Float R Losing Air
simonp123
Posts: 490
I recenty bought a used frame with a Fox Float R rear shock on it, but have found that it loses air quite quickly. After about 45 mins of riding my sag goes from about 20% to more like 35-40%. Does ths just need a new seal kit or is it something more sinister?
The shock shaft looks undamaged, and generally the shock looks in reasonable condition.
The shock shaft looks undamaged, and generally the shock looks in reasonable condition.
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If it's a second hand shock, I'd reccomend sending it to TFTuned, or Mojo for a full service anwyay. That will also fix whatever is causing the leak.
It could be any number of things, like a damaged body sea, to a crack, or a valve seal.
Hell, the valve core might just need tightening even.0 -
One thing I forgot to mention is that it doesn't seem to lose air when the bike is just sat, only during riding.
I was hoping to get away without having to go for a full service as that will take a week or more. Luckily TF Tuned are only about 15 miles from where I live.
The shock was also allegedally "serviced" 6 months ago. I'm wondering if a seal replacement is worth a shot as that is quick and easy to do myself first?0 -
Shouldn't take a week for a service. I think it only takes about 4 or 5 days to turn one around, even when its sent to them with a courier.0
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simonp123 wrote:I was hoping to get away without having to go for a full service as that will take a week or more. Luckily TF Tuned are only about 15 miles from where I live.
It won't take anywhere near that. Every time I've used TF I've had the my/shock back with 48 hours of it being collected.
If it's booked in for say a Tuesday, they'll send a courier to collect it on the Monday and you'll have it back on the Wednesday.0 -
I'd recommend spending just 10 quid on an airsleeve kit from mojo or similar, look up vids on how its done, and replace the airsleeve seals in 10 minutes flat, may take you more time to get the shock out of the frame.
That's all there is to it in 99% of cases, replaced a half dozen (no not all on my bikes!!!)
The seals wear over time and leak.
The air that supports you is in the external air can, so unless there is something visibly wrong such as a bosh causing it to come out of round, a crack, or the shock shaft scratched, etc, it's just the seals. The inners which you can't get to is where all the damping gizmodgery is, wouldn't cause what you are getting.
Sometimes the leak is from the positive to the negative air chambers (still in the same single aircan) just be careful when unscrewing the can, you notice this because when you deflate the shock it closes up and strongly resists being manually extended.Giant Reign X10 -
Either it's leaking out the air valve, check valve core, inflate to 300psi and put in a bucket of water to see. Or the air seals have worn out.
The floats really need to be serviced every 12 to 18 months, (Fox say every 200 hours) this is a full service with fresh oil, gas and all seals.Suspension servicing, tuning, parts, setup and race support
Locotuning.co.uk0 -
Yes looks like TF will turn around pretty quickly, and with petrol prices as they are these days, postage may well be cheaper anyway :evil:
As I said the shaft looks fine, and the can doesn't look to have any dents or dings. The shock works fine and is smooth, just losses pressure.
I reckon I'll give TF a ring to order some seals and see what they have to say about the problem. I'd rather go for the full service after the winter when it may well need it!
Does anyone know what is actually done on a full service? I couldn't find any info.0 -
With my full service, it's a complete strip, clean inspection with rectification of any manufacturing defects seals in the damper unit are replaced as well as the air seals, oil and a fresh charge of Nitrogen the bushes are replaced if needed and the shock is tested.Suspension servicing, tuning, parts, setup and race support
Locotuning.co.uk0 -
I work on the "if it aint broke..." principle.
The air sleeve seals are a wear item. Out of mine, I got around 4yrs but we don't get much mud here so it all depends. So sort out the seals, it's normal and expected for them to need replacement, don't worry much about anything else. Except the shock reducers ("bushes")... sorry
TBH if your shock ever ends up needing a lot more than simple airsleeve seals, it may be worth considering a new replacement, the older Float Rs or even RLs can be picked up quite cheaply new. But you will get many more years of service out of what you have.
10 quid here - first on the page:
http://www.mojostore.co.uk/acatalog/Seal_Kits.html
Good luck, but you really won't be needing much, easy job.Giant Reign X10 -
I think the issue is that over time the oil in the damper unit will degrade resulting in reduced damping performance, this is a slow process so not necessarily noticalbe.
While a shock may not blow a seal in the damper unit for a number of years (depends on the model of shock some you'd be lucky to get to 18 months without a service) the performance of the unit will be reduced considerably.Suspension servicing, tuning, parts, setup and race support
Locotuning.co.uk0 -
The bushes look pretty new, so something was certainly done in the not too distant past..
I am a lard-ars*, so have to run the shock around 220psi, so I guess that any air seal that is not perfect may have trouble once the shock gets moving
New seals it is then for a first port of call.
Thanks chaps 0 -
No problems like I said it mabe worth checking the valve core too. I've got air seal kits in stock too Suspension servicing, tuning, parts, setup and race support
Locotuning.co.uk0 -
220PSI is fine. It doesn't really depend on your weight, alone, sine different bikes require differing spring rates to account for their differing leverage ratios.simonp123 wrote:The bushes look pretty new, so something was certainly done in the not too distant past..
I am a lard-ars*, so have to run the shock around 220psi, so I guess that any air seal that is not perfect may have trouble once the shock gets moving
New seals it is then for a first port of call.
Thanks chaps
A Marin quad link, for example, needs very high pressure for a given rider weight.0 -
Locotuning wrote:No problems like I said it mabe worth checking the valve core too. I've got air seal kits in stock too
Ah, I feel guilty now :oops: , but I thought I should support a local firm.
TF very helpfull, though have me worried now as they said it could be many things including possible misalignment on the frame or rear suspension causing distortion of the shock and burping air
Though they also told be how to check this with some wood.
Anyway it was was agreed that a tenner for a seal kit was worth an initial shot.0 -
I'm from Wiltshire originally so am kind of local although I'm in the Vallies of South Wales at present Suspension servicing, tuning, parts, setup and race support
Locotuning.co.uk0 -
Locotuning wrote:I'm from Wiltshire originally so am kind of local although I'm in the Vallies of South Wales at present
Maybe next time then, or if the seal don't cure it. Your service prices are better 8)0 -
New seal kit arrived very quickly, so I stuck them in over the weekend. The shock was pretty mucky inside, and the float fluid looked more like thin beown grease, so I'm not sure when the selas were last done, looked like it had been a while.
The shaft looked OK apart from one tiny, tiny mark, and the air can was fine.
The suspension and links on the bike looked fine and free, so we'll see how the pressure stays on the shock, but hopefully it is just the seals.0 -
Well a few rides in now, and the shock has lost no appreciable ammount of pressure, so looks like a nice cheap fix. Result! 8)0
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Great news! And you learnt how to service the air sleeve too Giant Reign X10
