Penske 20MM Piston Shim Stack Order, Forks, I'm !@#$#$

[gbergma1]

The weather is finally incredible here in Maine and I have my fork in pieces.

My question is, does anyone have the shim stack order for the Penske 20mm kit that goes into the Super Tenere? Nick at Stoltec sells the kit. I have no issues getting the fork torn down, but I once I broke the piston down, I realized I was in over my head without some detailed instructions. I've got a great set of calipers so measuring these shims is not problem. If anyone can confidently help me unscrew this, I will send some swag from where I work, Old Town Canoe.

 

[Nikolajsen]

Sorry, can't help.......but, ÅH SHIT

 

[tuonodave]

Try contacting Stoltec, i'm sure he will help. I must have talked to him a 1/2 dozen times when getting my son's FZ09 suspension sorted, he was very patient and helpful. Stoltec Moto 610-252-7232 M-F 10am to 5pm

 

[blitz11]

Thanks tuondave, good to know. I leased the tools from Stoltec-Nick and he's been nothing but kind thus far. He unfortunately, rightfully so, isn't around on the weekend. I was optimistic I could get everything slapped together and get on the road.

If I ever get the correct order/sequence for these magic shims I will make a schematic for all to see. If one has that, the rest of the fork is pretty simple, just a lot of steps. Would be happy to help anyone through it if they get hung up.

I am not sure that i'd post the shim stack details - I view that as Stoltec's intellectual property. Stoltec has developed that shim stack; publishing it would allow anyone to copy it, which would be detrimental to his business/livelihood. My $0.02.

 

[gbergma1]

I am not sure that i'd post the shim stack details - I view that as Stoltec's intellectual property. Stoltec has developed that shim stack; publishing it would allow anyone to copy it, which would be detrimental to his business/livelihood. My $0.02.

Oh wow, thanks for letting me know, certainly explains why I couldn’t find any information. I wrongly thought this was an off the shelf kit that has a proper sequence, didn’t realize they are unique and proprietary. Absolutely, I won’t publish without Nick’s consent. Which you’re correct, it probably won’t happen. Much appreciated feedback. Thank you.

 

[gbergma1]

All good, Nick is going to square me away tomorrow. If anyone wants to know, I can report back with the change. My baseline is pretty bad because the fork has been leaking for quite some time, so it's going to be an incredible change. Also went with the linear springs.

 

[Sub_zero30]

Hello, what difference have you see between thé original fork kit?

 

[gbergma1]

Hello, what difference have you see between thé original fork kit?

Are you asking about the difference of the physical parts or the ride quality difference?

 

[Sub_zero30]

The physical parts ans the difference on ride If it's possible !

 

[gbergma1]

The Stoltec springs are chosen based on your weight and load, they are also a constant coil, vs the stock which are a general dual rate. Shock internals are “tuned”. Honestly, this part was witchcraft to me. I can conceptulize what is happening, varied discs flex at different forces, and let oil in/out through the circuit, thus changing ride characteristics. So you are buying Penske parts with Nick’s secret shim stack sauce.

I swapped everything over to Stoltec after my stock fork was pissing oil all over my tires. Usually if I’m going to tear into something to fix it, I upgrade. I ran the oil type and weight off of the website. I set preload, rebound and compression dampening based on the factory service manual defaults.

Hard for me to give a fair comparison because I rode with a clapped out fork for a season. I’m also bad at noticing nuances. On smooth stuff I really don’t know if I could tell a difference, maybe better when braking hard. My aha moment was riding some old Forrest roads in Maine on the way up to Nova Scotia. We were flying along, bike felt locked in and planted. One time I remember laughing out loud because I was on washboards and didn’t feel it. Conclusion, seems to work great but it needs to be pushed. I don’t know If it was springs, oil, or the valve kit.

If short on cash, I would just do the seals, springs, and fresh oil. But if your winters are long, and got some cash to burn, go all the way.

 

[Sub_zero30]

Thanks you for your return, i have they forks spring olhins and a New oil. But it's possible i'm change the valve kit.

 

[gbergma1]

I don’t think it can be any worse, but it’s a good question if it’s 400 bucks better.

 

[jrusell]

Hello, what difference have you see between thé original fork kit?

Here is a pic of the stock compression piston vs a race tech. The very small pin hole is the compression port. Compared to a race tech compression valve or a Penske where they have a nice big ports that doesn't restrict flow as much and the shims do the work instead. Where the stock small orifice is doing more of the damping than the shim stack and adjusting the compression adjuster does very little.

Can you remember if your Penske valves were drilled with a bleed hole? Racetech instructions wanted 1mm holes drilled for the Tenere. I didn't add them, but was curious if Stoltec or Penske added any for their Tenere valving.

Glad to hear you are happy with the result. I would have rather went Penske but this side of the border it was easier to go the race tech route. Very happy with mine, huge improvement over stock.

 

[gbergma1]

Sorry, I don’t remember. I do recall the Penske website having detailed schematics on these parts. Hope that helps.

 

[Sub_zero30]

thank you, last question, it's easy or difficult to change the valve kit? because I don't find notice!

 

[gbergma1]

If you have all the correct tools and follow directions it’s just a systematic process, lots of steps. I messed up and changed the order of the shims and pinched a spacer, so I had to tear everything down twice. If lots of parts and compressing a large spring are intimidating may be worth paying someone to know it’s right. Nick at Stoltec was very patient and helped me throughout the process.

 

[Sub_zero30]

Thanks you for this informations, if i'm try to change the valve kit i'm probably do to this by the agent Yamaha