My boxxer feels like crap

thaflyinfatman · May 13, 2005

What feels wrong with it? Too stiff? Too sticky? Ramps up too hard (or not enough)?

Try taking the top caps off, pull the springs out, and take out 10mL of oil from each leg (this will take about 30 seconds all up if you have a syringe). If they're feeling sticky, get some tri-flow (or similar teflon-based general-purpose lubricant), roll the circular springs off the seals, lift the lip up and squirt a bit down there (please use a squeeze bottle not a spray can). Pump the forks up and down and it should feel a bit smoother straight away. This is only a temporary fix though (ie it'll last a few days), it's no substitution for letting the seals break in, and packing said seals with slick honey etc.

J · May 13, 2005

Probably just needs to break in?
Um, quick fix... coast along and squish the bike a lot.

Changing oil isn't that hard and its relatively easy to find some at a motorcycle shop.

-J

Monkeybidnezz · May 13, 2005

I would also suggest some of the red rum by rocksox or something similar. It adds a nice smooth lube to the seals and helps prevent some of the stiction issues.

SwissOne · May 13, 2005

remove some oil (not a lot) and ride it!
You have to, because it's a new fork.. about 10h.. also put some
Prep M (or similar product) in to the whipers.. (for this you have to disassemble some parts)

Update: U can maybe solve the washer problem by using a aluminium tube.. cut off the needed length and use those 2 small tubes instead of 2 billion washers!

or bether solution.. run to your next bike shop! ;-)

Matt D · May 13, 2005

I know jack about Boxxers, but I would have to say that spacing out a brake adapter with washers may not be a good idea, especially the front.

Zaskar Rider · May 13, 2005

Go to your shop and see if you can find a tiny little bottle (15Grams) of stuff made by finish line called Stanchion lube. My buddy swears by the stuff.

Transcend · May 13, 2005

Take out some oil. RS is notorious for overfilling.

Handlebarsfsr · May 13, 2005

instead of just taking out oil, replace the oil in there with atf (automotive automatic transmission fluid). search for it here, there are several threads in which boxxer, and other fork users rave about how much the improvement is. i run atf in all of my forks (marzocchis though, not rs), and i couldnt be happier.

Transcend · May 13, 2005

Handlebarsfsr said:
instead of just taking out oil, replace the oil in there with atf (automotive automatic transmission fluid). search for it here, there are several threads in which boxxer, and other fork users rave about how much the improvement is. i run atf in all of my forks (marzocchis though, not rs), and i couldnt be happier.

Standark fork oil works just fine, and comes in varying viscosities - ATF does not.

Also - he dosn't have time to make all sort sof changes, so if he dumps out a bit of oil it will make a world of difference.

Weird sidenote - i have felt 2005 boxxers that are buttery smooth, and some that feel notchy as hell...what gives???

J · May 13, 2005

Transcend said:
Take out some oil. RS is notorious for overfilling.

Word. My buddy Ryan's fork was over filled straight from the mechanic at Sea Otter. When we asked why it came back so much stiffer he said it probably just needs lighter springs... :rolleyes:

As advised by some monkeys, Ryan just took some oil out and now its heaven.

-J

DRB · May 13, 2005

Transcend said:
Weird sidenote - i have felt 2005 boxxers that are buttery smooth, and some that feel notchy as hell...what gives???

One of the employees putting together Boxxers is drunk all the time.

Transcend · May 13, 2005

DRB said:
One of the employees putting together Boxxers is drunk all the time.

I too came up with this idea, it is the only real possibility! One of them taiwanese monkeys is a boozer.

CBJ · May 13, 2005

Thank good mine wasn't handled by the drunk taiwanese. I tell you the oil was at the right height and it was like butter straight out the box.

DROP · May 13, 2005

if you run less oil then your supposed to could it possibly damage the internals

partsbara · May 13, 2005

DROP said:
if you run less oil then your supposed to could it possibly damage the internals

please don t type stuff like this.... it s 2am and i m wasted... sh1t like this confuses me too much

Jm_ · May 13, 2005

DROP said:
if you run less oil then your supposed to could it possibly damage the internals

Maybe, but will that really matter or make it feel worse? No, plus, it decreases the risk of you blowing a seal, which makes the seal happy but not you.

It's only 830pm and I'm just starting on beer...

thaflyinfatman · May 14, 2005

Transcend said:
Weird sidenote - i have felt 2005 boxxers that are buttery smooth, and some that feel notchy as hell...what gives???

Same here... strangely, out of the numerous Teams, Races, WCs and Rides I've felt... the Teams have been the worst (I think I've tried about 3 of those), and the Rides have been the best! Must be a lack of lubrication or something out of the box, some of them feel terrible.

ThePriceSeliger · May 14, 2005

my 04' WC feels amazing.. that was completly irelivent but just so you know

davetrump · May 14, 2005

thaflyinfatman said:
Same here... strangely, out of the numerous Teams, Races, WCs and Rides I've felt... the Teams have been the worst (I think I've tried about 3 of those), and the Rides have been the best! Must be a lack of lubrication or something out of the box, some of them feel terrible.

my 2005 team felt a bit notchy out of the box as well, but that was mostly due to the fact that there is ZERO lube under the dust wipers. just drip some lube on the upper tubes and cycle the fork through its travel a few times and that will help a ton.

also, have you taken the top caps off yet? sometimes between taiwan and your house the presure changes, and when you open the top caps you hear presurized air release (similar to what happens if you take your bike go on a plane)... i also dumped the stock oil and filled it up with the correct amount just to be sure since in the past boxxers have come with all kinds off diferent levels in the from the factory

i also found that i have to run the 8" fok way softer than my 7" fork. i weigh 150 and ran yellow/silver (medium/soft) in my old boxxer and had to go down to a real light spring rate on the new one using silver/white (soft/x-soft) to get full travel.

after doing all this and a day at bromont, the fork feels absolutely amazing

J · May 14, 2005

priceseliger14 said:
my 04' WC feels amazing.. that was completly irelivent but just so you know

Hehe.. word.
-J

DROP · May 14, 2005

I wanna a boxxer

lovebunny · May 15, 2005

easy solution. buy a marzocchi.
oh and

Jm said:
blowing a seal, which makes the seal happy but not you.

.

arf arf

kicknitLivE · May 15, 2005

Get something other than Rock Shox. Best fix there is.. Forget the crappy ratchety asss feel.

CBJ · May 15, 2005

davetrump said:
my 2005 team felt a bit notchy out of the box as well, but that was mostly due to the fact that there is ZERO lube under the dust wipers. just drip some lube on the upper tubes and cycle the fork through its travel a few times and that will help a ton.

also, have you taken the top caps off yet? sometimes between taiwan and your house the presure changes, and when you open the top caps you hear presurized air release (similar to what happens if you take your bike go on a plane)... i also dumped the stock oil and filled it up with the correct amount just to be sure since in the past boxxers have come with all kinds off diferent levels in the from the factory

i also found that i have to run the 8" fok way softer than my 7" fork. i weigh 150 and ran yellow/silver (medium/soft) in my old boxxer and had to go down to a real light spring rate on the new one using silver/white (soft/x-soft) to get full travel.

after doing all this and a day at bromont, the fork feels absolutely amazing

Thank you Dave for writing what I would have said - 05 Boxxer is great if you know your sh.t.

CBJ · May 16, 2005

From TF Tuneds website

Why does my '05 Boxxer feel harsh over small bumps?

The new 8" lower leg assembly has much longer lower bushings which, if not fitted correctly, can cause a high degree of stiction. This leads to what can only be described as a harsh & sticky small bump ride. To resolve this issue we need to remove the seals (we have to replace the oil seal as it's not possible to remove it without damaging it), remove the upper & lower bushings before reworking/resizing the lower bushing. This procedure is very time-consuming so we have to make an extra labour charge (£10) & fit new oil seals (£15) - total £25 for super smooth fork.

http://www.tftunedshox.com/rockshox/rsfaq.htm#q1.1

LOOnatic · May 16, 2005

TheInedibleHulk said:
Going to a fox when Im not completely broke anymore, gotta make this work for the time being.

Yeah me too but i gotta make do now. Windrock did my 03 team in.
:dead:

Jm_ · May 16, 2005

CBJ said:
From TF Tuneds website

Why does my '05 Boxxer feel harsh over small bumps?

The new 8" lower leg assembly has much longer lower bushings which, if not fitted correctly, can cause a high degree of stiction. This leads to what can only be described as a harsh & sticky small bump ride. To resolve this issue we need to remove the seals (we have to replace the oil seal as it's not possible to remove it without damaging it), remove the upper & lower bushings before reworking/resizing the lower bushing. This procedure is very time-consuming so we have to make an extra labour charge (£10) & fit new oil seals (£15) - total £25 for super smooth fork.

http://www.tftunedshox.com/rockshox/rsfaq.htm#q1.1

So it's the old "you have to fix a boxxer after you buy it" addage...

CBJ · May 16, 2005

No this is the old JM dosn't like Boxxer

The article dosen't mentioned if its something isolated and the people I know on 05 Boxxers have not had any problems or needed any fix. My 05 WC rocked out of the Boxxer correct oil height and all.

dhkilla · May 16, 2005

get a montster T

bikeninja · May 16, 2005

dhkilla said:
get a montster T

better yet, get a super monster T! Roofs to flat! woohoo!

dhkilla · May 16, 2005

bikeninja said:
better yet, get a super monster T! Roofs to flat! woohoo!

werd werd

pbskis14 · May 16, 2005

Thats the stock oil weight for the '05 Teams??

Oh yeah, so my boxxer is also been gay and feelin like ****. The fork is not progressive at alllll, sticky in the begining and does seem to ramp up during the travel. Bottoms harsh on almost all drops... You guys have any ideas?

Pete

dhtahoe · May 16, 2005

Don't ride it or brake it in or anything first... Just tear it apart. Did you go to the school for the mechanicly DECLINED or something. Brake it in first and then make an opinion.

Jm_ · May 16, 2005

pbskis14 said:
Thats the stock oil weight for the '05 Teams??

Oh yeah, so my boxxer is also been gay and feelin like ****. The fork is not progressive at alllll, sticky in the begining and does seem to ramp up during the travel. Bottoms harsh on almost all drops... You guys have any ideas?

Pete

You are correct, boxxers are not progressive. If you are bottoming it out, you have two choices. One is to increase the compression damping (make it harsher), the other is to increase the spring rate (makes it stiffer and again, harsher). This is one area where a couple major manufacturers are falling way behind, even though they put out decent products otherwise. Progressiveness is important because if you have the right spring, you can still bottom out a linear fork off a drop, but with progressiveness you can have a fork that does not bottom and does not need to be "oversprung" to do so.

The Kadvang · May 16, 2005

dhkilla said:
get a montster T

hucking full time

My boxxer feels like crap

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