Scratched FOX stanchion damaging dust wiper

[TNT1]

 

Don't or can't mtbs use fork protectors like an MX bike?

 

I think there have been a few forks that have had these' date=' like the Manitou Dorado (upside-down design). It doesn't seem to have taken off, though, maybe because nearly all forks these days are the other way up.

 

It used to be quite common for forks to have rubber boots to cover the stanchion. Some low-end models still have short little guys on. Maybe they just collected too much dust and grime inside and made cleaning more difficult. Or maybe they just didn't look that cool.

[/quote']

 

Wait, I'm confused... Do mountain bikes use MX style inverted forks, or old fashioned style ones?

 

[Nuffy]

 

 

There have been some MX-style inverted forks (mostly for downhill bikes), like the Marzocchi Shiver (also available in a sinlge-crown version) and the Manitou Dorado (complete with MX-style guards):

 

http://i3.pinkbike.com/photo/1420/pbpic1420416.jpg

 

 

These designs seem to have been largely discontinued, in favour of the regular style:

 

http://www.foxracingshox.com/fox_bicycle/forks/40.jpg

Nuffy2008-08-05 08:49:20

[TNT1]

Ok, so using regular style, and at slower speeds than a motorbike, I guess you prevent a lot of damage to the fork on an MTB? That Yeti (DH Bike?) has protectors on the lower legs?

[GoLefty!!]

MTB's use both types of fork.

 

Cannondale's Headshok Lefty is an Upside down fork

USE S.U.B  is an upside down fork

Manitou Dorado is an Upsidedown fork

B.O.S also make an upside down DH fork.

 

Mostly people who know how to make a stiff fork buil them upside down.

the rest build the the other way around.

[TNT1]

GoLefty, which is better on a mtb?

[GoLefty!!]

Which is better on an MTB..?

 

All forks should be build upside down. This keeps the seals moist and therefore there is less stiction.

The fork can be made stiffer too. Long travel forks require a stiff hub anyway to keep things tracking straight so the benefits of upside down structure also adds stiffness. You just need the the hub to keep the two (if there are two) legs moving in unison.

 

It's just easier to make a fork the other way.

 

Oh the dust boots are a bad idea. they trap dirt and water and mud if they are not fitted properly. The Cannondale system works in conjunction with a breather and filter due to a square tube sliding in a round hole. The others use good seals, whether right side up or upside down.

[Nuffy]

 

That Yeti (DH Bike?) has protectors on the lower legs?

 

Yep. Here it is from another angle:

 

http://i1.pinkbike.com/photo/1420/pbpic1420411.jpg

 

The guards are just plastic shields that cover the front, and do not wrap around the whole leg.

 

Some other points to consider:

 

Upside-down forks are disc brake only - there is nowhere to attatch V-brakes.

 

Regular forks (ie not upside-down) can have a brace that joins the two lower legs to each other (see my earlier picture of the Fox 40). This helps with the stiffness and makes sure the two legs move together, meaning there is less of a need for a strong hub. That said, GoLefty is probably right in saying that the upside down style is potentially stiffer and stronger, if made right. This will probably necessitate big, heavy machining, and so I don't see it taking off for XC forks anytime soon.

 

[GoLefty!!]

there are two XC frks using the Upside down principle but both are technically termed "Struts", i.e. the Lefty and the USE S.U.B.

 

Marzocchi made an upsidedown single crown jump fork but in typical fashion they cocked the sealing up so it was more problematic that it needed to be..

 

The plastic shields are there purely to protect the stansions against stone chips and other debris damaging the lowers.

 

Conventional forkscould use the same but the exposed area of the slider is higher up closer to the handlebars so unlikely to be damaged in a fall.

[NotSoBigBen]

Thanks guys! So despite all the warmongering and general time wasting there is still useful info available on the HUB.

 

Could only get 600 and 1000 in my quick quest after work and have given it my best. Will finish it off with Brasso as suggested tomorrow night before the Zoo Farm night race where I am of course going to yet again whip MuxMan's backside all over the side of that hill ............

 

That despite the fact I fell a shot there this evening with LittleBen, eina knee and klapped my chin such a shot that my jaw hurts. Can't chew anything harder than yoghurt at the moment .........

[TNT1]

Thanks for the info guys. Appreciate it.

[Nuffy]

BigBen, I'd be interested to hear if your fix works. Let us know, will you?

 

And sorry about the fall! Mind you, an excuse to live off dairy products would suit me.

 

TNT1, it's only a pleasure!

 

[NotSoBigBen]

Cool, racing tonight with it so should have a fair idea by the morning!

[NotSoBigBen]

So far so good! 1:30 race last night and no oil leakage ..............

[Johan Bornman]

So far so good! 1:30 race last night and no oil leakage ..............

 

This is great news. It means that the scratch itself is not deep enough to leak. Now with time, we just hope the scratch doesn't eat the seal. But I think you've fixed it.

 

 

[NotSoBigBen]

So far so good! 1:30 race last night and no oil leakage ..............

 

This is great news. It means that the scratch itself is not deep enough to leak. Now with time' date=' we just hope the scratch doesn't eat the seal. But I think you've fixed it.

 

 

[/quote']

 

Yip that 600 then 1000 and the Brasso has pretty much done the trick it seems!

[Dirtbreath]

Ben, do you have any before and after pics?