Did I bust my Rockshox Deluxe rear shock?
Brian0674
Posts: 3
Hello,
I have a Trek Powerfly full-suspension E-Bike 2019.
I am a beginner to mountain bikes, and so unfortunately I don't know what I'm doing.
My Trek comes with a Rockshox Deluxe RL shock, which has a 2 position blue compression knob; please see photo below:
https://flic.kr/p/2h93R4Q
I was experimenting with my shock before understanding that my compression knob had only 2 settings (locked, and open - see blue graphic on the shock in the photo above).
But in experimenting with compression, I saw only at the red graphic on the shock - thinking it was for the compression dial (when in fact the graphic is for the rebound adjustment).
Looking at the red graphic, I turned the knob (too forcefully) counterclockwise (when looking at the knob from the front) - beyond it's intended range.
The knob now clicks at three positions, instead of the intended two (lockout and open):
https://flic.kr/p/2h91hWP
https://flic.kr/p/2h91hXL
https://flic.kr/p/2h93RP7
The third photo in the series above shows the artificial 3rd position/click (at 4 o'clock) that I caused after forcing the knob too much counterclockwise.
The closed/lockout (8 o'clock) position still appears to work, as does the open (6 o'clock) position.
Nothing seems to change when I move the knob from the open (6 o'clock) position to my artificially created 3rd position/click at 4 o'clock.
I took the bike to the bike shop; the mechanic said the shock still works, so don't worry about it, just keep an eye on it.
I'm very OCD - I was thinking I should have the shock replaced.
I'm embarrassed to go back to the shop and ask for an unnecessary replacement (I would pay the cost of-course).
But is my mechanic correct in saying a replacement is not necessary?
By forcing the knob to a 3rd position or stop - is the shock indeed still good, is it safe???
(I read somewhere in another forum in which the poster said his knob was broken, and as a result, he saw oil leaking out the knob.
And a YouTuber said in a video a broken shock under pressure could blow up).
So my question is: - should I just "keep an eye on things" as suggested by bike shop, or should I just purchase a new one?
Thanks in advance!!
I have a Trek Powerfly full-suspension E-Bike 2019.
I am a beginner to mountain bikes, and so unfortunately I don't know what I'm doing.
My Trek comes with a Rockshox Deluxe RL shock, which has a 2 position blue compression knob; please see photo below:
https://flic.kr/p/2h93R4Q
I was experimenting with my shock before understanding that my compression knob had only 2 settings (locked, and open - see blue graphic on the shock in the photo above).
But in experimenting with compression, I saw only at the red graphic on the shock - thinking it was for the compression dial (when in fact the graphic is for the rebound adjustment).
Looking at the red graphic, I turned the knob (too forcefully) counterclockwise (when looking at the knob from the front) - beyond it's intended range.
The knob now clicks at three positions, instead of the intended two (lockout and open):
https://flic.kr/p/2h91hWP
https://flic.kr/p/2h91hXL
https://flic.kr/p/2h93RP7
The third photo in the series above shows the artificial 3rd position/click (at 4 o'clock) that I caused after forcing the knob too much counterclockwise.
The closed/lockout (8 o'clock) position still appears to work, as does the open (6 o'clock) position.
Nothing seems to change when I move the knob from the open (6 o'clock) position to my artificially created 3rd position/click at 4 o'clock.
I took the bike to the bike shop; the mechanic said the shock still works, so don't worry about it, just keep an eye on it.
I'm very OCD - I was thinking I should have the shock replaced.
I'm embarrassed to go back to the shop and ask for an unnecessary replacement (I would pay the cost of-course).
But is my mechanic correct in saying a replacement is not necessary?
By forcing the knob to a 3rd position or stop - is the shock indeed still good, is it safe???
(I read somewhere in another forum in which the poster said his knob was broken, and as a result, he saw oil leaking out the knob.
And a YouTuber said in a video a broken shock under pressure could blow up).
So my question is: - should I just "keep an eye on things" as suggested by bike shop, or should I just purchase a new one?
Thanks in advance!!
0
Comments
-
Buying a new one is a complete over-reaction! Even if you had broken the compression lever, it would be very much cheaper to get it fixed. Any of the companies that service suspension would do it almost by return post. You may even be able to do it yourself with the help of YouTube. I have done similar repairs on a Fox fork, so don't panic. (Just do it above a big white sheet so that any spring-loaded balls that go "ping!" can be found - they are only 1mm dia and they don't half bounce on concrete - you will never find them!)
Getting down to the detail. That lever is not broken. It turns the compression valve from open to closed and the click you feel will be a spring-loaded ball being moved around a circular groove and dropping into a ball shaped hole. The click is to let you know that you'd got where you were going.
If the correct closed position puts the shock into lockout, and the correct open position allows the shock to work normally, I REALLY would NOT worry about it. When your shock and fork go in for a service in a year's time, it will get returned to normal as part of the service, although to be certain I'd mention it.
By the way "lockout" is a poor term. It is not really "locked out" - as in "will not move". What it provides is a much higher resistance to compression, to help when climbing if your bike suspension design or the way you ride it causes pedal bob. If you forget to turn the lockout off at the top of the hill (who among us has not done that!) and then you hit a big rock half way down, the compression valve will open up at a preset pressure and allow the suspension to work so that the bike and you don't get damaged. Clever eh?
PS: read this Guide to setting your suspension by BIke Radar. It will tell you all you need to know and much much more when you are ready to understand it. It really is very good.
https://bikerumor.com/2014/10/30/bikeru ... -download/0 -
Thanks so much for your time and your answer!!!
Your answer is really reassuring and has a lot of information in it!!!0 -
I live to serve!
0 -
I've used TF Tuned before and they are very good. They even give free advice over the phone.
https://www.tftuned.com/
Might be worth a call if it will make you feel better!
Mr Sordy has hopefully at least put your mind at rest."Ride, crash, replace"0
