Cant get spring off Fox DHX2 - no slack!

The 600lb Fox spring that's on my brand new X2 is impossible to get off. Its too heavy for me so I want to put my 450 on. The tensioner is unwound as much as it goes and theres no slack, and because its 600 I cant compress it to remove the end....

What have you guys done in similar situations? Nothing helpful on YouTube. Ive done searches - not finding much. Spring compressors online seem that theyre going to be too big to fit.

9.5inch. 

I have ideas how I can make my own compressor but thought that I would ask here first.

Thanks!

Some heavy duty zipties should do the trick.  Sit on bike, compress spring, tighten zip ties.  Use 2-4 around the perimeter of the spring.

Good luck!

BRILLIANT! I'm trying to do it with the shock off the bike. Impossible to get enough leverage. Zip ties should work. THANK YOU

to be more safe I'd suggest using a couple of adjustable steel hose clamps instead

I once had the same problem, used a few speed clamps from the wood shop to compress the spring.

I have some vice grips with flat plates instead of plier jaws. We use them to open ski boot lowers to work on the boot lowers. If the zip ties don’t work and you’re in Whistler you can drop by and try that.

if all else fails try dynamite

I could BARELY get a 500# spring on/off my DHX2 9.5x3in by hand, whereas 400/450 were a touch shorter and no problem... 600 you will need hose clamps for sure I think. Odd that the SLS springs are so much shorter so you would never have that issue, but they top out at 550#.

My zip ties were not beefy enough (and they’re pretty beefy!)

I’ll try hose clamps next.

Thankfully not in a rush on this - who’d have thought removing a simple spring would be such a challenge.

Posted by: Ddean

My zip ties were not beefy enough (and they’re pretty beefy!)

I’ll try hose clamps next.

Thankfully not in a rush on this - who’d have thought removing a simple spring would be such a challenge.

They snapped?  Or you werent able to compress the spring enough?  If you put the shock on your bike and put a bunch of the straps between the coils loosely,sit on your bike, tighten straps they should hold no? Dont try and span too many coils, just one or two with each strap.