Adjusting preload..I have a problem...
 

Hello All! I posted this in the Mechanics forum last night, but I think I may be better off here b/c I am guessing that some of you might actually have my bike, a 2008 Raleigh Venture 3.0.

So, here is the deal: I wanted to adjust the preload so as to make my suspension fork, the NEX 4100 SR Suntour, as tight as possible. The instructions I received at the shop and the instructions found online seemed 100% clear until I started to make the actual adjustment (Admittedly, I have no idea what I am doing with a suspended front fork, I have always had a cruiser.). The instructions found online are as follows:

The preload adjustment allows the user to tune the response of the suspension fork as riding conditions demand and in accordance to his weight. The more preload you have, the more thrust it takes to get the fork to first move. The preload is adjusted by turning the preload adjustment knob at the top of the stanchion tube.
Turning the adjustment knob clockwise increases the amount of preload, while turning the knob counterclockwise reduces the preload . Please turn the adjustment knobs first fully counter-clockwise and then count the full turns you make clockwise. Please adjust always by the same amount of turns on both sides

These directions seem REALLY sketchy to me. The problem is, it gives you no indication of how far you can turn it or how to tell if you have turned it too far. Why is it that you should turn it the same number of times in both directions? There isn't an adjustment dial on the left side of the fork, there is only a dial on the right. SHOULD there be an adjstment knob on both sides? At the shop, the salesperson turned the dial on the right side a few times one way (i am GUESSING clockwise) but didn't turn it back. Also, I turned it several times and didn't count how many turns.

I am afraid that I have turned it too far and damaged it somehow. The dial seemed to be VERY difficult to turn the first time I turned it clockwise.

So my here are my questions: Could I have already damaged it by turning it too far one way or another? Should I be turning both sides of the fork somehow? How do I know how far is "all the way" one way or another?

Thanks for your help!

Don't have the bike nor the forks, but from my reading of the directions, there should be an adjustment knob on both sides. They're telling you to fully release both sides before making any adjustments ("Please turn the adjustment knobs first fully counter-clockwise..."). This ensures that both sides are at their minimum settings. From there, count the number of clockwise turns you adjust the first knob. Once set, turn the other knob the same number of turns. This ensures that both sides of the fork are set equally.

As for your bike only have one adjuster, that seems a bit odd. Looking at the Suntour page for the NEX series forks, all the pictures seem to show adjusters on both sides. Maybe someone with your fork will come along and verify this soon.

I took at a look at the Suntour page and found that they all seem to have two adjustments EXCEPT mine. If you take a look at the 4100 model, you will see that there is not an adjuster assy on the left side, only a cap. This becomes more apparent when you zoom in and even MORE so when you look at the "exploded view."

It looks as if there is a spring on one side of the fork. Now I am even more confused but I would wager a bet that most of you have a better idea of what is going on. In any case, is it possible to over-adjust a fork? Could I have done any damage?

In the manual for the old Rock Shox Jett C on my MTB, it warns to not turn the adjuster knob beyond its limit (five full turns from softest to hardest in my case). Checking just now, the limits are really well-defined, and I don't think that I can turn them too far without the help of some vise grips.

Unfortunately, my instructions don't indicate the correct number of dial clicks. I am also a bit upset that the instructions don't make a point to differentiate my model from the other models. I know it sounds kind of petty and it seems like I should have been able to figure out that my model is different from the others, but I am guessing that I am not the only person who read that and thought, "What do they mean 'adjust by the same amount of turns on both sides?'" I actually thought that they meant to turn it the same number of times either counterclockwise or clockwise each time (which didn't make sense, as that would only give you two settings). I have to admit that I was also pretty upset at the fact that at least one of the forum members on the Mechanics forum tried to explain to me that turning the dial "fully" counterclockwise meant to turn it "ALL THE WAY!" counterclockwise. The instructions made me look (and feel) like a total idiot :p

I guess I will be calling my LBS in the morning to find out what the adjust knobs limits might be.

Thanks for your help!