2015 Crf Suspension issues

I have a 15 Honda crf250r with less than 17 hours. At about 8 hours I sent the suspension out to Factory Connection. Honestly, I feel like I've had nothing but problems since.
Problem 1- I've never been able to "properly" set my sag since having it done. FC says it should be 25-45 free sag and 105 rider sag.
In order for my to achieve 105 rider sag, my free sag is way off. I'm talking high 60s.
I called FC and they had me send it back ( after bugging them about it a few days in a row due to claims I was doing something wrong). They sent me back the shock with a lighter spring(4.9) and the original one they sent it with(5.1) btw I'm 160lbs. I've tried both numerous times and have had zero success. I've had multiple friends, track locals and even a local suspension guy help me with it.

Problem 2- The top and bottom Schrader valves leak oil when I twist my digital air pump off of them and the excess air explodes the oil that has leaked out into my pump all over the place. I've tried other pumps and it did the same thing. Called FC and they claim that's normal. Leaking oil is normal?

Any advise??
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CarlinoJoeVideo
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Portland/Los Angeles, CA US
9/17/2016 7:36pm
Just the basic questions.. You feel comfortable you are setting the sag correctly?

Where you honest with your speed and ability?

I believe it's normal for the air alive to spray a mist of oil when removing the air pump.
9/17/2016 7:59pm Edited Date/Time 9/17/2016 8:01pm
Just the basic questions.. You feel comfortable you are setting the sag correctly? Where you honest with your speed and ability? I believe it's normal for...
Just the basic questions.. You feel comfortable you are setting the sag correctly?

Where you honest with your speed and ability?

I believe it's normal for the air alive to spray a mist of oil when removing the air pump.
I'm 100% sure I'm doing it correctly. I've even used other people like I said in my original post ( friends, locals at the track and a local knowledgeable suspension guy ) whose techniques may be not all the same but we all get the same results.

Yesterday I took everything apart ( linkage and swingarm) to make sure there was no binding. Checked it today and it didn't change the results.

Yes I was honest about my weight and speed.

I've used other local suspension guys before and never had any problems like this. This is the first time using FC.
CarlinoJoeVideo
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Portland/Los Angeles, CA US
9/17/2016 8:58pm
If your free sag is high 60s with the heavy spring. What's the free sag with the light spring?

Did you ride the bike with the high free sag? How does it feel? If your race sag is correct...
slipdog
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Nor Cal, CA US
9/17/2016 9:07pm
You will get correct sag with a 5.1 at 160lbs or something is wrong.

The Shop

9/17/2016 9:13pm
So the free sag with the 5.1 was in the 60s? What was it with the 4.9? Certainly it was lower?
CarlinoJoeVideo
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9/17/2016 10:21pm
slipdog wrote:
You will get correct sag with a 5.1 at 160lbs or something is wrong.
I agree, something isn't right. Especially if the went over the shock again and you still can't get it.

Maybe the nuts/bolts on the linkage and shock mounts are too tight? Did you check the torqu specs?

motosicko
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Denver, CO US
9/19/2016 4:19pm
I had this exact same problem with my 13 CRF450, but the 4.9 spring still wouldn't sag properly so FC sent me a 4.7 and that got my race sag correct, but free sag was still closer to 50mm. I'm 150lbs. , never had to run a spring so light before. Similar problem with my wife's 15 CRF250, she is 100lbs. FC had to have a 4.2kg spring custom made, and it came back 250mm free length, stock spring is 242 free. Couldn't get that 4.2 spring to sag correctly either, and had to put 5mm preload on it just to get it into shock with adjuster rings completely backed off. All the aftermarket spring companies are selling 250mm springs for the 15 250 I have found out. We had Cannon Racecraft Inc. make a 4.2 spring at 242 mm , and that sets up perfect for her. Long story short, don't believe spring rates, or lengths are correct. Here's a quote from Race Tech "With springs the industry standard is +/- 5%. This means a spring marked 5.0 kg/mm could actually be a 4.75 to a 5.25. This means the rates overlap radically, a spring marked 5.0 and one marked 5.5 could actually be the exact same rate. " This is so true. I have a FC 5.2 spring on my 16 450 that sags properly, that 4.9 spring from my 13, I put on the 16 and couldn't get sag.
Also have had to change my sag setup routine with these new generation CRF's. Get one of these
Makes life a lot easier. Get someone to help and, with all gear on, sit straight above footpegs, and have helper push down hard on seat and let back up as slow as possible until bike settles, then measure sag.

arvid
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SE
9/20/2016 1:50am
I always set my sag when the bike and shock is cold .When its hot the free sag is way off.

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