MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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I've got a lefty 2.0 on my Cannondale Fsi. Usually run 110psi.
I haven't ridden it for a month or so until today. The forks felt softer than usual so I increased the pressure to 125psi.
As the ride went on, the forks felt softer and softer and I started bottoming out. Eventually it got to the point where just sitting on the bike would bottom the forks...
So air leak I thought. Just got back and checked the pressure and it's still got 125 psi in there.
What's going on?!
If I I weight the front wheel from the ground it extends again.
maybe remove all the air out of the fork and then re-inflate to a higher pressure and leave for a while. then repeat the process but this time use the correct pressure....that might help
i am not a lefty expert though
I know you said its running soft. But have you done a bearing reset?
Only takes 5 mins.
Sounds like the classic Lefty bearing migration issue to me. In the fork instructions there should be a guide on resetting the bearings - it's something that needs to be done every 20hrs of riding isn't it?
Here's a Youtube guide:
Not convinced its bearing migration. Bearing migration shortens travel but in my exeperience it increases the stiffness of the fork rather than reduces it. Worth carrying out a reset as its only a 5 minute job anyway.
Tried the bearing reset thing but no joy. It's not suffering from reduced travel, there is just no progression as the fork compresses. Even at silly high PSI it just sinks straight through the travel if I even sit on it.
I had this with a brand new DT Swiss fork. It felt great doing the push down on the carpet before fitted but as soon as I put constant weight on it sank straight thru the travel. Turned out it was the air leaking from positive to negative air chamber. Went back for a new air cartridge. I've had a couple of leftys but don't think they have the same kind of chamber though I could be wrong
Left it at the local bike shop. Hoping it'll be back before my next race on 24th!
I thought Leftys less than a couple of years old didn't need bearing resets as Cannondale had changed the design?
If it's the latest 2.0 Lefty it could well be the wave washer in the fork and not bearing migration. Cannondale are replacing these under warranty when they do go wrong but not as a pre-emptive policy. So, congratulations! You may have yours done under warranty. The latest forks don't struggle with bearing migration as much as they used to, if at all due to the self-resetting design of them.
I thought Leftys less than a couple of years old didn't need bearing resets as Cannondale had changed the design?
I don't own a new one but I think the reality is "less frequent"
Back to the OP...
As the ride went on, the forks felt softer and softer and I started bottoming out. Eventually it got to the point where just sitting on the bike would bottom the forks...
I am only recounting second hand info I've heard but if you have a Solo Air damper than it sounds like it could be the very common wave washer issue.
Cannondale updated their service [url= http://media.cannondale.com/media//uploads/blog/files/SERVICE%20BULLETIN%20LEFTY%20Wave%20Spring%20Replacement%2050Hrs%200415.pdf ]documentation[/url] to suggest these washers need to be replaced every 50 hours of riding.
I believe the design was also updated from a single layered wave washer to double layered which affects all hybrid Leftys.
Whatever it is it sounds like a warranty issue as the tools will be fairly pricey to change this yourself IIRC
Edit: beaten to it by seconds 🙂
Thanks guys. Sounds like the wave washer could be the problem. I'll give the shop a call and let them know