recently bought a new bike with a RC3 fork.
the blue dial on the top of the fork says 'compression' with a icon of a padlock.
I thought this was the lock out - however the fork didn't lock out.
I thought this was a fault but the shop said
:I have just spoken with Sram Tech and the RC3 fork does not have a lockout feature, the RC stands for "rebound & compression" i.e the adjustments which can be made.
It will have 3 levels of compression damping that control how the fork compresses in the same way rebound controls how the fork bounces back when compressed.
The lock setting won't be an absolute lockout if that's what you're after, I believe some dt swiss forks have had this feature before, but the fork should feel noticeably firmer or softer when you compress it in those different settings.
Agree on the last comment - it will form up the compression as a kind of lockout - but it's not a full lockout like some other brands of fork seem to have.
I've never really bothered using the dial on my Revelations despite having it - the only time is on short road sections with steep uphills I need to stand up for. Otherwise I've always just left it full open.
slightly slower feeling when compressed (and a hissing air noise) when the knob is turned to the lock icon (there seems to be about 3 clicks)
https://www.specialized.com/us/en/fuse-pro-6fattie/107217 states lockout on the specialized site
You probably have an RC fork (its that or RCT3 but yours sounds like RC).
This has 'compression to lock', but like all rockshox products, lock is basically just really firm. It should be notably firm though.
RC isn't a lock, just very slow.
so whats the idea? to help firm things up if on flat ground?
Not just flat but smooth ascents for example where energy would be wasted in compressing the suspension, especially when pedalling hard out of the seat, it's like on a rear shock with a climb and descent type switch where it just firms it up and makes it less "squishy"
The idea is that a full lock is basically pointless off road, and it's the balance between road and off road riding. Traction (loss of) will rob you of more speed than small efficiency losses, so the suspension remains active all the time to maintain grip. The compression at low speed if firmed up so that movements in your weight don't cause too much movement, but the suspension is still able to move if you ask it to.
I have two RCT3 forks - a Pike and a SiD.
The SiD has a lock out the Pike is just a much firmer feel in the same posistion - right around from fully open.
This makes sense and I understand it was done this was so an XC fork can be locked but the less XC more trail orientated ones don't.
Edit: The lockout does give out if you do leave it on though letting go with an alarming squeak! Unlike an older pair of Maguras where locked out meant locked out!
As above I don't believe a RC fork will lock out but the comparable RL XC fork will.
heres what Specialized have just told me. (theres hardly any difference between the 3 settings)
The store is correct, your fork features a “compression adjustment” rather than a total lockout. Turning the dial toward the padlock will increase the amount of force required to compress the fork but will not truly lock the fork out, you will notice that the initial part of the travel becomes a bit stiffer which assists in pedalling efficiency. There should be a definite difference in feel in the fork between open and “locked out” but if you feel there is no difference here then it is possible something may be wrong inside, its difficult for me to assess without seeing the bike for myself.
I would continue to ride the bike as it is, try the dial in both the open and closed positions and feel the difference when you are on the trails and if you are still concerned with its performance after a few outings then please contact the store to begin the warranty process with RockShox.