20 replies to this topic

[SeizedBalt]

Ahhhh, how I love to buck trends and stand out as a statistical anomaly.

Went to see a suspension specialist, this morning, and apparently the damping modules on the forks are broken (cause TBD and something he'd never seen before) and the damping in the rear shock works, but is at the wrong setting and the adjuster is broken (or the needle is stuck).

So essentially my suspension is shagged.

As luck would not have it, it's the forks that the biggest headache as who knows what has happened for the damping and its adjusters to have no effect on fork function.

I do know that one of my stanchions ( and only one, mind) is quite heavily pitted: perhaps this is a sign of a previous rebuild where the other fork had been reworked.

Beyond that, I probably need to buy the damping internals, but all that is to be confirmed once its opened up.

He's going to looking into options, but I'm going to ask here and see if any of you know a good place to find spares for niner forks. Or perhaps some of you have bits lying around.

eBay is obviously one place, but do you know of any others? Also, if you happen to know of other bikes that share parts compatibility with the TDM, Id love to hear about it, to help broaden my parts search

Thanks

Edited by SeizedBalt, 14 June 2022 - 07:38 am.

[Snowbird]

That's not good, I take it they do actually have oil in them.

[SeizedBalt]

That's not good, I take it they do actually have oil in them.

I do hope so. Ive never thought to check a new-to-me bike for the presence of fork oil: always thought it could be taken it as a given!

But now that you mention it, it is no stranger an explanation than any other!

The technician was trying to adjust the damping with the brass adjuster and he kept turning them and just said

<well the left damper adjustment doesnt work but. uh hang on Oh. Nor does the right one>

So something in how the adjusters turned told him it was busted.

But both! What are the odds?! I wish my lottery numbers are as achievable!

Edited by SeizedBalt, 14 June 2022 - 10:28 am.

[Snowbird]

I'm assuming they are much the same as a 4tx here, have the adjuster rods been cut down for emulators? I'm also assuming the forks have not been opened up yet.

I just re-read the original post, forget what I said about no oil, I thought there was no damping at all, doh! Senior moment.

Edited by Snowbird, 14 June 2022 - 11:55 am.

[SeizedBalt]

I'm assuming they are much the same as a 4tx here, have the adjuster rods been cut down for emulators? I'm also assuming the forks have not been opened up yet.
I just re-read the original post, forget what I said about no oil, I thought there was no damping at all, doh! Senior moment.

Just to clarify: he said the fork had no damping and the adjusters were shot. The shock had damping, just the wrong setting and its adjuster was shot. So its all just dandy on the suspension front!

And so you hadnt misread.

Edited by SeizedBalt, 14 June 2022 - 03:05 pm.

[Snowbird]

At least I'm not as stupid as I thought was, must try harder till I get there...

[wicklamulla]

yer not as stupid as i look thas fer sure!

 

At least I'm not as stupid as I thought was, must try harder till I get there...

[Snowbird]

I would be if I had that balaclava.

[SeizedBalt]

I would be if I had that balaclava.

I have learnt the best way to look good in a balaclava is to wear it with the open bit over your face. The number of lampposts I had to kiss before I worked that out.

[dandywarhol]

I might be getting confuddled (happens easily) but something tells me the damper valve just keeps going round from position 1 to 4 and back to 1 again 

[SeizedBalt]

I might be getting confuddled (happens easily) but something tells me the damper valve just keeps going round from position 1 to 4 and back to 1 again 

I really dont know. Im just reporting what the guy said.

But, anyone know a good place to find suspension bits other than eBay?

[Studley Ramrod]

Try GNMoto they specialise in breaking TDM's

[SeizedBalt]

Try GNMoto they specialise in breaking TDM's

Thanks!

Ill check them out.

[Catteeclan]

I got 1 off eBay, brooks barn if I remember right. Been on there 3 years now.

[poppykle]

I had mine done in '17,  Tech said there was no stop either way on both forks.  Turning adjuster should stop at either 1 (counter clockwise) or 4 (clockwise).  Neither of mine stopped either way.   One post I saw somewhere reported the same problem, when they took the forks apart they found a set of emulators fitted. 

I didn't bother following up as the handling was markedly improved after the work.  Will probably have a look when I change the fork oil next time.

[Snowbird]

Improvement likely down to the fresh oil then, you'd think emulators worth mentioning when you sell a bike.

[PICARD]

I might be getting confuddled (happens easily) but something tells me the damper valve just keeps going round from position 1 to 4 and back to 1 again 

+1....there is no "stop" on the damping adjuster screw (as standard '03). There is a bigger gap between 3 and 1 though.

[fixitsan]

Definitely worth checking the oil situation first

In my younger care free days I prepared my bike for an MOT, and I thought the misting forks were due to lack of use and were going to clear up before the MOT, because I had no time to repair and the MOT stations had no other testing slots I could book for weeks. As an act of desperation, the night before the MOT I took someone's advice and I drained the oil from the forks on the understanding that it can't leak if it isn't even there in the first place.

 

Just a thought anyway !

Edited by fixitsan, 17 June 2022 - 04:51 pm.

[wicklamulla]

Definitely worth checking the oil situation first

In my younger care free days I prepared my bike for an MOT, and I thought the misting forks were due to lack of use and were going to clear up before the MOT, because I had no time to repair and the MOT stations had no other testing slots I could book for weeks. As an act of desperation, the night before the MOT I took someone's advice and I drained the oil from the forks on the understanding that it can't leak if it isn't even there in the first place.

 

Just a thought anyway !

 

 

wowsers!  did it work and she passed?

[Snowbird]

A ring of tissue around the fork tube under the dust cover was one of the old mot tricks I seem to recall, generally done just around the corner from the test station.