Forum search & shortcuts

Air-sprung forks an...
 

[Closed] Air-sprung forks and temperature.

Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 
[#1123198]

I've noticed thst my Reba's seem to go somewhat 'dull' when the temp drops close to zero. They are fine when set up in the warmth of my kitchen but outside in the cold they feel a bit odd. It's as though i've too much air in them or something.

Is this a real phenomena or am i imagining it?


 
Posted : 12/12/2009 4:24 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Air expands in the heat. You should also check your cars tyre pressures when it gets cold.


 
Posted : 12/12/2009 4:28 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Now that was my first thought - air expands when hot so in theory the forks should 'stiffen up' when the temperature hits the mid 20's say?

Why is it doing that when cold though?


 
Posted : 12/12/2009 4:31 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

The air is more dense? Any lubricant is also thicker


 
Posted : 12/12/2009 4:34 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

It could be the oil in the system as well - good point Druidh!

The fork does seem less lively when cold, maybe i should compensate by putting 5psi less in the positive chamber?


 
Posted : 12/12/2009 4:36 pm
Posts: 4279
Full Member
 

pv=mRT, so pressure's proportional to T (in K), so the difference between indoors and freezing is less than 10%. The difference in the viscosity of the damping oil might have more of an effect.


 
Posted : 12/12/2009 4:37 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Hmm, i've recently dropped in about 4-5ml of oil into each fork leg via the wiper seals - i wonder if this added to the low temps has caused the strange feeling in the fork?

Felt rather 'wooden' today, not like it normally does at all.


 
Posted : 12/12/2009 4:41 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I should think its the oil.


 
Posted : 12/12/2009 4:43 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I think it's the oil as well.

It was pretty cold here this morning and my Float's definitely seemed stiffer than usual.


 
Posted : 12/12/2009 4:52 pm