Jekyll 800/Lefty

lioneld
lioneld Posts: 69
edited October 2013 in MTB workshop & tech
I'm trying to bring an old Jekyll back to life, but the lefty max, aside from just having new bearings feels like a pogo stick.

My knowledge is lacking big time with leftys so can anyone tell me what i need to start looking at/ruling out to return the travel to something like normal?

Any help/pointers appreciated

ta
All Italian

Comments

  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    Have you checked the damper fluid?
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • pesky_jones
    pesky_jones Posts: 2,890
    Lioneld wrote:
    My knowledge is lacking big time with leftys so can anyone tell me what i need to start looking at/ruling out to return the travel to something like normal?
    The Rookie wrote:
    Have you checked the damper fluid?

    Your're assuming he knows what the damper fluid is/ where it is. I reckon you might need to go back a few stages
  • lioneld
    lioneld Posts: 69
    So...anyone care to elaborate on the damper possibility here?
    All Italian
  • The Rookie
    The Rookie Posts: 27,812
    A fork, like any vaguely decent suspension, consists of a spring and a damper (or shock absorber as it's often wrongly called on cars) without a damper a spring resonates like a turning fork and you pogo down the road, with a damper (correctly set up) you have a suspension system.

    Do you have a manual for the fork, or model/year?
    Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.
  • lioneld
    lioneld Posts: 69
    Yeh, i've now got a manual for the 03 - 05 lefty i think it is, going to read it through and see where that leads me.

    What i meant with elaborating on the other comment was how the fluid/chamber etc was accessed but im guessing i'll find this in the manual somewhere

    cheers
    All Italian
  • RevellRider
    RevellRider Posts: 1,794
    You need some specialist tools to strip a Lefty fork down. IIRC there is a tool to remove the damper which is about £30, but it is probably left in this case to someone who know what they are doing.

    There is a quick and easy check to see if the damper has lost it's oil. Pull the boot down from the lower leg and check the inner leg. If it's covered in oil, start planning on getting it serviced
    Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Epsilon.
  • bobs bikes
    bobs bikes Posts: 589
    speak to thumbprint tuning. by the time you have bought all the tools and buggered it up, you will have it back working. i think a full strip and build is around £140?

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