Quantcast

Frozen Reverb

Kevin

Kevin

Turbo Monkey
Sep 6, 2004
4,540
1,007
In Holland sticking my finger in a dike...
Went for a ride today in sub zero temps and my dropper post started freezing up and didnt want to fully extend anymore.
Anyone ever have problems with that or know how to fix it?
Now that my bikes back in the garage its working fine again but I want to ride again tomorrow now that everything's frozen solid. Trails ride like youre pedalling on tarmac and thus are super fast and fun...
 
Racebike

Racebike

Monkey
Jul 28, 2008
463
4
Sweden
1. Check the pressure.
2. Usually your post needs a light service, outer "leg" removal, a wipedown and some new grease.
It's not uncommon that water particles sit in the grooves and on the pins and freeze, thus creating problems.
 
StiHacka

StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,505
In hell. Welcome!
johnbryanpeters said:
What would you expect that to change?
Click to expand...
Explosion?


OP: What are "sub zero temps" in your context? I have never had an issue with a Reverb in temps around -10C even in a snow storm on when riding through freezing water. It gets a bit slower but works fine. Make sure you have full 250PSI in the air spring and the remote is set to full speed.
 
Kevin

Kevin

Turbo Monkey
Sep 6, 2004
4,540
1,007
In Holland sticking my finger in a dike...
Kinda disapointed some people here would use alcohol or even whisky...
But all jokes aside youve give me an id and i will try to fill it with lava later today and see how that works.

Im pretty sure the speed adjust isnt fully open so maybe that will help too. Oil gets too thick to flow through properly?
Was riding in -8 yesterday for about 30mins when it first started acting up (not fully extending anymore) then after about an hour and a half (when I got back to my car) i pushed it all the way down and it just got stuck there.
When i tried to pull it out by hand wile pushing the remote it felt like pulling it out of a vacuum and it would just spring back down again.

As soon as it was back to normal temps in my garage it worked perfect again.

So thanks for the tips, next time any of my parts are frozen first thing Ill do is piihb.
 
Last edited:
saruti

saruti

Turbo Monkey
Oct 29, 2006
1,167
73
Israel
happen to me too
it wasn't the freeze, the freeze just made the air in the oil getting worst
you need a bleed to the hose.
check that there isnt any oil on the lever under the rubber. there is air in the oil.
the LBS just replaced my lever for free.
 
Gary

Gary

"S" is for "neo-luddite"
Aug 27, 2002
7,631
5,547
UK
Kevin said:
When i tried to pull it out by hand wile pushing the remote it felt like pulling it out of a vacuum and it would just spring back down again.
Click to expand...
Pulling up on the saddle is a sure way to introduce air into the reverb internals (not the hose). If you have it will be evident by an annoying few mm of sag at the saddle when fully extended. (You might be lucky as you had the lever depressed). Anyway... RS usually warranty this fault with a brand new reverb. My latest replacement is on it's way as we speak for exactly this fault.
 
StiHacka

StiHacka

Compensating for something
Jan 4, 2013
21,560
12,505
In hell. Welcome!
If your Reverb sags a few mms, it is very easy to fix without a complete disassembly - just add a bit of fluid under the poppet valve. There is a step-by-step guide on empty beer. Much cheaper than a full overhaul if your Reverb is out of warranty period already.
 
Kevin

Kevin

Turbo Monkey
Sep 6, 2004
4,540
1,007
In Holland sticking my finger in a dike...
Just came back from an hour and a half ride, was slightly less cold then yesterday.
Put the speed dial all the way open and the post is working like its brand new. ( i bled it like a couple weeks ago and it was flawless then)
Pops all the way back to the top with no sag so guess I got lucky.

Only about a week left before the temps start going up again so I guess for now ill see what happens in a few days on my next ride.

Cheers for the help and pointers! :cheers:
 
dcamp29

dcamp29

Monkey
Feb 14, 2004
589
63
Colorado
The reverb lever/hose system doesn't have much (if any) reserve oil in it, so when it gets really cold the oil in the lever contracts slightly and when you press the button- it doesn't open the internal valve as far as it would when the oil is warm. Also- cold oil flows slower and charge pressure inside the post decreases. All these things make the post move slower.


Like everyone said- wind the adjuster to full fast. A good bleed will also help it keep functioning in the cold.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom