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Normal Topic Front Fork Only Cycling 75%? (Read 1042 times)
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Front Fork Only Cycling 75%?
09/13/15 at 11:47pm
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Hey - me again. 

So I'm riding a Fox 34 fork with 120mm of travel. It feels really stiff and has a little bit of "stick-tion" that prevents it from beginning to cycle smoothly without a lot of downward pressure. I checked the PSI and it was at 80 (Trek/Fox recommends 90) and when I used traditional tests for "sag" it brought the p.s.i. down to 65. And it still doesn't run through all the travel at trails like LNSP (Laurel, Wildlife, and Hawk). I don't think it's ever used more than 60-75%. 

The fork is about two years old, I ride a lot, and (wait for it... wait for it...) I've never serviced it (but the LBS never mentioned it, I've never had an air fork before, and whenever they check it it never comes up - I even mentioned it over the summer and they said "yeah, maybe over the winter we can send it off"). 

So - 

1. What's going on with the fork? 
2. Solutions? 
3. How $crewed am I here? 
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MTBman1127
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Re: Front Fork Only Cycling 75%?
Reply #1 - 09/14/15 at 12:47am
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Prob just needs some love. As long as the bushings haven't worn the stantions your fine
  
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Re: Front Fork Only Cycling 75%?
Reply #2 - 09/14/15 at 12:48am
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Also fox Forks can move oil from the lowers into the air chamber so that is prob why it's not getting full travel
  
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Re: Front Fork Only Cycling 75%?
Reply #3 - 09/14/15 at 1:39am
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MTBman1127 wrote on 09/14/15 at 12:48am:
Also fox Forks can move oil from the lowers into the air chamber so that is prob why it's not getting full travel

+1

Let the air out completely. Take a socket wrench and unscrew the cap on the air chamber side. Dump out the oil. Screw cap back on. Fill with air. Take ro shop for seal replacement when you can.
  
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Re: Front Fork Only Cycling 75%?
Reply #4 - 09/14/15 at 3:01am
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If the oil is migrating from the lower to the air chamber, you would be better to address it before the oil gets too low an mess up the bushings in the lower and the stanchions on the upper because of lack of oil.  I've had 2 fox forks do this.  One under warranty and fixed by fox.  New bushings and uppers.
  
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Re: Front Fork Only Cycling 75%?
Reply #5 - 09/14/15 at 4:41am
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MTBman1127 wrote on 09/14/15 at 12:48am:
Also fox Forks can move oil from the lowers into the air chamber so that is prob why it's not getting full travel

+2 on that.  Seen it happen all too often. You don't have to have it sent off.  We do that kind of service all the time and have both 34 dust wipers and bushings should they need replacing (yes, we replace bushings on most forks. Smiley )  Bet that air chamber is a bit full of oil. Wink

A fresh service will make that thing feel like butta!
  
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Re: Front Fork Only Cycling 75%?
Reply #6 - 09/23/15 at 7:34pm
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I remember a number of years ago there being many threads on this specific issue, and I recall Enoch having a fix for it by shortening the piston rod and minimizing the amount of oil in the upper chamber. Not sure if this is still relevant since I know the technology has probably changed.
  
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