New bike- front suspension not suspending

Grant Lamontagne · **on:** June 02, 2016, 04:10:46 AM

As you saw in the other thread, I just bought a second hand full suspension mountain bike and the front forks seem to be pretty immobile.

I don't really know much about how it works, so any suggestions on where to look or what to look for with regards to adjust men's or troubleshooting would be appreciated.

It's not the end of the world that the forks don't absorb impacts since I'm not going to do anything heavy with it, so it's not a big deal if they are screwed, I am just wondering if it can be fixed and how to go about doing it.

Def

Mercury · **Reply #1 on:** June 02, 2016, 07:14:51 AM

I'm not a cycling expert, but I can't imagine they'd be screwed. Depends on the type of suspension they use. I'm not really familiar with bike shocks but if they are simply a greased pair of tubes with a spring then they could be frozen but if they are liquid filled they could be over filled or under filled. Not sure. Do you have any pics?

kaput · **Reply #2 on:** June 02, 2016, 07:21:24 AM

Allot of times higher end forks have a lock-out feature, could be? Usually on the top of the left or right side there is an adjustment (for rate of engagement) on one side and a on/off essentially lever on the other.

Mercury · **Reply #3 on:** June 02, 2016, 07:24:01 AM

Quote from: kaput on June 02, 2016, 07:21:24 AM

Allot of times higher end forks have a lock-out feature, could be? Usually on the top of the left or right side there is an adjustment (for rate of engagement) on one side and a on/off essentially lever on the other.

That makes sense.

kaput · **Reply #4 on:** June 02, 2016, 07:31:09 AM

Oh. But I don't know how to fix them unfortunately. We'll need an expert for for that.

lowtech · **Reply #5 on:** June 02, 2016, 08:17:10 AM

Most lower end suspensions wor either with a spring or with elastomer and an amount of grease to keep things moving. Because most are not made to very exact tolerances, water can get into the forks and when teh grease has worked away they can rust solid.

This is the worst case. Coulkd only be mounted under tension, too.

I would suggest to disassemble the forks completely, look for broken parts, clean, grease / fill with oil if necessary and reassemble.

Is there a maker mentioned on the forks, maybe even a model name?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #6 on:** June 02, 2016, 12:18:41 PM

Not that I am aware of but I will have a closer look today and see if I can get some pics. This is definitely a lower end bike.

Def

hiraethus · **Reply #7 on:** June 02, 2016, 12:27:59 PM

Cheap suspension bikes like that are best treated as disposable in my experience. It probably never worked, even when new. I wouldn't sink a lot of time or money into fixing it.

dks · **Reply #8 on:** June 02, 2016, 12:33:24 PM

if they are adjustable, maybe they are just set to the hardest setting.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2016, 12:36:30 PM

Quote from: dks on June 02, 2016, 12:33:24 PM

if they are adjustable, maybe they are just set to the hardest setting.

Quote from: hiraethus on June 02, 2016, 12:27:59 PM

Cheap suspension bikes like that are best treated as disposable in my experience. It probably never worked, even when new. I wouldn't sink a lot of time or money into fixing it.

I have had both of these thoughts. If they are seized then that's fine- they work well enough as solid forks. If there's a way to adjust our repair them though I figure it's worth a shot. It's not worth a lot of money to do it though.

Def

dks · **Reply #10 on:** June 02, 2016, 12:46:47 PM

There is also the chance that they are just ornamental - I remember having this on a chopper bike, many years ago.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #11 on:** June 02, 2016, 01:37:34 PM

I considered that too, but there is some scarring on the shocks showing where they have moved in the past.

Def

rishardh · **Reply #12 on:** June 03, 2016, 02:13:03 PM

I found this video. Hope it helps.

greenbear · **Reply #13 on:** June 03, 2016, 06:48:03 PM

Lower end forks use elastomer 'beans' to provide the necessary rebound, so rather than compressing a spring and then damping the recoil with oil or gas or it is a simple 'squash a bit of rubber affair'. Predominantly lower end forks will not be made to the same tolerances as high end forks - this is why high end stuff is so expensive, because it is really well engineered.

My suggestion is to use it and it will, in all likelihood, 'wear in' fairly quickly

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #14 on:** June 03, 2016, 07:11:29 PM

Quote from: greenbear on June 03, 2016, 06:48:03 PM

Lower end forks use elastomer 'beans' to provide the necessary rebound, so rather than compressing a spring and then damping the recoil with oil or gas or it is a simple 'squash a bit of rubber affair'. Predominantly lower end forks will not be made to the same tolerances as high end forks - this is why high end stuff is so expensive, because it is really well engineered.

My suggestion is to use it and it will, in all likelihood, 'wear in' fairly quickly

Thanks, I think I will keep using it to see what happens. If it works, great. If not, great.

Def

AdmSlc · **Reply #15 on:** June 03, 2016, 07:28:06 PM

I love biking all over the city. I wish I could offer some insight to the mountain biking world. But I pretty much just stick to road biking.

-AdmSlc

kaput · **Reply #16 on:** June 03, 2016, 09:28:31 PM

Quote from: AdmSlc on June 03, 2016, 07:28:06 PM

I love biking all over the city. I wish I could offer some insight to the mountain biking world. But I pretty much just stick to road biking.

-AdmSlc

road bikings so much more dangerous tho

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #17 on:** June 03, 2016, 10:57:07 PM

I'll probably be on the road more than off with this bike. There are lots of paved bike trails all over the city.

Def

dks · **Reply #18 on:** June 04, 2016, 02:48:10 PM

The suspense is killing me

kaput · **Reply #19 on:** June 04, 2016, 07:53:45 PM

Quote from: dks on June 04, 2016, 02:48:10 PM

The suspension is killing me

Fixed that for ya

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #20 on:** June 06, 2016, 05:20:08 AM

The rear suspension is very bouncy. I'm having a great time playing with it!

Def

Mercury · **Reply #21 on:** June 06, 2016, 05:50:52 AM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on June 06, 2016, 05:20:08 AM

The rear suspension is very bouncy. I'm having a great time playing with it!

Def

Sea Monster · **Reply #22 on:** June 07, 2016, 01:02:02 PM

First: Suspension? Your mama gave you two perfectly good legs boy.

Second: Remove, recondition, refit.

I'm no bike-mechanic (it's a thing, apparently) but I'm sure a can o' your favourite liquid fixit, a set of spanners (if you can find them all....) and a bit of time in front of the telly (put some rags down, you bloody barbarian), they'll either be right as rain, or at least you'll know whats wrong with them.

(Maybe some circlip pliers? Who knows what you'll come up against)

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #23 on:** June 07, 2016, 06:22:51 PM

Quote from: Sea Monster on June 07, 2016, 01:02:02 PM

First: Suspension? Your mama gave you two perfectly good legs boy.

Indeed she did.

Unfortunately gravity had other plans for me and both my ankles are held together with a bunch of screws.

Def

Sea Monster · **Reply #24 on:** June 08, 2016, 07:15:49 AM

Quote

Unfortunately gravity had other plans for me and both my ankles are held together with a bunch of screws.

https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D_EfW9znJYjw&rct=j&frm=1&q=&esrc=s&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwi-8emE1pfNAhXjG6YKHWsyAxgQtwIIFTAA&usg=AFQjCNGpVeXHBkaeiFTyglXBMtdhpniaag

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New bike- front suspension not suspending

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