I have a rockshoxs dart 2 with lockout. And I'm wondering why does my fork gets stiff in the cold it gets to the 30f and it's as hard as a rock when it's warm it's perfect.
SlayerJ
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This happens to most, if not all suspension. Honestly, I don't know why. Just be aware that it's common.
Forks (and droppers BTW) usually become a bit slower at low temperature because the oil inside gets more dense at low temperatures. That's normal.
However, being "hard as a rock" at 30ºF doesn't seem normal to me. I've never had a fork that didn't work properly at that temperature.
However, being "hard as a rock" at 30ºF doesn't seem normal to me. I've never had a fork that didn't work properly at that temperature.
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I have know idea why thus happens if it's in the 40s farenhight the fork is good as soon as the gets colder the gets rock solid.
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Do they usually get so hard is a ridged fork? That's how mine gets.
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no, that's odd. how old is the fork and what's is history of service (bath oil, damper service, seals, etc.?)
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The Dart is a an older fork circa late 2000s, early 2010s. I used to run one when I got my first mountain bike. I remember experiencing similar stiffness in the cold due to the grease and water ingested into the lowers essentially freezing up. I serviced it with oil in the lower legs which made the fork much freer to move but the dust wipers weren't designed for oil so eventually oil would migrate to the stanctions. If you haven't already, service the lower legs and use a low viscosity grease on the inside of dust wipers
Because you have the dart 2 it also has a damper cartridge. I'm not too sure if you can adjust the rebound settings but you could also try to reduce the rebound damping so the fork works faster in the cold. If not, even servicing it with new damper fluid would likely help.
TLDR: service the fork if it hasn't been done in a while.
Because you have the dart 2 it also has a damper cartridge. I'm not too sure if you can adjust the rebound settings but you could also try to reduce the rebound damping so the fork works faster in the cold. If not, even servicing it with new damper fluid would likely help.
TLDR: service the fork if it hasn't been done in a while.
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I had a Race Face dropper that would run slowly when it's really cold outside. I swapped it to a PNW Components mechanical dropper and the issue went away. The owner of PNW Components (Aaron) explained to me why air/hydraulic droppers tend to stick in the cold and how they remedied it through design changes. It was many years ago though and I don't recall what they did.
As mentioned, fork oil may thicken up which may cause your fork to stick. I'm sure it's more than just the oil but it's a good start. When was the last time you had your fork serviced? That may also be another culprit why it sticks during cold temps.
As mentioned, fork oil may thicken up which may cause your fork to stick. I'm sure it's more than just the oil but it's a good start. When was the last time you had your fork serviced? That may also be another culprit why it sticks during cold temps.
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It's a a Specialized Rock Hopper thats made around 2006 I think. I don't know if the people who had this bike serviced the fork. But I had it for a little less than a year. And the fork is a Roxshox dart2 but I don't know what year it is.
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What are the measurements for oil in the fork? And it does have rebound adjustment.
Oil gets thicker, grease gets stiffer. Stuff like cameras for extended cold use they need to swap out for lighter grease. In your case though, it sounds like water got in and when it goes below freezing, well it naturall freezes and is locking up the suspension. As others said, oil and grease get slower, but usually doesn't lock up solid.
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It will depend on the year of the Dart and what kind of variation you have. I'd suggest looking up a service manual on the sram website
Suspension Forks Spare Parts - FS-SPP-A0 - RockShox - Service
Suspension Forks Spare Parts, FS-SPP-A0, RockShox
www.sram.com
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if the fork has elastomer bushings in it, it would become rock solid on colder temps. Not sure what the dart has inside but if it's a low end fork it might have these bushings.
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Ok my bike was made around 2007 and the fork probably wasn't upgraded so it must be 2007.It will depend on the year of the Dart and what kind of variation you have. I'd suggest looking up a service manual on the sram website
Suspension Forks Spare Parts - FS-SPP-A0 - RockShox - Service
Suspension Forks Spare Parts, FS-SPP-A0, RockShox
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It might but idk.
Have you ever serviced it? Is it possible that there's water inside and it's freezing in there?
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It isn't cold enough for that to happen it only gets to the 30s and that happens.
Everything in a fork or suspension component has the potential to get stiffer with cold. Some materials, like grease and polymers, are going to be more susceptible to it than say oil and metallic bushings, but it will still happen to a lesser degree. And any pneumatic components will suffer a small reduction in volume, so there's that, too.
Sounds like a fork service is in order, and, if there's grease in the lowers, replace it with oil.
Sounds like a fork service is in order, and, if there's grease in the lowers, replace it with oil.
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