Top-out play on Rockshox Recon

[LazyTrailRider]

I just had my 2008 Recon Race serviced by the Rockshox agent here in Cape Town. Over the last 2 months, I've noticed an slight bit of play develop at the top of the stroke (when the fork is fully extended), which wasn't there originally. It's almost like top-out, but not quite, because the dampening and stroke itself is buttery smooth.

I'd hoped that having it serviced would sort the problem out (it was overdue for oil replacement anyway), but unfortunately, R900 (ouch!) later and it's still there. They replaced foam seals and wipers, as well as - what looks like from the old parts I got back  - all the internal seals on the cartridge(s) itself. That a few tiny rubber bands and the labour to replace them costs R900 freaks me out, but that's a different topic...

Has anyone else experienced a very slight bit of top-out play on a Recon Race? Two friends have longer-travel Recon 351s, and these had play right from the start, but mine was snug as a bug right up until recently. It's not a huge problem, only a millimetre or two, but it annoys the hell out of me when I'm climbing singletrack with weight off the front and every little bump causes a slight clicking sound and feel.

Before I hark back to student days and pull the fork apart, any advice? Is it a solvable problem, can I tighten something or put a spacer/washer in somewhere? Or should I just accept that the fork has done 4500kms and it's just how things are?

MartinHattingh2009-06-15 15:18:11

[LazyTrailRider]

Any sage advice?

[louis0852]

Sorry no advice, I service my own forks

[Oertel]

You just paid R900 to get it fixed..and its still broken. So contact CCS and return the fork.

[brussel]

I have a mate who had exactly the same problem with his recon. It turned out there was a small wavy washer is between the circlip and a piston on one of the shafts. The washer allowed air to pass throught the piston. The washer was part of a service kit and once replaced it made a difference, but the play is still there.

 

 

 

I have a fox and I have a similar effect. I notice it most when travelling across very fine washboard and it creates an effect similar to a loose headset.

[LazyTrailRider]

You just paid R900 to get it fixed..and its still broken. So contact CCS and return the fork.

 

Well, apparently they say that's just how it is... (ie, it's getting on in age)

 

I might do that though and take them on directly; it originally got sent to them via my mechanic.

[LazyTrailRider]

I have a mate who had exactly the same problem with his recon. It turned out there was a small wavy washer is between the circlip and a piston on one of the shafts. The washer allowed air to pass throught the piston. The washer was part of a service kit and once replaced it made a difference' date=' but the play is still there.[/quote']

 

Interesting... I think the play is slightly less after the service kit (could be imagining this though), but I'll check it out, thanks!

 

I have a fox and I have a similar effect. I notice it most when travelling across very fine washboard and it creates an effect similar to a loose headset.

 

That's exactly what I'm talking about. NOTHING annoys me as much as rattling components, whether it's in a car or on a bike

 

[louis0852]

True too that, my car rattles more than my bike. Because I service my bike and the dealers service my car. Just goes to show the dealers don't give a damn

[LazyTrailRider]

True too that' date=' my car rattles more than my bike. Because I service my bike and the dealers service my car. Just goes to show the dealers don't give a damn[/quote']

 

Yeah, that's why I used to do it myself. I've never come across a bike shop that really understands suspension. For some reason, they always get compression/dampening ratios wrong... probably because of looking it up and following a procedure, instead of going by feel.

 

This is the first time I've ever had a fork serviced by someone else, just because I don't have any of the new tools, and I haven't had time recently! I think I'm going to invest though, get a shock pump, etc.