Sag adjustment problems.

So I swapped my X over to R wheels this winter and decided to loosen up the suspension for more off road riding. I had about 1.5" of sag to start out with. I loosed the nut with the goal of 3" sag. Kept loosening until the nut was all the way to the top of the strut. I still only have 2.5" of sag and the bike is WAY too soft. It also lowered my ride height about an inch or so. I weigh about 185 lbs...Is the spring too heavy? Its the factory spring though! I don't get it! Any tips? Who makes these things better without spending an arm and a leg?

Describe exactly the steps you are taking to get your sag measurements, including how your body is positioned and how the bike is being held up.

What he said. Are you checking from fully extended to free sag (no rider) or race sag (fully geared up rider on the bike)?

I started off by measuring the bike sitting without me on it. I measured from rear axle to helmet lock. I then sat on the seat slightly behind my normal riding position and balanced the bike straight up and down, then measured again.

You need to measure from the helmet lock to the axle when the suspension is fully extended with no weight on the wheel at all, then measure the same spots when your sitting on it to measure your sag right.

You'd have way too much sag with the way you tried to do it.

So 3.5" measured with bike on standand then with me on it on the ground. That would be the issue I'm having then.

For the 10.6 inches of wheel travel the bike is supposed to have at the rear, 3.5 inches is fine since it is one-third of total travel, which is the norm.