So I thot you guys might get a kick outta this:
Here's an example of what I was trying to say... because I realize sometimes words alone just don't do [justice, in general].
These two plots are from two different forks; however, both are options for the same vehicle.
The light colored plot is a pretty standard representation of generally good pressure balance --
only a very
slight trend toward continued force rise in the upper right quadrant of the cyclic pattern, suggesting some minor fluid gassing. But nothing severe.
But now look at the darker colored plot.
In the zone designated 'A', the force plot continues to
rise, even though the fork is currently
slowing down toward the position of maximum compression.
The reason this is currently happening is because the accumulator of the fork is being
over-driven as the fork's main piston fluid-flow stalls, turning to a semi-gaseous state (on its downstream side).
Yes, the gas force was very carefully tested and deducted prior to running either fork on the dyno at higher speed.
Finally, look at the zone designated 'B', for the darker colored plot.
The fork's piston is now moving
backward, through the emulsion it just created.
As a consequence, the accrued force is severely
lagging behind the relative change in piston velocity, then it suddenly ramps back up once the majority of the gaseous emulsion has passed back through the rebound piston.
This particular fork had a tendency to '
blow through the stroke' when out on the track; all because it was continually gassing the fork oil; ergo, no damping.
It was also 'beating the heck outta' the rider, because it was 'kicking back' at him so hard on rebound; ergo, no damping.
The dyno cleared up the matter of what/why, without disassembly, then we yanked it apart and corrected the real problem. It was a very cool day, because 3 people I know were suddenly "much more better".
Oh yeah -- the pic:
