S&W rear shock spring color codes

[bultaco4ever]

Since Progressive Suspension bought out S&W way back when, the color codes that indicate spring rate aren't able to be looked up. Progressive still makes shocks that are S&W replicas but I just want new springs (stiffer). I just wanted to know what my current springs were rated at.

No one at Progressive remembered or knew how or who to look it up. I have 15" eye to eye 'Strokers' with a black spring that has two red dots and an orange dot in between 'em.
I wonder what that means?

The Progressive Series 13 shock is the 'Stroker' replica and they offer 3 spring rates that I could choose from. I just didn't want to re-order the same rated spring that I already have. Anyone know the color code system?

 

[VintageDirt]

http://www.eurospares.com/graphics/suspension/springchart.jpg
http://www.eurospares.com/graphics/suspension/SWspring001.jpg
http://www.eurospares.com/graphics/suspension/SWspring002.jpg
http://www.eurospares.com/graphics/suspension/SWspring003.jpg

 

[bultaco4ever]

Hey, thanks a lot, Dirt!

 

[bultaco4ever]

Hey Dirt,

I've looked over all of the charts that you supplied and cannot find my exact spring. Have you ever seen this...I have 15" eye to eye S&W Stroker shocks (5.25 inches of shaft travel). The springs on them include a short medium blue 3 and 5/8ths inch preload spring and a 8 and 3/8ths in black main spring. The black spring has three colored dots on it red-orange-red. This spring and color code is not on the charts you sent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LqZjGKWugg

 

[VintageDirt]

hmmm, that thing is way more modern than the S&Ws I had on my 71 Penton.

 

[bultaco4ever]

Yeah, it's a '79 Bultaco Frontera. 5 or 6 years after the invention of long travel suspensions so it seems like space age stuff but now it's laughable. Penton's had Montesa engines, didn't they?

 

[VintageDirt]

Pentons had Sachs engines or later on KTM. I think only Montesas and maybe some Rickmans had Montesa engines.

You could get a good ID of what your spring rate is by smashin the spring against a scale so the spring gets compressed 1 inch. Unless their progressively wound...

Is this your bike? A model 215 Frontera MK11 370 (well the photo is a 250 so I guess it's a model 214 or 214A)? Cuz it looks like the shocks have got a remote reservoir..

 

[bultaco4ever]

yep, that's what I got. I ordered some new springs from Progressive Suspension. I called them and got what they recommended. It'll be an experiment. I'll let you know if they work out.

 

[bultaco4ever]

The Progressive Suspension springs that are meant for their Series 13 shock fit perfectly on the old S&W shock body. They went on just fine.