping with a lint-free towel, and using compressed air is often the best way to clean most suspension assemblies. If a solvent or flush is required, use a residue free solvent as your final rinse. Kerosene based or low-VOC solvents tend to leave a residue and should be rinsed or not used. Avoid contact with rubber o-rings and seals when using solvents such as carburetor cleaners. Test if necessary. Use compressed air to clear any solvent or lint trapped in valve assemblies or passages before final assembly. Wear safety glasses when working with solvents or compressed air.
l Use very slow gradual movements when bleeding suspension assemblies. Wait for all bubbles to clear before closing assemblies. Tilt and rotate assemblies when bleeding.
TUNING NOTES
l 215.VM2.K5 is designed to operate best at outside temperatures between 50 to 120F (10 to 49C). Suspension use will warm the fluid by 30 to 140F (1 to 60C). A gradual warm-up or initial slower ride may be required before performance stabilizes and before final tuning can begin.
l Due to how 215.VM2.K5 controls velocities and the extra bottoming protection associated with end-of-stroke hydraulic oil locks, you will find that you can run less oil in the fork without the added concern of the fork slamming or bottoming. This means you can tune the fork oil level more for cornering performance and balance than to the concern of the fork bottoming.
l For open bath forks, the rebound setting is located on the top of the fork and the compression setting is located at the bottom. For multi-chamber forks, the rebound setting is located on the bottom of the fork and the compression setting is located at the top. On the shock, the top screw is traditionally referred to as the low-speed compression setting, and outer hex drive is a high-speed setting. The screw at the bottom of the shock controls the amount of rebound. Turning a screw (“clicker”) or hex nut clockwise or inward equates to adding more damping. A number that references a setting is the number of clicks or turns from the bottom or lowest setting. The first click out, turning counter-clockwise is “1”.
l For forks and shocks, the rebound screw by-passes both a rebound and compression stack. This means that turning the rebound screw will affect both compression and rebound rates. For this reason, you should tune an ideal rebound setting first, then fine tune the compression setting with the compression adjustor. Be aware that any changes to the rebound setting may require a follow-up adjustment to the compression setting.
l Sometimes adding more compression damping makes a ride feel smoother and more plush, and sometimes removing compression damping makes a ride feel harsh. You’ll notice that as you add more compression damping, the fork or shock may tend to ride high and then become too stiff. At this setting, back off the adjustment until the fork becomes too harsh or lose. Your range of adjustment becomes the values between the high and low of these two boundaries. This means the fork or shock is neither under or over-stroking (under or over oscillating).
l An ideal rebound setting is one that allows the fork or shock to fully recover before an additional strike comes into the bike. If the bike sits or squats over a series of bumps, you have too much rebound. If your body tends to fall into the bike, which can feel like the front end is harsh, this too can be from too much rebound. Do not use the rebound setting to fully control a bike that “pogos” or jumps back after a flat landing.
l It may be necessary to come out on the high-speed shock setting more than usual when using SPI-3 in the shock. A setting of 2.25 to 2.5 on KYBs is common and a setting of 3 to 3.5 is common on Showas. For light weight riders or for a more woods centric ride, a softer high speed spring may be required for optimal results. Contact us for details.
l For most open and multi-chamber forks, it’s not uncommon to conclude with settings that have the rebound screw further out than usual and a compression setting with the screw set in more than usual. You may find that the combination of 11 to 14 out on rebound with a compression setting of 4 to 8 may yield the best results. However, tune and test at will, and feel to contact us at any time for additional details or for problem solving.
l We have found that when using the 215.VM2.K5 in the shock, that a slightly lower than normal nitrogen setting may be beneficial. If you find that the bike is too harsh or chatters after setting the low and high-speed compression setting, lower the nitrogen reading by 5 to 10PSI and test. Keep in mind that when you remove nitrogen, you will have more rebound damping. Adjust accordingly.
l The rate of the free-piston spring or inner-chamber spring (ICS) can be varied to control how the fork responds to striking sharp edges, such as braking bumps, roots, g-outs and rocks. Contact us for details on spring selection.
l The 215.VM2.K5 has a significantly higher thermal conversion rate than conventional fluids. For this reason, it will be necessary to vent the forks after each use until the fluid has reached a maximum operating temperature. For MX applications, it may require two brief warm-up sets before the 215.VM2.K5 stabilizes. Note that when the fork cools over a long period (after your day is over) a vacuum will most likely be generated within the fork. This can be cleared before the start of the next ride or left to equalize as the fork warms. Use some caution and discretion during the first few laps or minutes of riding. For cold starts leading into a long ride (such as a long race or woods ride) it may be necessary to bleed the fork with the bike off of the stand as this will equalize as the fork warms. Note than some of the 215.VM2.K5 fluid may bubble from the vent hole during bleeding.
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Page Rev 2.3 Last Update 6/10/08