Fork Break-in question

seadragon said:

I have a question regarding the front fork. It's a RockShox Tora SL Coil. The shock seems a bit sticky, especially near the "topped out" range. For example, if I push and hold the shock down, then gradually release pressure, it doesn't decompress smoothly. It sort of "jumps" in stages as it decompresses. I can feel this also when I'm riding the bike on road. If I push down lightly a bit on the handebars, the shock again sort of jumps from one position to another. It's like the pistons are not gliding smoothly in and out of the lower housing (sorry, I don't know the proper terminology).

I also have a bit of play at the top end. If I compress the shock and let it rebound naturally, when I pick the front of the bike off the ground, there is a slight movement in the shock as if its not fully topped out. It's just enough that you can feel it, no weird noise or anything. It's just enough that I can feel a bit of clunkiness when going over bumps etc. It's hard to describe really.

My LBS has ordered a heavier spring for the fork. They said that should take care of the top end play. I guess I'll see once the part arrives.

One thing I did notice last night and fixed myself was that the pressure adjustment knob on top of the left fork was not working properly. If I turned it counter-clockwise, the whole top cap was turning, thus unscrewing. I torqued down the top cap and now the smaller adjuster knob moves freely.

I'm just wondering if these shocks need time to break in? Do they get smoother as time goes on? I've never had a bike with a suspension before.

Well, I don't want to say "shame on your LBS" ... but, it sounds like a part of the problem you are experiencing is what has been referred to in the past as STICTION ...

If it is, then a common resolution is to use some SLICK HONEY on the sliders ... a simple solution for a hopefully simple/common problem -- of course, it may-or-may-not help.

You can hopefully buy some SLICK HONEY at your LBS ...

BUT, based on my first hand impression, and that of some others, you can replicate SLICK HONEY by blending some motor oil & Vaseline (petroleum jelly) to recreate the viscosity of SLICK HONEY ... that being about the viscosity of typical 'clear' Honey at room temperature, or higher ...

Put a dollop of Vaseline in a small container that you can reseal (so you can save what you don't use), add a couple of drops of motor oil to the jar ... blend ... adjust the viscosity ...

Clean the fork's sliders ... apply some "slick honey" to the sliders ... test.

I can't comment on the other aspects of your fork's behavior ... so hopefully, if part of your fork's problem is simply "stiction" then the "slick honey" fix one problem that you are encountering.