SID forks stuck with no travel

othello

I've picked up a vintage pair of SID forks (1999) for a bike build I'm doing. However the forks are locked solid -- putting my full weight on them they just won't move. Any tips on how to release them? I need to pop to my LBS tomorrow to pick up a SID adaptor for my fork pump, so I can check the air pressures then. But even with a lot of air in they should move shouldn't they?

cooldad

Let the air out and see.

othello

LBS didn't have an adaptor but I've got one coming via Chain Reaction. In the meantime I guess I press the valves on both sides to release the air?

Chunkers1980

Dunno, they are very old. Have you looked in/searched for a manual?

njee20

It's just a needle adapter like you use for a football - local sports shop would probably have one. But yes, just let the air out both sides, they should move then.

To be honest though I'd not had bought a 14 y/o pair of forks without checking that. If that's not the problem they're basically bin fodder.

As a complete aside which model are they? XCs or SLs? Always hankered after a pair of those, had some on order for my ageing Cannondale of the day but they ran out of 1" ones.

othello

njee20 wrote:

To be honest though I'd not had bought a 14 y/o pair of forks without checking that. If that's not the problem they're basically bin fodder.

I bought them off eBay and the listing said nothing about them not working! I have my eyes fully open that these are VERY old forks, but for what they are being used for (replacing a pair of boat anchor Suntour forks on my son's Spesh Hotrock for the summer) they would have done just fine.

They are the SL one's and properly light -- a fraction over 1400g on my scales. I'll try the valve trick and see.

njee20

And if that doesn't work, I'd be sending them straight back. Not worth the hassle.

They were lovely forks though. £600 for the SL, even in 1999. Mental!

supersonic

I bet the damper has collapsed.