RockShox Motion Control Damper (HELP!)

johnno23
johnno23 Posts: 15
edited June 2008 in MTB workshop & tech
I am having trouble getting my fork to lockout and it must be the motion control damper. I replaced the O Rings with no luck....

When I look at the damper and turn the blue lockout, not much seems to happed. A little gate at the bottom twists and the internals move but nothing really changes.

Does anybody know how this damper works and I might be able to isolate the problem.

Cheers.

Comments

  • johnno23
    johnno23 Posts: 15
    An update,

    The little disc at the bottom that turns doesn't block off the gap, is this the cause????

    And if so, it there a way to move it around to cover the gap more????

    Cheers
  • dave_hill
    dave_hill Posts: 3,877
    What fork?

    Have you got the floodgate set properly? If the floodgate is backed right off you won't see much effect on the Motion Control even when you've supposedly got it locked right out.

    Depending upon which fork you have, the floodgate control will either be internal or external adjust. Visit www.sram.com and download the correct manual for your forks. which will show you how to set them up properly.
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  • johnno23
    johnno23 Posts: 15
    Rockshox Recon 351 SL, no floodgate, only motion control.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Right, you have fixed floodgate - unadjustable.

    The knob at the bottom of the fork is the rebound adjuster - nothing to do with the lockout.

    Do you have the right amount of oil in there? No air bubbles?
  • stumpyjon
    stumpyjon Posts: 4,069
    Definitely check the oil, not enough oil = lockout not working.
    It's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

    I've bought a new bike....ouch - result
    Can I buy a new bike?...No - no result
  • johnno23
    johnno23 Posts: 15
    Hi, thanks for the replies.

    When I'm talking about the little disc, it is the one at the bottom of the damper after removing it from the fork. It moves from side to side but I cannot work out how it locks. It must control the oil flow through the bottom somehow?

    Changed oil, after 2 years the oil level was 118cc in damper side, and replaced with 118cc of 5W fork oil. O Rings all OK.

    All I can deduce is that the damper is not closing at the bottom, is this possible?

    Cheers
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    Bizarrely I have a motion control damper in... my wardrobe. But too tired to get oily now, I'll have a look tomorrow for you!
  • johnno23
    johnno23 Posts: 15
    FWIW this is a pic of the same damper as mine...

    http://velonews.com/photo/27236
  • johnno23
    johnno23 Posts: 15
    I have searched the internet and cannot find a link to the inner workings of motion control......any ideas?
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • johnno23
    johnno23 Posts: 15
    Hi, thanks for the links, but they still do not explain the motion control and the gate on the bottom. I really need to know how the gate should look in the" locked" and "open" position because from what I can work put this the the control over the whole process....

    Cheers
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    Ok then is yours the spring loaded one or the friction one?
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • riggsy123
    riggsy123 Posts: 62
    I had the same problem with mine on a Tora 318 - I changed all the oils and it now works fine.

    From what I could gather at the bottom of the motion control us the little metal plate that either blocks or lets oil into the chamber depending on whether lockout is on or off..
  • johnno23
    johnno23 Posts: 15
    All fixed, thanks for the help.

    It ended up that the bottom of the motion control had been reversed so that it never closed off. I took the bottom off, flipped the little blade around that turns, and put back together, all fixed!!!!! I'm not sure if the blade had slipped around because it really didn't look as though it had been tampered with.