Got a brand new pair of F120 RL's (2009 season but uncut, new), and just got them out the box. I compressed them a few times just pushing the steerer down, and noticed that the lockout wasn't doing anything. I let the air out, and put it back in (at great difficulty as I have the worst shock pump conceivable). Once this was done, I'm not sure exactly how much PSI went in but couldn't have been more than 40, the forks now make a rather odd noise when they get past half compression.
It's a boing noise, rather like you might imagine a pogo stick to sound after it compresses when hitting the ground. This happens every cycle, and on the whole the action of the stanchions sounds very 'scratchy', nothing like my F140's on my other bike, which just work without sound really.
I'm also a little concerned as they now won't extend past 100mm travel unless I pull them apart... If I just compress them and let them back up, it sits at 100mm.
I'm no expert on Fox forks, but this doesn't feel right.
Anything I'm doing wrong? something I have missed?
40 psi wont be enough for them to extend fully. Pop in about 70 and see how the extend.
There should be a springy feel about half way into the travel.
They'll feel scratchy, if the foam rings are dry. Turn them upside down for 10 minutes and try again.
Compress them fully into their travel a few times, does the lockout now work?
If not, there's probably not enough oil in them; I took my Fox's apart when I first got them, cleaned them up, lubed the foam rings and the wiper seals.
When I last "serviced" my Fox forks (re-lubed the foam rings and cleaned the seals etc.) excess oil must have seeped into the lowers - this made the lockout stop working for the first 5 minutes of riding.
I guess the excess oil prevented the lockout system from creating the air tight seal necessary to lock the forks out.
Exercise them a bit and you should hopefully find the lockout gets tighter with each compression.
Lockout now works OK, but, funny this one, the rebound seems to be the wrong way around? + makes it go quicker (I THOUGHT), and - slower (I thought), but in actual fact, furthest on the + direction makes it crawl back? Bit odd. Not a major issue though.
I had the lowers upside down for a good 20 minutes and they didn't feel too much different to be frank. There's still this 'boing' about 60% travel down, and they feel like they are scraping metal against metal, not harshly, but just rubbing against something.
One thing that is really frustrating me is this bloody awful shock pump. Never buy a bontrager one, when I put it onto the valve and started pumping, it never matches the pressure (despite being on as tight as possible), and all I hear is air coming out the bleed valve on the pump. Happens on all forks and shocks I own. That will be going back/in the bin soon.
Maybe I should just ignore all these issues and just ride them, probably would ride in without making too much sound. Or maybe they need a service if they've been sitting in a box for three years :/
thanks for the advice
So, I serviced my forks (fox 2012 somethings) after I found out the interval was 15 hours use. When I was doing that I did find that there was a piece of steel/aluminium swarf about 1mm by 2.5mm under the seal in the top of one of the legs. It came out on an earbud, and I discarded it. My service method was the "carefully pop seals" approach (can't be dealing with new crush washer consumables etc. every 15 hours).
I have heard that the rubber seals will perish when exposed to the elements, maybe that explains the "harshness" - or maybe your foam rings are dry. Maybe your forks have the more plasticy enduro seals on them? I do not really know - perhaps an expert could advise you better.
If I was you I would carefully pop the upper seals, check the foam rings for signs of (a) pre-exsitng oil (will be clear if forks are new I think), (b) check for gump and contaminants - and if it all checks out - go out and give them a roasting but with more sag that you would normally use (for the first ride) - then re-inspect after that.
If you look on the fox website you will see the "Fork Wiper Seal" servicing methods described very clearly - if you go slowly it is a 30 minute chore, and you [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/fox-32-fork-wiper-seal-service ]do not have to separate the main components[/url].
I do not really know about rebound speed settings etc. or how to diagnose lack of plushness further - so if you are really concerned get a pro service. Hope it all pans out for you. 🙂
+ on the damping is more damping is slower to rebound