Felt Virtue Nine Owner's Manual - page 6
Equilink Suspension Manual
Virtue Nine Manual
6. To press fresh DU Bushings into the Equilink, orient the tools as seen in Fig. 10.
The EQ DU Press (N) should center itself inside the DU Bushing. Tighten the bolt until
the Flange on the EQ DU Press touches the Equilink. The tool is designed to set the
DU Bushings to the correct depth inside the Equilink. Repeat for all 4 Equilink DU
Bushings
7. After making sure that the bearing bolt/dust shield assemblies are cleaned of any
contaminants, discard any damaged bearing bolts. You are now ready to re-assemble
the frame.
Frame Reassembly:
4. To press new the bearings into the seat tube, orient the tools as shown in Fig. 8 and
carefully press both bearings into the frame simultaneously.
5. To press fresh bearings into the dropout pivots (Bikes with aluminum rear triangles
only) orient the tools as seen in Fig. 9. Install one bearing at a time and make sure to
insert the correct stainless steel spacer washer between the bearings. The reducer tool
should help keep the spacer washer centered while installing the second bearing.
(Note: use Loctite 242 on all threads when reassembling)
1. Take the rebuilt lower link along with the stainless steel spacer washers (placed on
the inside between the bearing and the frame) and slide the link into place (some force
may be required). Then reinstall the bearing axle and collet assembly, tightening it to
12Nm of torque.
2. Install the Equilink onto the lower link. The Equilink should be positioned so that the
cutout at the top pivot faces the front triangle of your frame. Slide the end of the link,
along with the press in polymer washers, over the lower link. Insert the lower Equilink
Axle. Center the axle in the lower link and then tighten the set screw to a torque of
3Nm. Next press the polymer washers into the top pivot of the Equilink and slide the
upper axle through the Equilink. This will have the Equilink ready for the next step.
3. Attach the rebuilt upper link plates to the frame, making sure the stainless steel
spacer washer (non-drive side) and acetal thrust washer (drive side) are in place.
Before installing the non-drive side link, be sure the upper Equilink pivot is assembled
and positioned correctly between the 2 shock links. Tighten the shock link bolt to a
torque of 12Nm and the upper Equilink pivot bolts to a torque of 8Nm each.
4. Attach the chain stays to the lower link. With the stainless steel spacer washers in
place tighten the bearing bearing axle and collet assembly, tightening it to
12Nm of torque.
5. Attach the seat stays to the upper link. The links may need to be rotated up and
down to position the link bolt holes in the correct position. Again, with the stainless
steel spacer washers in place tighten the bearing axle to 10Nm of torque.
6. Reconnect the dropout pivots. Assemble the spacer washers outside the bearings
in the dropouts and slide the seat stay clevises over the bearings and spacers. Insert
the bolt from the outside of the frame through the bearings and tighten this pivot to a
torque of 10Nm.
7. Re-install the shock, remembering that the upper and lower bolts could be different
lengths. Once the bolts are assembled in their proper locations they will need to be
tightened to a torque of 8Nm.
8. Once complete, re-inflate the shock to your preferred pressure and/or
recommended sag (see Section 3 of this manual for proper sag settings).
10. Reinstall any parts you removed initially to access your
suspension components.
11. All pivot and mounting bolts should be re-checked for correct tightness/torque
after the first ride and periodically every few
rides after that.
9
10
G
G
F
D
E
I
C
E
J
L
B
M
K
K
N
A
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10