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Specialized Rockhopper Comp FS Sport Shock Bushing Repair Kit

Started by L. C. Donovan · · Last activity · 20 posts · 2,329 views

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Cycling Equipment
Published
11 May 2005
Last activity
7 June 2005
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L. C. Donovan
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  1. Long ago (Aug 9 2004, 8:23 pm) I asked this newsgroup the question
    "How do the shocks work (break?) on Specialized Rockhopper Comp FS?"

    The answer at that time was the springs wear out or air seals blow
    (nobody was sure exactly what kind of shock Specialized used on the
    Rockhopper Comp Future Shock Shock Sport mountain bike.

    I went to a Specialized bicycle shop who said the shocks can't be
    repaired. They would sell me new shocks for 200 dollars but parts for
    the old shocks (they said) were not available.

    I only paid $500 for the mountain bicycle in the first place, so I gave
    up at that time, preferring to just extend the 1" stem 8 inches to
    raise the handlebars back to where they originally sat. I even called
    the recall folks at Specialized listed at
    http://www.recall-warnings.com/cpsc-content-94-94112.html as
    1(800)214-1468 who said repair parts were not available.

    Yet, recently, a friend who rides bikes suggested repairing the FS
    shocks. She found this FS Repair Parts Kit (with photo) URL for $15 at
    Specialized.com
    http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=10319

    The ad copy says "Moving parts wear out over time.
    Replacement bushings will keep your FS post smooth."

    My question is ...
    QUESTION: Do you think this Specialized parts kit will work?

    Note: Everyone on this group already said there was no parts kit as did
    the Specialized bicycle shop & the Specialized warranty repair
    personnel (long ago); so that is why I'd like to confirm that this
    Specialized shock-repair kit that doesn't exist really exists (and
    perhaps even actually works).

    Is there any bike repair experience out there that can advise me?
    Linda C. Donovan

  2. Quoted message said:

    Yet, recently, a friend who rides bikes suggested repairing the FS
    shocks. She found this FS Repair Parts Kit (with photo) URL for $15


    at

    Quoted message said:

    Specialized.com
    http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=10319

    I also called the Specialized equipment number(877)808-8154

    The guy answering the phone tried to be helpful but he was only at
    Specialized for two months so he had trouble identifying the bike to
    see if there were any parts to repair the shocks (he didn't even know
    what the shocks were made up of).

    He did correct me in that URL is for seat post bushings.
    He also corrected my naming conventions as FS stands for Full
    Suspension.
    He suggested I find someone who knew Specialized bikes to determine the
    model.
    He asked if it said "ground control" but it does not say that.

    All I know at this point is the bike is a:
    Specialized Rockhopper Comp Full Suspension with Sport Shock

    They guy said I needed to tell him the EXACT YEAR I bought it (heck, it
    was about 8 years ago but I could be off by two or three years either
    way as I never rode it all that much having lent it out to friends to
    ride).

    I do know it has a black Cr-Mb alloy frame with that unique
    one-of-a-kind wierd front fork that you just can't get the front wheel
    off without two people (someone said I should sand down the tabs which
    hold it on). I guess that was to prevent theft (it takes me about 20
    minutes plus finger skin just to get the quick-relesae front wheel to
    actually release!). Does that help with the year ( I can't believe
    people didn't complain when that engineering modification came out!).

    Is there anyone out there who has experience with bicycle repair that
    can advise me as to what kind of bike it is I have (year, make, model)
    so that I can tell Specialized this so that I can get a shock-repair
    kit?

    Linda C. Donovan

  3. Your looking for a shock repair kit for a shock that is 8 years old. Good
    luck - you'll need it.
    Most companies only support back a few years.

    Spring some money for a replacement shock. It will likely be better than
    your original anyhow. $200 is pretty inexpensive for a shock by the way.
    Most decent shocks are in the $300 range.

    Whats damaged on the shock, do you happen to know?

    Paul

    "L. C. Donovan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Yet, recently, a friend who rides bikes suggested repairing the FS
    shocks. She found this FS Repair Parts Kit (with photo) URL for $15


    at

    Quoted message said:

    Specialized.com
    http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=10319

    I also called the Specialized equipment number(877)808-8154

    The guy answering the phone tried to be helpful but he was only at
    Specialized for two months so he had trouble identifying the bike to
    see if there were any parts to repair the shocks (he didn't even know
    what the shocks were made up of).

    He did correct me in that URL is for seat post bushings.
    He also corrected my naming conventions as FS stands for Full
    Suspension.
    He suggested I find someone who knew Specialized bikes to determine the
    model.
    He asked if it said "ground control" but it does not say that.

    All I know at this point is the bike is a:
    Specialized Rockhopper Comp Full Suspension with Sport Shock

    They guy said I needed to tell him the EXACT YEAR I bought it (heck, it
    was about 8 years ago but I could be off by two or three years either
    way as I never rode it all that much having lent it out to friends to
    ride).

    I do know it has a black Cr-Mb alloy frame with that unique
    one-of-a-kind wierd front fork that you just can't get the front wheel
    off without two people (someone said I should sand down the tabs which
    hold it on). I guess that was to prevent theft (it takes me about 20
    minutes plus finger skin just to get the quick-relesae front wheel to
    actually release!). Does that help with the year ( I can't believe
    people didn't complain when that engineering modification came out!).

    Is there anyone out there who has experience with bicycle repair that
    can advise me as to what kind of bike it is I have (year, make, model)
    so that I can tell Specialized this so that I can get a shock-repair
    kit?

    Linda C. Donovan

  4. In article said:

    You'relooking for a shock repair kit for a shock that is 8 years old. Good
    luck - you'll need it.
    Most companies only support back a few years.

    Spring some money for a replacement shock.

    Pun intended?

    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

  5. I would think the serial number of the bike would be useful (to
    Specialized anyway) in determining exactly what bike you have.

  6. "Jerry" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    I would think the serial number of the bike would be useful (to Specialized
    anyway) in determining exactly what bike you have.

    Is there even a serial number on these bicycles?
    I have a non-fork decade-old specialized rockhopper mountain bicycle.
    I don't see no serial number.
    Where is it located?

  7. Jerry said:

    I would think the serial number of the bike would be useful (to
    Specialized anyway) in determining exactly what bike you have.

    If there is a serial number on the bike, I don't see it.

    Luckily, Nic at the Specialized Customer Service/Online Store in Salt
    Lake City, UT, left me a message on my cell phone. From the photos, he
    could easily determine the worn shocks are on a 1994 Specialized
    Rockhopper Comp FS mountain bike with the Future Shock Sport elastomer
    dual-shock front suspension.

    So, now the specific quest morphs to fix the clunk thunk in the shocks.
    a) Anyone know how to pump the air back into these front shocks?
    (i.e., where to get the special pump & what pressure to use)?
    b) Any experts out there know what oil for rebuilding these two shocks?
    (i.e., what oil and how much and who sells it)
    c) Any mountain bikers who do their own work have an exploded diagram
    (i.e., how does this shock dampen motion anyway?)

    Thanks,
    L. C. Donovan

  8. 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?

    Oh well. My loss. At least for the next rider with the same problem, I
    can provide the steps (from memory) explained to me by the technician
    today so others can benefit.

    For a 1994 Rockhopper Comp Future Sport front shock pair:
    - Pry off the black cap at top (clean it with alcohol)
    - Discard the old oil (by tipping the forks upside down)
    - Bounce a few times to help expel the oil
    - Clean with kerosene, bounce again & then let it all dry upside down
    - Add new Dexron ATF (measured from the top about 40 mm down)
    - With a Fox air pump, hand pump to 50 psi & wait 10 minutes
    - Release pressure & pump to 100 psi & wait another 10 minutes
    - Release pressure & pump to 140 psi (or more depending on your needs)
    - Charge customer $30 dollars for time & materials. 🙂

    I asked a lot of questions so they spent about an hour with me in the
    shop. The technician didn't have a diagram of the shocks but he said
    almost any Rocks Shocks diagram would be similar (where would I get
    that?).

    The bicycle technician also said parts were widely available for these
    decade-old shocks; and, when I asked for a supplier, he scribbled the
    name of Hippie-Tech Suspension in Boise Idaho (208.724.8949) on the
    back of his card.

    In summary, what was wrong with the Specialized RockHopper Future Sport
    shocks was merely that the oil and air had leaked out over the last
    decade. The solution was a $30 replenishing of the oil and air. I rode
    the bike home (only about five miles and 1200 feet elevation overall)
    and they seem fine, if a bit on the stiff side.

    Geez, I wish I knew a year ago what I now know (see above) about
    shocks!

    L. C. Donovan

  9. In article 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)

    We're all glad our repair suggestions helped.

    140 psi is for a light person (we generally add more pressure than that). We
    use the FOX FORX SHOCK PUMP in our shop (it goes to 300 psi). Specialized
    (1.877.808.8154) sells the shock pump for less than $50 USD
    at http://www.specialized.com/SBCEqProduct.
    jsp?minisite=10080&spid=5072&xsrc=1063
    but you can get shock pumps almost anywhere,
    http://www.webmountainbike.com/foxhppumforf.html
    http://www.universalcycles.com/shopping/product_details.
    php?id=1679&category=133
    http://store.yahoo.com/phattire1/foxhipressure.html
    http://www.webcyclery.com/product.php?productid=16870&cat=0&page=1
    etc

    If you continue to maintain the bike properly, you should get more than twenty
    years of mountain use out of it before something major breaks. Pick up a tool
    catalogue from http://www.performancebike.com/shop/category_tools.cfm and do
    the work yourself (nothing on a bike is difficult except starting on a steep
    hill).

    Once a year isn't too much maintenance if you do hard rocky muddy riding like
    most of us. Just don't hang the bike upside down from your garage rafters (one
    of the worst things that can be done to a mountain bike).

    Happy riding,
    BTW, it's Rox Shox (not Rocks Shocks). 😉

  10. Thomas & Sons Cycle Shop wrote:

    <snip>

    Quoted message said:


    Happy riding,
    BTW, it's Rox Shox (not Rocks Shocks). 😉

    No, it's Rox Sucks.

  11. Thomas & Sons Cycle Shop said:

    Once a year isn't too much maintenance if you do hard rocky muddy


    riding like

    Quoted message said:

    most of us. Just don't hang the bike upside down from your garage rafters (one
    of the worst things that can be done to a mountain bike).

    OK I'll ask. Why is it bad to hang a MTB upside down?

  12. Jerry who? said:
    Quoted message said:

    Once a year isn't too much maintenance if you do hard rocky muddy
    riding like most of us. Just don't hang the bike upside down from
    your garage rafters (one of the worst things that can be done to a
    mountain bike).

    Quoted message said:

    OK I'll ask. Why is it bad to hang a MTB upside down?

    Oh! Don' ahsk! As Arnold(t) would say. It's a grave subject often
    used as and intro to bad puns, a subject with much gravity.

    [email hidden]

  13. Jerry said:
    Thomas & Sons Cycle Shop said:

    Once a year isn't too much maintenance if you do hard rocky muddy


    riding like

    Quoted message said:

    most of us. Just don't hang the bike upside down from your garage
    rafters (one of the worst things that can be done to a mountain
    bike).

    OK I'll ask. Why is it bad to hang a MTB upside down?

    It's not. (Only caveat would be a sus fork that uses an oil bath; might not
    be a great idea to store THAT upside down for an extended period.)

    Look in the back of the service dept. at any LBS: the bikes might not be
    upside down, but they're hanging by the front wheel more often than not.

    Space Saver Bill

  14. Bill Sornson said:
    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Once a year isn't too much maintenance if you do hard rocky muddy
    riding like most of us. Just don't hang the bike upside down from
    your garage rafters (one of the worst things that can be done to a
    mountain bike).

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    OK I'll ask. Why is it bad to hang a MTB upside down?

    Quoted message said:

    It's not. (Only caveat would be a suspension fork that uses an oil
    bath; might not be a great idea to store THAT upside down for an
    extended period.)

    Quoted message said:

    Look in the back of the service dept. at any LBS: the bikes might
    not be upside down, but they're hanging by the front wheel more
    often than not.

    That's as good as upside down, the fork rake putting the top lower
    than the bottom end of the stanchions.

    [email hidden]

  15. Bill Sornson said:

    Jerry wrote:

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    OK I'll ask. Why is it bad to hang a MTB upside down?

    Quoted message said:

    It's not. (Only caveat would be a sus fork that uses an oil bath;
    might not be a great idea to store THAT upside down for an extended
    period.)

    Such forks actually benefit from being stored upside down, because it gives the
    oil a chance to run into the upper bushings. Once you start storing your bike
    upside down, you'll notice the usual stiction present when you first start
    riding your bike is gone.

    Quoted message said:

    Look in the back of the service dept. at any LBS: the bikes might
    not be upside down, but they're hanging by the front wheel more often
    than not.

    Same difference.

    Matt O.

  16. In article <[email hidden]>, "L. C.

    Donovan said:

    For a 1994 Rockhopper Comp Future Sport front shock pair:
    - Pry off the black cap at top (clean it with alcohol)
    - Discard the old oil (by tipping the forks upside down)
    - Bounce a few times to help expel the oil
    - Clean with kerosene, bounce again & then let it all dry upside down
    - Add new Dexron ATF (measured from the top about 40 mm down)
    - With a Fox air pump, hand pump to 50 psi & wait 10 minutes
    - Release pressure & pump to 100 psi & wait another 10 minutes
    - Release pressure & pump to 140 psi (or more depending on your needs)
    - Charge customer $30 dollars for time & materials. 🙂

    Regular oil (5 or 10 weight) works just as well as transmission fluid.

  17. Your looking for a shock repair kit for a shock that is 8 years old. Good
    luck - you'll need it.
    Most companies only support back a few years.

    Spring some money for a replacement shock. It will likely be better than
    your original anyhow. $200 is pretty inexpensive for a shock by the way.
    Most decent shocks are in the $300 range.

    Whats damaged on the shock, do you happen to know?

    Paul

    "L. C. Donovan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Yet, recently, a friend who rides bikes suggested repairing the FS
    shocks. She found this FS Repair Parts Kit (with photo) URL for $15


    at

    Quoted message said:

    Specialized.com
    http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=10319

    I also called the Specialized equipment number(877)808-8154

    The guy answering the phone tried to be helpful but he was only at
    Specialized for two months so he had trouble identifying the bike to
    see if there were any parts to repair the shocks (he didn't even know
    what the shocks were made up of).

    He did correct me in that URL is for seat post bushings.
    He also corrected my naming conventions as FS stands for Full
    Suspension.
    He suggested I find someone who knew Specialized bikes to determine the
    model.
    He asked if it said "ground control" but it does not say that.

    All I know at this point is the bike is a:
    Specialized Rockhopper Comp Full Suspension with Sport Shock

    They guy said I needed to tell him the EXACT YEAR I bought it (heck, it
    was about 8 years ago but I could be off by two or three years either
    way as I never rode it all that much having lent it out to friends to
    ride).

    I do know it has a black Cr-Mb alloy frame with that unique
    one-of-a-kind wierd front fork that you just can't get the front wheel
    off without two people (someone said I should sand down the tabs which
    hold it on). I guess that was to prevent theft (it takes me about 20
    minutes plus finger skin just to get the quick-relesae front wheel to
    actually release!). Does that help with the year ( I can't believe
    people didn't complain when that engineering modification came out!).

    Is there anyone out there who has experience with bicycle repair that
    can advise me as to what kind of bike it is I have (year, make, model)
    so that I can tell Specialized this so that I can get a shock-repair
    kit?

    Linda C. Donovan

  18. 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.

    ________________Begin________________

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    Newsgroups: rec.bicycles.tech,misc.consumers.frugal-living,alt.home.repair,rec.bicycles.misc,rec.bicycles.marketplace
    Followup-To: rec.bicycles.tech,misc.consumers.frugal-living,alt.home.repair,rec.bicycles.misc,rec.bicycles.marketplace
    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

  19. 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?

    Oh well. My loss. At least for the next rider with the same problem, I
    can provide the steps (from memory) explained to me by the technician
    today so others can benefit.

    For a 1994 Rockhopper Comp Future Sport front shock pair:
    - Pry off the black cap at top (clean it with alcohol)
    - Discard the old oil (by tipping the forks upside down)
    - Bounce a few times to help expel the oil
    - Clean with kerosene, bounce again & then let it all dry upside down
    - Add new Dexron ATF (measured from the top about 40 mm down)
    - With a Fox air pump, hand pump to 50 psi & wait 10 minutes
    - Release pressure & pump to 100 psi & wait another 10 minutes
    - Release pressure & pump to 140 psi (or more depending on your needs)
    - Charge customer $30 dollars for time & materials. 🙂

    I asked a lot of questions so they spent about an hour with me in the
    shop. The technician didn't have a diagram of the shocks but he said
    almost any Rocks Shocks diagram would be similar (where would I get
    that?).

    The bicycle technician also said parts were widely available for these
    decade-old shocks; and, when I asked for a supplier, he scribbled the
    name of Hippie-Tech Suspension in Boise Idaho (208.724.8949) on the
    back of his card.

    In summary, what was wrong with the Specialized RockHopper Future Sport
    shocks was merely that the oil and air had leaked out over the last
    decade. The solution was a $30 replenishing of the oil and air. I rode
    the bike home (only about five miles and 1200 feet elevation overall)
    and they seem fine, if a bit on the stiff side.

    Geez, I wish I knew a year ago what I now know (see above) about
    shocks!

    L. C. Donovan

  20. On Sat, 28 May 2005 17:11:32 GMT, "L. C. Donovan" <[email hidden]>

    Quoted message said:

    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.

    Nothing real being wrong with them, and the other LBS always selling new
    ones, aren't necessarily mutually exclusive. And the other LBS may not
    have been so much wrong as wilfully gouging.

    Jasper

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