[Closed] KS LEV, anyones do this?

My original/crappy sealed i900r did this
My i950 (updated seals) also does this, but I'd say its harder to 'arse-bump' it when its been down for a good while than the i900

Always happens to both of mine...no need to worry.

You may also find if you pick the bike up by the saddle when the dropper is full down its pulls up a bit.

I've got one that does that and one that doesn't.
I've been told it's just the seal holding onto the shaft that causes it.
Only takes a bit of a bump to get it moving again.

Mine started doing this before it shat it's self, it's in Germany now until they get parts, eta 06/01/14
Still a great bit of kit and zee Germans have been great so far.

Mine does it occasionally. Things to do:
-Increase the air pressure a bit
-Use fork stanchion spray lube
-most importantly, never ever ride without a rear crud guard. Poop gets into any riser post and screws them up.
-Wipe dust and cack off after each ride, special attention to clean the seal.
Doing all the above my ancient Maverick post is still working on an older bike.

Above was about my KS Lev, Maverick comment just an aside

Mines is also back with the Germans, raising it wasn't an issue though. My issue is that it dropped around an inch when I sat on it! It's not even 2 months old, I think I'll be going back to a Reverb, never had any issues with them in the past.

All of what webcore said above is good advice. You also need to be sure the roller bearings are well greased and that the collar is screwed down tight. The first part of this article shows you how [url= http://www.watermanatwork.com/Land/Cycling/BikeShop/KSAdjSeatpost/KSAdjSeatpost.html ]Click[/url]

The seatpost shouldn't stick in the down position if it's well lubed, if it still does then the bearings will need a more thorough clean out with a bigger strip down as they'll be full of cack. If you carry on with the "bump" method then you could end up with these marks on your stanchion which will only get worse.

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The LEV is a great seat post but you do need to give it a little TLC now and again

I have wear on mine similar to above but worse. My warranty claim was rejected on grounds that the seatclamp was too tight, which to be fair it probably was. You really do need to use the carbon paste and not tighten it up too much!

Yeah, too tighter seat clamp would also do it as the bearings are forced into the sides of the stanchion, not good 😥

I was going to reiterate the seat-clamp (seat-post collar) is possibly too tight.

There's a good KS workshop video out there if you need to strip it down and clean it.

DP

Just got and set up a new KS LEV 125 myself. When the post is dropped I can pull up the seat by hand, it pops back down when I let it go - is this normal?

My advise too anyone reading this DO NOT BUY A LEV. Have had nothing but trouble with mine since a wet ride in the fod and it was only a few months old. KS now quote me approx £150 to carry out a repair. Think a reverb will be coming my way.

Arfur - It's totally normal for the saddle to lift a little when you pick up the weight of the bike. It'll feel like your pulling against a vacume and will pop back down again when you let go. Ironically it'll only do this when the post is clean and or new....

Has anyone had a Lev lock in the "up" position?

Mine is a 150mm version, installed with carbon paste and the quick release collar not nipped up particularly tight at all, just enough to keep the post in place (ie, it would still rotate after a tumble). I removed any dirt from the post and seal after every ride and used Finishline stanchion lube to keep it sliding smoothly.

One day it's working perfectly, a day later I get ready to go for a ride and it's locked up. The little barrel in the box is pulling down as far as it can go, so cable tension isn't the issue, and the kevlar string seems to be under tension. I've returned it to the local shop I purchased it from and am awaiting a response (I guess it's gone back to the distributor), but if anyone here has had that same issue it would be nice to know what the problem is/was.

Cheers for the responses.
- I doubt it'll be dirt in it etc as its brand new
- I'll check the seat clamp, though I'm pretty sure its just 'tight' and no more if you get what I mean.
- I also might increase the pressure slightly as well and see if that works

Cheers

Reverbs break just as much as Levs, there isnt a post out there that doesnt break.

Ive had:

A Joplin 3 x2
A Joplin 4
Original Reverb x2
2013 Reverb
KS Lev
and i now have a KS Lev Integra

All have broken apart from my new Lev but that is early days. I would never touch a reverb again, the lev cable and actuation is so much nicer.

To the OP, what frame is it on? I have issues with my integra where the cable outer goes through the grommet in my bronson frame. The outer sticks to the grommet, this stops actuation system returning correctly as the spring isnt strong enough.

After cleaning mine i spray some WD40 on the stanchion then cycle it a few times , seems to work well .
Also as everyone else has said not over tightening the seat clamp is very important as you would be crushing the internals.

sodadr - If your post has locked in the up position the chances are the kevlar cable inside has broken. There are quite a few videos on how to replace this including the service video on the KS web site

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for Video[/url]

Ive had just as much chew with Reverbs and I'm not put of either, the Lev is awesome it's just a little pricy.

If the LEV is new then it may require a little bump to get going again. It says so in the manual. If new or not been used for a while then it can take a little bump to get going again. Probably something to do with getting lubrication back in the right places after it has settled.

Also 66deg, I wouldn't recommend using WD40, it works far better as a solvent than a lubricant and will wash the grease and lubricant inside away from where it needs to be. Better to use a silicon spray or chain oil.

A strip & regrease of the Lev (as per that video) is no more hassle than doing the same for your shock. You don't even need to depressurise it or take the saddle off. I've found that a tight seat clamp tends to slow the top of the extension rather than keep it down. Staying down is just a bit of static friction in the seals, the same as an unused pair of forks are bit sticky the first time you try to compress them - nothing to worry about.

Does anyone know if a standard KS Lev can be retro changed into a KS Lev integra?

I've had mine for over 1 year now with no major issues other than it now needing a new cable as the old one is almost dead. Keep it clean and lub it every few rides and it's fine.

I tried with silicone spray for many weeks and found that the post frequently stuck with WD the difference was night and day it suddenly worked all the time.
But i do take your point WD is a strong cleaner as well as lubricant i take the view that if used frequently and the post always runs smoothly without any issues then it should be ok but you could always try GT85 as well.

i don't know, my shiny new 27.2 one is sitting on my desk in devon and i'm sitting 4000 miles away in Abu Dhabi. 👿

"Has anyone had a Lev lock in the "up" position?"

Yes, after a wet ride 2 weeks ago. I didn't have time to fix it before my commute to work. On the way home I slid on some diesel on a roundabout and ended up on my arse. Not to be recommended.

It's the second one I've had in about 40km the last one was replaced under warranty.

I got mine through Hi-bike in Germany and they have been spot on. Overall I can't rate LEV except that there are not many other 27.2 alternatives?

My Lev does this if I store the bike with it in in the down position. Nothing to worry about I think.