[Unicornz0]

"element22" wrote

Hi

For the Tracer you have a 1 1/8th headset not a onepointfive. When it came out in 2003 (6 years ago) it was a decent bike, However you really should check out the pivots and the condition before you purchase. You should also contact Intense to see if they have parts avaliable for that model year otherwise you will be out of luck soon after.

For the other parts I wouldn’t waste your time…Too old. you can get better at a reasonable price at a store like Pricepoint or Jenson…Specially around this time of year.

Thanks for the insight, I like the Tracer’s rear suspension but I’m going to wait till I find Stumpjumper. I went to Intense’s website and their phone number isn’t even there. I didn’t like what I read about their customer service.

[Unicornz0]

Thanks Steve, one of the things than baffles me about this shock, is that the air valve seals after it has been filled with air for a while. I’m going to try Slick Honey and hope that it solves this problem of the valve sealing right after removal of the air fill needle, when other lubricants did not.

[Unicornz0]

Hi Steve, the upper fork legs were not flush with the fork crown. They were actually above the fork crown by about 1/4". Take a look a this picture and you will be able to see what I mean.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3628/353 … e90f_o.jpg

When The fork legs were lowered I had enough clearance so that the fork would not bottom out on the top of the tire.

I have not fully learned how these works myself. Filling them with air is like filling a basketball with air, or so I’m told. However with these, the air rushes out of the fill valve which is located in the middle of the index adjuster knob. Funny thing, if I cover the fill valve opening with my thumb for a second after removing the air needle, then remove my thumb, the air does not escape nearly as fast. Moreover, after replacing the fill valve screw, and then removing the screw the next day, the air does not readily rush out. I have to insert the air needle to depressurize the shock. Go figure! I need to get in touch with someone that has actually used, and knows how this fork should work. The people that I spoke with at Sram are too young. This fork was before there time.
Ask, and I will try to answer any questions.
Thanks again,
Uni

[Unicornz0]

Thanks everyone. The fork height was the cause of the fork bottoming out. Now the fork legs are flush with the crown and I have 1/8"-1/4" clearance even after removing all the air in the shock, and it does not bottom out.
Uni

[Unicornz0]

"steve32300" wrote

[url:1yb2m4rp]http://www.bikeman.com/content/view/1089/47/[/url:1yb2m4rp]

I searched this fork and found this link for you to check out,it looks like you need a new seal where that needle goes into the fork to fill it with air,like a basketball as far as I can tell.???Anyway,check it out and read it.At any rate,the article has some pretty cool stuff about your fork.

Thanks Steve, I will.

[Unicornz0]

Thanks Jeremy and Steve, I think it’s filled to the low 40’s.
As I remove the fill needle I cover the fill hole with the thumb of the opposite hand, then pickup the screwdriver previously loaded with the fill screw, then as I uncover the fill hole, I quickly replace the fill screw.
It’s definitely a Ninja move, Lol.
Now with the index adjusters on the lowest setting I can barely force the fork to move, only about 1/4" as I jump on it with my full weight. When the index adjusters are on the highest setting I can not get the fork to budge, I have to thank Jesus for this.
I picked the bike up at a yard sale Friday, and am very pleased with it.
At the same time, I’m also concerned that I can be injured if a seal in this fork fails. Has anyone ever heard of a bike injury due to the seals in the fork failing?
My rigid frame seem much safer.
Let me know what you think.
I appreciate everyone’s viewpoint.
Thanks,
Uni

[Unicornz0]

"Jeremy_Green" wrote

From reading the charts I am definitely thinking you need to be in the high 40’s range on the fork. Some of the pressure will be lost in the hose when you release the pump from the fork so you will probably need to over fill it and get a good guess at how much rushes out.

A couple of people were mentioning using a shock pump but I don’t think you need one for your specific fork because it allows you to use the needle rather than having to screw the pump onto the fork like newer forks.

Thanks Jeremy. Even though I pump the PSI to about 70, when I remove the fill needle the air pressure drops to about 25, in about 2 seconds, before I can replace the fill screw and stop the air loss. Any suggestions?
Thanks again,
Uni

[Unicornz0]

Thanks guys for your help. This 1990’s Rock Shock Mag 20 only takes 35-48lbs of air. I’ve read that most fill this shock with a basketball type fill needle rounded at the fill end so as not to damage the seal. Please explain how a suspension specific pump will help in this situation, will the fill hose even fit this older type fitting? My problem seems to be that I am unable to replace the very small fill screw, about 1/8" diameter, before the air pressure drops to about 25 PSI, even though I inflate the shock to about 60 PSI. The air rushes out so fast after I remove the fill needle. I do not want to bust the seal by over inflating. May be there is a better technique to replace the fill screw without losing so much air pressure? I’ll try removing the needle and then covering the air inlet with a finger while trying to replace the air inlet screw.
I’m glad to read that what I’m experiencing is normal. I think I just need to develop the technique for filling the shock without losing so much air pressure, or maybe there is a better way?
All suggestions are appreciated.

I appreciate your help and comments.
Uni

[Unicornz0]

Thanks very much Jeremy. According to Sram my bronze color fork was not included in the recall, I’m still leery about using this fork. If it would have been in the recall, they would replace it with one of their Dart branded models. I find it offensive that Sram would replace a defective upper tier item with a lower tier item.
I can’t seem to get more than about 25 PSI of air into this shock because most of the air that I have pumped in rushes out, after I remove the fill needle, and before I can replace the set screw, regardless of how much I pump in. Do you have any suggestions?
With the dampening set to the lowest, I can get the shock to bottom out on the top of the tire if I put all of my weight, 208lbs. on the handle bars and press down with all of my strength. With the dampening set to the highest, I can not get the shock to bottom out on to the tire. I will feel more comfortable if I can get about 40 lbs of air into the shock. I’m using the gauge on my floor type bike pimp to estimate the air PSI in the shock.
Thanks again,
Uni

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