I've got some Fox 36 Float Rs and I installed new, SKF seals, changed the oil in the lower legs and the Float fluid in the air spring, all according to the Fox service guides. However, now I can feeling a sort of notchiness at certain points in the stroke. What is it? Everything went back together perfectly fine and nothing was knocked or bent.
Any ideas?
new seals probably need bedding in a bit
It feels like a mechanical notch, not like the seals. I'll strip the lowers off again tonight, cycle the air spring rod see if it's that and the damper rod too and rebuild them. Hopefully that should sort it. Otherwise, I'll just ride them saturday and see how they go.
But anything to be aware of?
Anybody?
Seals
So are the seals the only thing it could be? So just ride them tomorrow and see how things are?
Is the damper a cartridge or open bath? i.e did you fill the damper leg with 150ml of oil or just 20ml of splash oil.
If the former (150ml oil) release all air from the fork. Then open the damper to full fast. cycle the fork to max travel and back a few times, increase the damping and continue.
The R open bath damper is a pain to get right.
Also as said the seals maybe need to bed in also...a ride should bed it in.
On another note are your stanchions worn? this can cause binding and also make a fork nofeel notchy.
I'll try that tip with the damper. It's the Float R and less than a month old so the stanchions are perfect.
Thanks for the help. I hope that'll work and I won't ahve to strip them down again. Cheers 
pack the gap between the oil seals and wiper seals with quality suspension grease like Manitou M-Prep, Rockshox Judy Butter or Stendec
failing that, any good quality (non lithium) bicycle grease will work well
doing this dramatically reduces the "breakaway friction" on the fork, which has big 36mm stanchions and can feel quite sticky until the seals setttle down
the SKF seals definitely feel "grabby" until bedded in, which can manifest as feeling like a mechanical issue, this was my experience with installing SKF seals into my 36 Float RC2
I'll try the damper trick first then do what you say. Thanks very much. I wouldn't think that the seals would feel like a mechanical problem. Cheers 
Nope, rebuilt with grease packed in the seals and the feeling is still there. It's always at exactly the same point in the stroke and cycling the damper hasn't worked. I've not got a clue why it's happening. I'll just ride them tomorrow and see how they are.
have you tried loosening the clamps on each fork leg, removing the 20mm axle, reinstalling the 20mm axle without tightening the clamps, pumping the fork up and down several times, and then tightening the clamps on each fork leg?
You're onto something there Esher. It could be slightly twisted stanchions binding and causing stiction. It can feel like metal on metal and is mechanical technically.
I've just tried what Esher said and it's still the same.
I forgot to mention this before but you can actually hear where the notch is and like I said, it's always in the same place.
Hi terry352,
What you've described is posibly the small negative spring that sits on the push rod at the bottom of the left stanchion. They can become slightly bent/bowed with age and while this doesn't cause any real problems it does lead to a 'notchy' or 'rubbing' feeling when the fork is compressed.
They can be purchased for about £10 and are quite simple to fit.
Feel free to call us on 015397 32262 mon-fri for any further help.
Regards
Robin
Interesting! Next time they need a lower leg service I might have to try that. If it's that would it always happen at the same points in the stroke as it is at the moment?
You must log in to post.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
