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Posting this as an FYI for anyone who may run into this problem. For the whole story from the begining see this thread: http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=187653&highlight=66sl
The fork has 99 miles on it now, is 30 days "old", and though it has been "softening up", it's still EXTREMELY notchy / sticky in the lower range of its travel, as if there's a problem w/ the stanchions in the extended postions.
Now a NEW manifestation of the problem:
During my last ride, a fast rocky 5 mile DH, the fork actually "LOCKED UP" :eekster: about 2 inches into its travel - it was instantly a full rigid! :madmax:
This happend mid-ride - no I did not alter any of the pressures - neg pressure on the trail after lock-up was 75psi as always.
I drained and refilled all chambers several times on the trail, trying to get some movement to save my body from the brutal jolting. But even after increasing air pressure in the pos chambers from 20psi to 25, to 30, and eventually to 45psi per leg, the fork just continued to lock-up in the same spot and not extend to full length unless I forcibly pulled it to extension with my arms - which was really difficult!
Even after pulling it out to full extension though, as soon as I weighted the bike it would lock up again, in the same plce.
It seems the stanchions are binding on the lowers, but I don't know for certain.
Being alone up on the trail, darkness approaching, I had no choice but to carefully ride down w/o front suspension. At one point the suspensionless bike bucked me off in a BAD cliffy spot and I sprained my ankle severely - out for three weeks at least, crutches and all...
Right now, in my garage, I have to pick up the front of the bike and slam the tire on the ground in order to "break" the lock-up and get the fork to extend. Predictably, when I sit on it and roll down the drive, it locks right up again. Slam the front down to free it, repeat... :madman: This condition persists with any pos pressure from 20 to 45 psi, 75 neg, 0 compression, 0 rebound.
Crazy, huh! Got a lemon I guess
Zocchi has not responded to email in over 10 days, so I'll call them tomorrow.
The fork has 99 miles on it now, is 30 days "old", and though it has been "softening up", it's still EXTREMELY notchy / sticky in the lower range of its travel, as if there's a problem w/ the stanchions in the extended postions.
Now a NEW manifestation of the problem:
During my last ride, a fast rocky 5 mile DH, the fork actually "LOCKED UP" :eekster: about 2 inches into its travel - it was instantly a full rigid! :madmax:
This happend mid-ride - no I did not alter any of the pressures - neg pressure on the trail after lock-up was 75psi as always.
I drained and refilled all chambers several times on the trail, trying to get some movement to save my body from the brutal jolting. But even after increasing air pressure in the pos chambers from 20psi to 25, to 30, and eventually to 45psi per leg, the fork just continued to lock-up in the same spot and not extend to full length unless I forcibly pulled it to extension with my arms - which was really difficult!
Even after pulling it out to full extension though, as soon as I weighted the bike it would lock up again, in the same plce.
It seems the stanchions are binding on the lowers, but I don't know for certain.
Being alone up on the trail, darkness approaching, I had no choice but to carefully ride down w/o front suspension. At one point the suspensionless bike bucked me off in a BAD cliffy spot and I sprained my ankle severely - out for three weeks at least, crutches and all...
Right now, in my garage, I have to pick up the front of the bike and slam the tire on the ground in order to "break" the lock-up and get the fork to extend. Predictably, when I sit on it and roll down the drive, it locks right up again. Slam the front down to free it, repeat... :madman: This condition persists with any pos pressure from 20 to 45 psi, 75 neg, 0 compression, 0 rebound.
Crazy, huh! Got a lemon I guess
Zocchi has not responded to email in over 10 days, so I'll call them tomorrow.
