Ohlins 07235-01A5L.p65, 951-6001126 User Manual

Cannondale P/N 951-6001126

Safety signals

Important information concerning safety is distinguished in this manual by the following notations:

The Safety alert symbol means: Caution! Your safety is involved.

WARNING!

Failure to follow warning instructions could result in severe or fatal injury to anyone working with, inspecting or using the suspension, or to bystanders.

CAUTION!

Caution indicates that special precautions must be taken to avoid damage to the suspension.

NOTE!

This indicates information that is of importance with regard to procedures.

Any reprinting or unauthorized use

without the written permission of

Öhlins Racing AB is prohibited.

Printed in Sweden.

Introduction

All of Öhlins advanced suspension products are adepted to the brand and model. This means that length, travel springaction and damping characteristics, are tested individually just for the vehicle that you have decided to fit with Öhlins suspension.

Before installation

Öhlins Racing AB can not be held responsible for any damage whatsoever to shock absorber or vehicle, or injury to persons, if the instructions for fitting and maintenance are not followed exactly.

Similarly, the warranty will become null and void

if the instructions are not adhered to.

Contents

Saftey signals ................................................ 2

Tuning the suspension ................................... 3

Design ........................................................... 3

Function ........................................................ 4

Compression damping ................................ 4

Rebound damping ....................................... 4

Settings ......................................................... 5

Preload adjustment ....................................... 6

Setting the damping ...................................... 7

Setting your vehicle: ...................................... 7

Start with rebound damping ........................ 8

Compression damping ................................ 8

Inspection and maintenance ......................... 9

WARNING!

1. Installing a shock absorber, that is not approved by the vehicle manufacturer, may affect the stability of your vehicle. Öhlins Racing AB cannot be held responsible for any personal injury or damage whatsoever that may occur after fitting the shock absorber. Contact an Öhlins dealer or other qualified person for advice.

2. Please study and make certain that you fully understand all the mounting instructions and the owners manuals before handling this shock absorber kit. If you have any questions regarding proper installation procedures, contact an Öhlins dealer or other qualified person.

3. The vehicle service manual must be referred to when installing the Öhlins shock absorber

NOTE!

Öhlins products are subject to continual improvement and development. Consequently, although these instructions include the most up-to-date information available at the time of printing, there may be minor differences between your suspension and this manual. Please consult your Öhlins dealer if you have any questions with regard to the contents of the manual.

Oil

Gas

Oil

Shock absorber position

Gas and oil

Gas

Shock absorber piston

Separating piston

Tuning the suspension

Road holding qualities

Changing to Öhlins suspension gives optimum performance only when both the front and the rear suspension interact properly. It is of greatest importance that the front and rear loaded height (ride height sag) are within the specified values in the Mounting instructions.

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Design

Most of Öhlins suspensions are of the De Carbon type. The fluid is put under gas pressure and the gas and the fluid are kept apart by a separating piston. The separating piston is often fitted in a separate fluid reservoir, connected by hose (Fig.1) or fixed direct on top of the shock absorber (Fig.2) (piggyback).

There are also models where the separating piston is fitted inside the main shock absorber (Fig.3) (internal gas reservoir). Öhlins even manufacture a small number of emulsion shock absorbers that do not have a separating piston (Fig.4).

Pressurization of the fluid is made with nitrogen. The pressurization prevents cavitation of the fluid and the shock absorbing action is therefore more even. The external fluid reservoirs also contribute to better cooling of the fluid, giving longer service life to both the fluid and components.

Öhlins shock absorbers have integrated temperature compensation. As the temperature increases and the fluid flows more easily the flow

Oil

1. External reservoir with hose connection

2. External piggyback reservoir

3. Internal gas reservoir

4. Emulsion shock absorber

is controlled accordingly. The shock absorbing effect is therefore independent of the temperature.

Öhlins shock absorbers provide the possibility for adjustment, making them adaptable to most vehicles, drivers and ranges of use. All of the shock absorbers, equipped with springs, have adjustable preloading of the spring action. The more advanced models permit individual adjustment of compression damping and rebound damping.

WARNING!

All vehicles are designed with a suspension geometry that includes wheel movements and angles. The changing of components can affect this and it is therefore essential that both the rear and the front ends match each other. Changing to Öhlins suspension gives optimum performance only when both the front and the rear suspension interact properly.

7. Shim stack

Compression flow Rebound flow

Stop washer

Shims stack

5. Flow through needle valve 6. Flow through piston

Function

The function, in principle, is that fluid is forced through needle valves at a low rate of flow (Fig.5) and through a number of apertures in the piston at a high rate of flow (Fig.6). The flow through these apertures is regulated by shims (thin steel washers) that at high pressure are deflected to open for the fluid (Fig.7). On some models the needle valves can be set individually (illustration).

By altering the size of the shims-stack (ie,

number, thickness, diameter) (Fig.8) the characteristics of the damping action can be varied (this shall only be done by Öhlins authorized service workshops).

Compression damping

When movement of the vehicle causes compression in the shock absorber, the fluid flows through the needle valve (combined compression and return valve) in the piston rod. If velocity of the piston is high, ie, in the case of rapid compression, this will not be sufficient and consequently the shims underneath the piston will open to allow a greater rate of flow.

The fluid that is displaced by the volume of the piston rod is forced into the external fluid chamber via a separate compression valve. Even this valve is fitted with shims that open at high piston velocity. The separating piston is displaced, thus increasing the gas pressure.

Piston

8. Shim stack

Rebound damping

When the spring presses the shock absorber out again, the fluid flows back through the needle valve in the piston rod. The fluid flowing into the chamber is forced by the pressure of the gas back into the shock absorber via a separate non return valve. If velocity of the piston is high, the shims on top of the piston will also open to allow the fluid to flow though.

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