link1896
Mr Greenfield
As the title says, I'm embarking on rebuilding Specialized rear Brain shocks (and now forks too, see post 243 of this thread). This has been a long time coming, I've spent a fair amount of time on the couch reading the patent documents while feeding my son over the last few weeks.
There are valid Australian patents for the brain technology and autosag technology. Spare parts availability seems to be non existent. Between Specialized's patents and their bus load of lawyers, I've had some legal advice, but really need to spend an hour with a patent lawyer. Personally I find the cost of ownership too high if I can't service myself. I really like SRAMs style, full service documentation and parts availability. Until I embark on an electronically controlled shock to supersede the brain, I want to maintain it to top condition. Until I have clarity from a patent lawyer, this thread will only show what I have done, current IP law lets an individual use/copy patent protected designs or processes as long as there is no commercial consideration.
Inertial mass (aka brain) Australian Patent http://pericles.ipaustralia.gov.au/ols/auspat/applicationDetails.do?applicationNo=2011253723
Autosag Australian Patent http://pericles.ipaustralia.gov.au/ols/auspat/applicationDetails.do?applicationNo=2012227197
So far I have two shocks to experiment with, a 2012 S-Works Epic rear brain, and a 2014 Epic World Cup rear brain. I've started with the Sworks, have stripped and cleaned. I'm currently stuck getting the piston head out of the brain assembly. Will need to make a tool with multiple pins to engage the piston head to spin it out, using a circlip tool quickly burred up two ports. grrr.
Next step is to hunt down generic parts from my local bearing/hydraulic shop. Fingers crossed the seals, etc, arn't custom sizes. I have a bad feeling they are. Seals are all made by NOK but have very odd size markings.
Some revisions provide a bleed port for vacuum bleeding, the 2012 Sworks shock doesn't have a bleed port, I'm yet to work out how to bleed.
There are valid Australian patents for the brain technology and autosag technology. Spare parts availability seems to be non existent. Between Specialized's patents and their bus load of lawyers, I've had some legal advice, but really need to spend an hour with a patent lawyer. Personally I find the cost of ownership too high if I can't service myself. I really like SRAMs style, full service documentation and parts availability. Until I embark on an electronically controlled shock to supersede the brain, I want to maintain it to top condition. Until I have clarity from a patent lawyer, this thread will only show what I have done, current IP law lets an individual use/copy patent protected designs or processes as long as there is no commercial consideration.
Inertial mass (aka brain) Australian Patent http://pericles.ipaustralia.gov.au/ols/auspat/applicationDetails.do?applicationNo=2011253723
Autosag Australian Patent http://pericles.ipaustralia.gov.au/ols/auspat/applicationDetails.do?applicationNo=2012227197
So far I have two shocks to experiment with, a 2012 S-Works Epic rear brain, and a 2014 Epic World Cup rear brain. I've started with the Sworks, have stripped and cleaned. I'm currently stuck getting the piston head out of the brain assembly. Will need to make a tool with multiple pins to engage the piston head to spin it out, using a circlip tool quickly burred up two ports. grrr.
Next step is to hunt down generic parts from my local bearing/hydraulic shop. Fingers crossed the seals, etc, arn't custom sizes. I have a bad feeling they are. Seals are all made by NOK but have very odd size markings.
Some revisions provide a bleed port for vacuum bleeding, the 2012 Sworks shock doesn't have a bleed port, I'm yet to work out how to bleed.
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