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Klaufi

Chimp
Jun 4, 2011
4
0
Hey guys,
Im having problems with my "lower box link", the bolts keep coming loose, even with blue loctite and the set screws tight.

The thing is my M9 is second hand, anyone know if im suitable for a new one?

Would email intense but my internet connection is giving me problems with gmail..

Best regards from a otherwise happy M9 owner,
Klaufi

 

BMCarter

Monkey
Oct 10, 2007
297
0
Santa Barbara
Hey guys,
Im having problems with my "lower box link", the bolts keep coming loose, even with blue loctite and the set screws tight.

The thing is my M9 is second hand, anyone know if im suitable for a new one?

Would email intense but my internet connection is giving me problems with gmail..

Best regards from a otherwise happy M9 owner,
Klaufi

I had this issue at first with mine. 3rd ride on the bike was in the pissing rain, so I had this nasty clay packed in the lower link. I took the link apart and cleaned it up, loctited the threads and put everything back together. After that, the link would not stay tight.

The issue was this:

The cavity where the grease sits, between the frame bearings was the issue. When you install the link bolts, the threads (and your loctite) get covered in grease. Grease + loctite = loctite will never hold.

I ended up spending 5 minutes and removing ALL the grease from these cavitites (with q-tips, screwdrivers, etc. its a pain in the ass), then once it was clean, I installed the lower link bolts, and torqued to spec. I let the frame sit for 24hrs to let the loctite cure, and then added grease back into the grease ports, and reassembled the bike. Also make sure you clean ANY grease, dirt or grime from the bolts before you add the loctite.
 

Klaufi

Chimp
Jun 4, 2011
4
0
I had this issue at first with mine. 3rd ride on the bike was in the pissing rain, so I had this nasty clay packed in the lower link. I took the link apart and cleaned it up, loctited the threads and put everything back together. After that, the link would not stay tight.

The issue was this:

The cavity where the grease sits, between the frame bearings was the issue. When you install the link bolts, the threads (and your loctite) get covered in grease. Grease + loctite = loctite will never hold.

I ended up spending 5 minutes and removing ALL the grease from these cavitites (with q-tips, screwdrivers, etc. its a pain in the ass), then once it was clean, I installed the lower link bolts, and torqued to spec. I let the frame sit for 24hrs to let the loctite cure, and then added grease back into the grease ports, and reassembled the bike. Also make sure you clean ANY grease, dirt or grime from the bolts before you add the loctite.


Been there done that..

Trust me itŝ not my first time working with grease, or loctite together ;)

Just plain wont sit tight, each 4 min run or two gives me creakes, so know i dont even ride without a allen key..
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now




Been there done that..

Trust me itŝ not my first time working with grease, or loctite together ;)

Just plain wont sit tight, each 4 min run or two gives me creakes, so know i dont even ride without a allen key..
i posted about this a few months ago when i had this issue.
some of the early models (mine was made in early Nov) didnt have the box link machined properly to allow the bolt to fully bottom out, thus not getting proper torque. i called up Intense and had a new box link in a few days.
as BMcarter said, once you get the new one, youll obviously have to remove the grease to install the new bolts.
when they sent the new box link, they included new bolts with it that dont have the grove for the circlip like the original bolts have. they said the longer bolts with the groove for the circlip were interfering with some chain guides so they opted to not use those types of bolts anymore.

i know of one person who had luck removing the bolts, cleaning them up and reapplying the loctite. i unfortunately didnt have this luck.
 

eater

Monkey
Nov 25, 2005
476
20
Switzerland
same to me, every day loosen the two lower link bolts... cleaned, loctite.. no positive efect! i order a new box link.. but they want 247.-- swiss bucks.. i sent back the box link and sold the m9.!! "a piece off much little problems.."
 

p-spec

Turbo Monkey
May 2, 2004
1,278
1
quebec
Everything is always tight,however I always feal loose by hand yet riding none,im told this is bearings and a rare case known and seen on a few team bikes and wat not.

Now that stick is gone I figure I will call end of season.
 

quickneonrt

Turbo Monkey
Apr 8, 2003
1,611
0
Staten Island NY
before everyone freaks out they are working on a revised box link, from what i understand original owners will be able to get the new link for free once it comes out
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
same to me, every day loosen the two lower link bolts... cleaned, loctite.. no positive efect! i order a new box link.. but they want 247.-- swiss bucks.. i sent back the box link and sold the m9.!! "a piece off much little problems.."
are you the original owner?

before everyone freaks out they are working on a revised box link, from what i understand original owners will be able to get the new link for free once it comes out
its already out and original owners can get them for free. a friend and i have already gotten ours for free
 

quickneonrt

Turbo Monkey
Apr 8, 2003
1,611
0
Staten Island NY
are you the original owner?



its already out and original owners can get them for free. a friend and i have already gotten ours for free


Weird just got off the phone with Intense, the link is not officially out yet. Team riders and some employees have it. It is highly likely it will go into production soon.

Do you have the link that the inserts for the flip chips where remachined? Because those have been available for awhile. Mine is an early production M9 (october 2010) after several sets of chips I was sent a new link but this is not the revised link that is being prototyped now
 
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quickneonrt

Turbo Monkey
Apr 8, 2003
1,611
0
Staten Island NY
dont know if its the one you are speaking of, but the new flip chips fit much better into the box link then on the first version i had
Actually those are not the ones in testing right now. There is going to be a redesign of the box link.

the tolerances of the original flip chips were slightly off and that was corrected in the first couple of batches. Those owners are able to get the current linkage.
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
what year models had those issues?

i just ordered a 2011 new m9, hope it comes with the new links
all models are 2011's. from what ive heard, only some of the early production models had issues. mine was part of the first batch.

Actually those are not the ones in testing right now. There is going to be a redesign of the box link.

the tolerances of the original flip chips were slightly off and that was corrected in the first couple of batches. Those owners are able to get the current linkage.
good. i knew they were going to be a issue when i first saw them b/c they reminded me of my Evil's setup :D
i did use anti-seize on the first version and it got rid of all the noise/galling. i still continue to use it just in case.
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
hard to see from the pics
The Intense M9 was on display here twelve months ago so it’s not exactly new. What is however is a redesigned lower pivot assembly that uses expanding collets on each side to help stiffen the area and reduce maintenance.

 

Capricorn

Monkey
Jan 9, 2010
425
0
Cape Town, ZA
yep, saw the expanding collets on the new tracer when i went to pick up my new box link (for free), with new bolts and flip chips. Havent fitted it yet, just waiting for the creak to come back.
But at the time, the distributor didnt know/mention that these collets would be used on the M9 as well.
 

p-spec

Turbo Monkey
May 2, 2004
1,278
1
quebec
ya guy.

I have a shifting bearing IE if you shake the swingarm for play,one of my bearings in the lower link shifts side to side or up down ( if you can understand ) this was a known problem on some pro's bikes.They rode em anyway cause it still worked.( not the bearing pressfit side,the inner part of the bearing shifting )

This new link is infact uses the same style as the new tracer2 bearing system,this could be the remedy to fix my ishue.Seeing how they say its a stiffness bearing thing they seem to say.
 

IH8Rice

I'm Mr. Negative! I Fail!
Aug 2, 2008
24,524
494
Im over here now
ya guy.

I have a shifting bearing IE if you shake the swingarm for play,one of my bearings in the lower link shifts side to side or up down ( if you can understand ) this was a known problem on some pro's bikes.They rode em anyway cause it still worked.( not the bearing pressfit side,the inner part of the bearing shifting )
wow, thats a new one....but there arent any bearings in the lower link....they are pressed into the frame and swingarm
is that what u mean?
 
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p-spec

Turbo Monkey
May 2, 2004
1,278
1
quebec
you know the link obviously,the lower bearing that bolts/erea of the chainstay.

Thats the one I have problems with,they told me ride it,and off season get it serviced no problem.

but I was told one of the main reasons for the new link is to use the new better bearing system the tracer2 is running as you posted.

Could also be that the bolt isn't bottom'ing it as mentionned in the thread aswell.
 

mexicandh

Chimp
Aug 10, 2011
29
0
just ended building my red m9 with vivid air:eek:

im so stoked, cant wait to ride it, the only thing is that im getting a wierd sound from the link when i compress the shock :mad:
 

mexicandh

Chimp
Aug 10, 2011
29
0
what kind of sound?
like Abstrakt mentioned, try grease on the flip chips or anti-seize (since it was meant for this type of application)
i don't know if its the vivid air, which i don't think it's that,its a sound like if 2 metals were rubbing hard, but it only happens when i compress fast the shock, when i do it slowly like when i sit on the seat and it slowly compress there's no sound, but when i start like pumping the shock like jumping on the pedals haha, it appears, i will try to lube everything and see what happens, i dont got any anti seize, but i got teflon tape which i heard it work's too, but i dont know like how or where to wrap the teflon tape on the flip chips.

thanks
 

mexicandh

Chimp
Aug 10, 2011
29
0
it sounds like the chips are galling. if you go the teflon tape route, just make sure the tape is in contact with the part of the chip that sits into the lower box link.
did the teflon tape thing, and it didin't worked, im going to try to lube the chips and see if it works.
 

Capricorn

Monkey
Jan 9, 2010
425
0
Cape Town, ZA
mexicanDH: it might not be the flipchips this time round. Remove the shoulder bolts and regrease them.

I tefloned up the flipchips, and soon after that, the creaking was back and worse than ever. Taped up again, but it persisted. So systematically removed shoulder bolts and greased them up. That did the trick. Bike super quiet again.

Must still install the new lower box link and flip chips, but only once it creaks again.. meh.