Front shock - How do I know if it works?

[Rick Youngblood]

How will I know if my front shock works?

I've stood over my bike with the front brake engaged and pressing hard on the front wheel. I can not get the shock to compress a single millimeter. I originally pumped it up to about 100 psi. I even let all of the air out, and still can get the front shock to compress or move.

Is this normal or do I have a defective shock?

I've only been able to ride the bike 2 times, due to rain.

 

[timt]

I did some testing

I think you have to work the shock a little to get it to loosen up.

A few minutes ago, I went downstairs and sat on the bike, no sag in the shock. 150 psi.
bounced a little, no motion
let all the air out, no motion
pushed down on the front of the bike, shock collapsed. This thing doesn't have a lot of travel. Maybe half an inch?
pumped the shock while sitting on the bike, no motion.
stood up, shock expanded.
sat down, no motion
let the air out and pushed down on the front, collapse.
pumped with no weight on the bike, around 100psi, the shock expanded.
Put my weight on the front end (165lbs), no motion.
Deflated and leaned on it, collapsed.
put 50 psi into the shock.
leaned on it, collapsed the shock. hooked a toe in the front wheel and was able to expand the shock by pulling.
pushed and pulled on the shock about 10 times with 50 psi in the shock. It started loosening up.

After all this, I was able to get the shock to move a little with 100 psi with my weight on the top of the fork.

The bike has not been used yet, and the basement temperature is mid 50'sF.

When/if the glaciers start to recede in this area, I'll probably do my initial rides with about 100psi in the shock so that it has a chance to move a bit. It's supposed to break 30F this weekend.

With such a limited amount of travel, I wonder whether the front shock is intended to function as suspension, or if it is intended to be normally fully expanded against the stop, and only move if you hit something hard.

 

[Rick Youngblood]

Hmm. Interesting Tim.
I've

Hmm. Interesting Tim.

I've been able to ride three times so far, including today. Have the pressure set at 100psi. I've put all of my weight 180 lbs on the front to try and get it to move, not even a mm, and that's with or without air.

I will try to put more force on it. You would think after 3 rides of about 55 miles it would have broke free.

 

[Rick Youngblood]

Okay, I use Tim's shock

Okay, I use Tim's shock loosing technique, and it seemed to work.

I was able to get it to collapse finally. Then, pushing and pulling up and down. Put 100 lbs back in. Now I can get it move up and down. It takes effort, but I see it does move now. Thanks Tim.

 

[iow]

even after 1000 miles my

even after 1000 miles my front 'shock' only reacts to very large hits such as hidden potholes.
i find it can't be run at lower pressures (currently circa 100psi) to make it more compliant, as the amount of stiction in the system stops it from rebounding to full extension and the 'shock' pumps down.
silicone spray lube did improve the movement initially.
in practice i still like the system - it's there when you really need it, but not constantly bobbing up and down.

 

[bladderhead]

I am still waiting for the

I am still waiting for the LBS to build a wheel, but I decided to look at the fork. I have the fork detached from the bike, and not pumped at all, and I tried to compress it. First it was locked solid, then it suddenly squashed and didn't extend again. I managed to get it extended again by pulling. The sticktion is really bad, but then I discovered another problem when I decided to pump it. I can't unscrew the pump without letting all the air out. Has anyone else experienced that?

 

[bladderhead]

Okay, found out how the pump

Okay, found out how the pump works. Sorry, as you were, everyone.

Still, the shock seems sticky. At a pressure of 100, it barely manages to return.

 

[John Tolhurst]

Glad you got a new one.
 

Glad you got a new one.

 

[timt]

after a little rethinking...

Since the shock would not return to full extension at 100 psi with me sitting on the bike, I don't think I want to ride it at 100psi. I'll do a little more testing and see what pressure is necessary for the shock to overcome friction and return to full extension under load. I'll ride at that pressure or higher.

In a few months I'll see if the shock slides better when it's warmer.

 

[Rick Youngblood]

Tim - In a few months I'll

Tim - In a few months I'll see if the shock slides better when it's warmer.

Hi Tim, I'm not sure that will make a difference. My bike is kept inside between 60-70 degrees. The first two rides were mid 70's, and yesterday was 60.

 

[Tuloose]

My experience with the front

My experience with the front shock is the same as what iow said. above.
I keep the pressure at the recommended 150 lbs and it only reacts to hard hits.
The suspension, both front & rear, is very minimal but I always get a smile when I notice it working.
There is a concrete edge with a rise of 1.25" from the street to my driveway and I can feel the suspension work when I hit that.
My fork holds it's pressure very well too.
I have only topped off the shock twice in the 10 months I have had the bike.