Pike Problems
KarateMonkey
Posts: 19
Hi,
I went out for a ride at the weekend and noticed that my pike 351 forks didn't feel quite right, tes plush than normal and sort of harsh. I discovered that I had only 100mm of travel and no compression damping to speak of, and that my lock out doesn't work, however the u-turn did operate and the forks would return to 140mm
As the bike hadn't been used in a couple of weeks and stored upright, Bunged it upside down overnight to allow oil to get into all the right places. Now i have about 30mm of travel and the u-turn will only reduce travel by same amount, and a nice squelching sound inside the fork.
As the bike is only 6 months old is it worth a return to LBS for check or get it straight off to TF?
Don't want to do any work on 'em myself in case of invalidating warranty.
Cheers
I went out for a ride at the weekend and noticed that my pike 351 forks didn't feel quite right, tes plush than normal and sort of harsh. I discovered that I had only 100mm of travel and no compression damping to speak of, and that my lock out doesn't work, however the u-turn did operate and the forks would return to 140mm
As the bike hadn't been used in a couple of weeks and stored upright, Bunged it upside down overnight to allow oil to get into all the right places. Now i have about 30mm of travel and the u-turn will only reduce travel by same amount, and a nice squelching sound inside the fork.
As the bike is only 6 months old is it worth a return to LBS for check or get it straight off to TF?
Don't want to do any work on 'em myself in case of invalidating warranty.
Cheers
0
Comments
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KarateMonkey wrote:Hi,
As the bike hadn't been used in a couple of weeks and stored upright, Bunged it upside down overnight to allow oil to get into all the right places. Now i have about 30mm of travel and the u-turn will only reduce travel by same amount, and a nice squelching sound inside the fork.
Not quite sure why you think sticking it upside down overnight would get oil into the right places - which way up is it normally when you ride - more likely it's got into the wrong places which is why you now have a problem. Check your Manual or on the SRAM website because I'm sure there's something in there about not hanging it upside down, or if you do, you need to cycle it through it's travel a fair few times before using it in anger... I haven't got my manual to hand but if I find it I'll post what I can find.
*edit* Tech Manual here:
http://www.sram.com/_media/techdocs/95-4015-022-000%20print.pdf
Hope this helps0 -
Thanks for the link.
As far as I have read (and re-read) there is nothing to say that forks should not be inverted, and the method of my madness for inverting the bike was to get some oil to seals etc as dry areas that are rubbing together usually could do with some lube..... And also it is a tip from TF http://www.tftunedshox.com/faq/view/tech-tips/-keep-your-baby-smooth/97.html
I know that the tip says that some u-turn forks can leak, but mine didn't in this instance.
The lack of travel seems to be manifesting itself be feeling like the fork is bottoming out when there should be plenty of travel left.
I guess it's off to the not so local lbs for my bike then.0 -
I've just got my Pike 351s back- had the same problem as you mate.
Out on the trail I was down to about 50mm of travel and it was topping out with a bang :shock:
Droped them of at my LBS (where I got the bike from) and they fixed them under warrenty.
Dodgy seal inside letting oil leak causing the forks to hyrdo-lock apparantly.
It happened on a Pitch that I test rode too- except locked out fully! Dodgy batch I'd say.0 -
Read the bit in the Compression Damping section - I think your current lack of travel may be that the compression damping assembly is full of oil...
As far the previous problem with not having any lockout, I've not had that problem with mine, but a mate, with some Rebas I think, did and a few cycles with it on fully open (no lockout) and then trying to do the same with it fully closed seemed to fix it. You could also try opening the floodgate then completely closing it off, again, trying to cycle it a few times in each position just to get the oil back in the right places. (If you hadn't guessed, I mean cycle as in bounce it a few times, not go out for a ride)
As for Tim's Top Tip - I bow to (vastly) superior knowledge, but reading that bit in the manual seems to suggest it can also cause issues if not cleared out.
If in doubt LBS it, or give TF a call, hopefully it's an easy fix!0 -
Thanks for that horton, I completely missed that... maybe i should set my monitor resoloution so I can actually read stuff clearly. :oops:
I'll give it a go tonight and see what the outcome is, as when i gave it a check I only cycled the travel a handfull of times before thinking "sod it" and had a cup of tea.
The 351 is on a Pitch, lets hope it isn't a dodgy one, not sure if I have the patients to wait for a warranty turnaround especially at this time of year.0 -
What you've described sounds the same as mine TBH- I couldn't alter the compression either.
MY LBS had them for 2 weeks due to Fishers not sending out the new seal first time round- and yes it was rather frustrating given that I've only had the bike 5-6 weeks!
Still been for a ride today and all is well 8)0 -
Oh dear. Well, at least it looks like you'll be able to tell the shop which part you'll be asking them to replace under warranty. Hope you get it sorted soon!0 -
The 351 is an OEM model that Sram make for Specialized, it isn't an after-market version.
In the manuals for after-market Pikes, there is a specific instruction NOT to store them upside down for any length of time.
TIme for the Walk of Shame, methinks... :oops:0 -
I have no shame in making that walk, forks were shot before inverting so all I have done is make a bad situation worse.
Just gives me an excuse to buy a cheap back-up bike0