In article
<[email hidden]>,
L. C. Donovan said:Quoted message said:a) Anyone know how to pump the air into these shocks?
b) Any experts out there know what oil to use?
c) Any mountain bikers have an exploded diagram?
At long last, my Specialized Future Shock shocks are now fixed!
It turned out that most (almost all) the advice given me was stale.
Even the first bicycle shop gave me totally wrong information!
At a second bike shop, the shocks were fixed today!
All the shop added was:
a) Air (pumped to 140 psi according) with a FOX Shox pump
b) Oil (Dexron ATF)
There was nothing else wrong with these shocks despite the fact the
first (wrong) bike shop told me they always sell new shocks to everyone
who comes in with Specialized Rockhopper shocks which lost their
rebound.
However, this second dealer told me this was a common problem (and that
the first dealer probably just wanted to sell new shocks). The
technician said the shock was basically a slightly modified "Rocks
Shocks" (whatever that is); and that they'd have both shocks 'fixed' by
the end of the day.
Sure enough, when I picked up the bike just now, the front shocks were
fixed!
In response to my incredulous questioning, the bicycle technician
nodded his head saying he sees at least a bike a week with this very
same problem and he rarely fails to fix it this way (besides, it's part
of their 60-dollar yearly tuneup that I never brought the mountain bike
in for, shame on me).
If only I knew it was that easy!
Why didn't anyone here suggest Air + Oil?
But someone did on 11 May 2005: Thomas and Sons. I quote the message.
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From: [email hidden] (Thomas & Sons Cycle Shop)
Subject: Re: Specialized Rockhopper Comp FS Sport Shock Bushing Repair Kit
Organization: Thomas & Sons Cycle Shop
References: <[email hidden]> <[email hidden]> <[email hidden]>
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The two front Specialized Comp Full Suspension Sport Shocks you mentioned DO
NOT use springs or elastomer materials so don't worry about breakage (there's
nothing to break inside). These front-fork Sport Shocks merely contain pistons
(like the type in your bicycle pump) which have compressed air and
transmission fluid in them.
These Sport Shocks often fail after six months to a year of hard use so it's
quite normal for yours to have lasted five or more years before failing
(assuming you merely rode the bike on mountain trails of moderate height, say
just a few thousand feet in total riding elevation for your average ride).
And, yes, you CAN get parts for these (call Specialized with the bike, year,
and model if you can. Otherwise, send them a photo of the bike and a closeup
of the shocks. I hesitate to provide you with Specialized support email
address as that would inundate them with spam (spammers mine these message
boards regularly) so just call the phone numbers above to obtain the email
address. These guys at Specialized are a wonderful bunch when you get to know
them personally. They'll track down the parts for you from your photo but you
really won't need the parts because this is a common problem with these
shocks.
So, please just forget what you've been told by the bike shop and others on
this board and simply go back to any reputable Specialized bike shop to tell
them to add AIR and FLUID. From my experience, 99% of the time that fixes the
flaccid front shocks. Any bike shop who tells you otherwise is just trying to
make money on a new set of shocks (they sell for $300 but they bought them for
$150 to $180).
Once they replace the fluid and pump the air back in, your Sport Shocks
will be good as new. A reputable shop should charge about $30 bucks (give or
take 5 or 10 bucks) for the front shocks overhaul.
T&S
_________________End_________________
--
Michael Press