how to Soften fox 34 forks?

discofrank

discofrank

Likes Dirt
Ok so I ride a 2015/16 giant trance, with fox 34's ( FF91007781, Fox Fork 14 34 27.5 140mm ctd ) is the exact fork ( came with the bike as i got it 2nd hand )
average rider nothing special about me
now my hands are freaking killing me after rides
is it mainly the small and low travel bumps that are causign the issues as that's where 60-900% of my riding is
rebound is just where i want it and feels great
90 psi in the forks = around 25-30 % sag with me and gear
Current body weight is 102kg


any ideas?

I do have an option of trying out some pikes but they are 160mm travel ... which i dont need

cheers
 
discofrank

discofrank

Likes Dirt
Tubbsy said:
It could be the angle of your brake levers causing, or at least contributing to it, by forcing your wrists into an uncomfortable position while braking.

http://enduro-mtb.com/en/how-to-set-up-your-brake-levers-perfectly/
Click to expand...
cheers

not really they are in a good spot ( had a bike fit done at star physio late last year and got everything spot on ) but i will have another look )

funny thing they guy i can get the pikes off took a trance out with 34's and he said the same thing his hands where killing too !
 
treble

treble

Likes Dirt
There are any number of things as well as fork settings that contribute to hand pain: Brake lever position, grip selection, handlebar widths and angles, reach.

Im not familiar with those forks, do you have the ability to adjust High and low speed compression/rebound?
 
D

Daniel Hale

She fid, he fid, I fidn't
Is that model the FIT4 damper? speaking with paul [astroboyracer] on Monday, he's not keen on fox forks -seemingly any model

I presume you've tried taking 5psi out -does it then bottom out? try some air volume spacers perhaps
 
Warp

Warp

Likes Dirt
Talk to it smoothly. Be gentle and invite it to a posh dinner (you know in one of those places where showing in thongs is no-go) with lots of champagne and show up with roses.

It works with the wife... the 34's should be easier.
 
C

creaky

XMAS Plumper
Daniel Hale said:
I presume you've tried taking 5psi out -does it then bottom out? try some air volume spacers perhaps
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In my experience, with a few exceptions (e.g. talas and some of the 2011-2014 fox 32s and 34s), fox forks generally feel more 'plush' in initial travel than RS when properly maintained. Not saying they have a better overall performance or longevity, just a generally plusher initial travel feel.

A 2014 fox 34 won't have volume spacers but you can add extra float fluid above the air piston to achieve the same effect.

Of course, if the forks have not been serviced in 2 years then I would expect them to have a lot of stiction ....
 
mark22

mark22

Likes Dirt
I had the same problem fitted a FIT4 which helped a bit and ended up buying a Pike which I should have done in the first place.
I tried different pressures and rebound on the 34 it never used all of the travel, don't waste any money on it.
 
9

99_FGT

Likes Bikes and Dirt
moorey said:
Replace with pikes :behindsofa:
Click to expand...
Replace with a SRAM product? Moorey has been hacked!

Easy enough to replace the air shaft in the pikes to drop it to 140mm.
Depending where you are have a chat with Cyclinic or NSDynamics (OK, they are both in Brisbane) about tuning options.
 
The Duckmeister

The Duckmeister

Has a juicy midrange
The other possibility, which has only vaguely been brushed upon in an earlier comment is high-speed compression damping; probably a bit stiff, so not allowing sufficient plushness over the really fine stuff. Sadly not many forks have on-the-fly adjustable HS compression damping, meaning the fork needs to be sent to a suspension specialist to have the shim stack replaced with a lighter gauge one.
 
Big AC

Big AC

Likes Dirt
The issue the OP is having is one experienced by heavier riders on CTD forks. The CTD fork has a coil negative spring which is tuned to work with a rider weight of ~75 – 80kgs. When the OP at a weight of 102kgs gets on it with 90 psi in the positive air chamber the positive / negative balance is always going to be out. The too much positive pressure / not enough negative pressure causes appalling to non-existent small bump compliance (there are various articles around the interweb which reference this issue / symptoms).

Solutions:
  1. Take Moorey’s advice and get a Pike (self-balancing air to air sleeve);
  2. Pay for the internals of your fork to be replaced with the a new damper (CTD is not well regarded to put it mildly), and more importantly, the newer air to air sleeve which automatically balances the positive and negative chambers. I got quoted $1,000 from Fox Australia for this change (get fucked Fox);
  3. Pay for a custom damper set-up which will enable you to run lower PSI in the positive chamber and therefore get closer to a balanced set-up. This realistically only solves half the problem;

Bottom Line: your fork’s internals aren’t designed to deal with your weight. The poor small bump compliance is a classic symptom of this problem when there is a heavy rider involved.

A Pike from zee Germans is the cheapest way to fully solve the issue.
 
linkl8r

linkl8r

Likes Dirt
Probably the cheapest thing to try is adding 10mm of float fluid to the air chamber and running a slightly lower pressure.

Sent from my ASUS_Z008D using Tapatalk
 
teK--

teK--

Eats Squid
Big AC said:
The issue the OP is having is one experienced by heavier riders on CTD forks. The CTD fork has a coil negative spring which is tuned to work with a rider weight of ~75 – 80kgs. When the OP at a weight of 102kgs gets on it with 90 psi in the positive air chamber the positive / negative balance is always going to be out. The too much positive pressure / not enough negative pressure causes appalling to non-existent small bump compliance (there are various articles around the interweb which reference this issue / symptoms).

Solutions:
  1. Take Moorey’s advice and get a Pike (self-balancing air to air sleeve);
  2. Pay for the internals of your fork to be replaced with the a new damper (CTD is not well regarded to put it mildly), and more importantly, the newer air to air sleeve which automatically balances the positive and negative chambers. I got quoted $1,000 from Fox Australia for this change (get fucked Fox);
  3. Pay for a custom damper set-up which will enable you to run lower PSI in the positive chamber and therefore get closer to a balanced set-up. This realistically only solves half the problem;

Bottom Line: your fork’s internals aren’t designed to deal with your weight. The poor small bump compliance is a classic symptom of this problem when there is a heavy rider involved.

A Pike from zee Germans is the cheapest way to fully solve the issue.
Click to expand...
1. I ended up with a pike and am happy

2. Won't work to just change air cartridge as the stanchion won't have the necessary air transfer port. Need a new crown Steerer assembly so might as well whole new fork.

3. Agree. I tried this and wasn't fully happy.

What linkl8r suggested will probably work and costs next to nil.
 
Big AC

Big AC

Likes Dirt
teK-- said:
2. Won't work to just change air cartridge as the stanchion won't have the necessary air transfer port. Need a new crown Steerer assembly so might as well whole new fork.


What linkl8r suggested will probably work and costs next to nil.
Click to expand...
Apparently Fox sell a version of the air to air sleeve specifically designed to be retro fitted into a 34 air / coil fork without the need for other wholesale changes. However, this all somewhat moot due to the cost (yes, you may as well buy a new fork).

If the float fluid in the air chamber allows for low enough PSI to equal things out then go for it (may as well try it first and see if it works). If it doesn’t, then pike.
 
P

Paulie_AU

Likes Dirt
Have you considered contacting fox usa for a price for the updated kit? Pinkbike has it at $139US plus $40 fitting. Just get a shopmate address for your oregon postal address and deal with Fox directly.

Non bike stuff I have done simialr to claim warranty on goods purchased online from the states. US distributor didn't mind at all as I incurred the international shipping costs.

Fwiw I have 2016 34's and run 30+% sag when sitting and was finding them a little rough at 25%. I have bottomed them and they and I survived. I also found a little faster in rebound was nicer. Actually I run rebound faster on my whole bike after working out I could jump my bike perfectly well with zero rear shock dampening.
 
moorey

moorey

call me Mia
Paulie_AU said:
Have you considered contacting fox usa for a price for the updated kit? Pinkbike has it at $139US plus $40 fitting. Just get a shopmate address for your oregon postal address and deal with Fox directly.

Non bike stuff I have done simialr to claim warranty on goods purchased online from the states. US distributor didn't mind at all as I incurred the international shipping costs.

Fwiw I have 2016 34's and run 30+% sag when sitting and was finding them a little rough at 25%. I have bottomed them and they and I survived. I also found a little faster in rebound was nicer. Actually I run rebound faster on my whole bike after working out I could jump my bike perfectly well with zero rear shock dampening.
Click to expand...
$1800 to make an already overpriced fork feel decent. Take my money.

edit...misread that's as $1390 us : behindsofa:
 
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