cannondale headshok damper is out

[02gf74]

After much faffing, damper is out.

Diy tool made from old steerer....., slot made and hammered over a socket to slightly reduce thr diameter.

Weld onto piece a steel angle then cut slots with hacksaw and grinder, fettling with a small hand file.

And it worked, even better forks have spring not elastomer. :mrgreen:

Took a few hours to make, mostly measuring up, Couldnt find the took for sale anywhere and woukdnt have wanted to pay more than £6.95 anyway.

Next step to peek inside the damper.....

 

[The Malcolm]

Re:

That's either a DL70 or 80 and These are the spares you are looking for

http://www.cannondalespares.com/Cannond ... il/3-40600

http://www.cannondalespares.com/Cannond ... il/3-40397

It's worth buying a couple of sets of the seal kits as they are so cheap and still available. The bottom seals on the piston are easy to replace but the top ones are a bit harder as you have to remove the black cap. I did mine with a brake press.

 

[02gf74]

Anyway to tell which model is mine?

I ordered the boot in the second link but it is too small

There doesnt appeat to be any fluid leaking from the damper but the rod moves about 10 mm before squelching, im guessing it just needs a top up.

 

[The Malcolm]

Re:

Is this not an exploded diagram of your damper. DL70 and 80 are just the different amounts of travel which you can measure now with the damper out. The measurement if the actual fork travel rather than the damper travel. I am almost certain that is what you have taken out.

The squishyness sounds like lack of oil with some air as well. I would drain and put fresh oil in and turn upside down and bleed the air out of it. While you have it out I would recommend replacing the bottom seals

http://www.headshok.it/italiano/s0/fatty_super.html

I have used the slim boot on a similar fork and it does fit. Just pulled the receipt out to check I ordered the same one and it was. The one on the right in the picture below is that boot. Its a very tight fit but with a bit of grease to lubricate and a hard pull it will go on.

 

[02gf74]

Been putting this off but gained some enthusiasm today.

Unscrewed the lower cap of the damper (after making yet another tool to engage in the slot) and replaced oil.

No more squishy sounds as the damper is cycled but it took a few goes to get the oil level correct when trying to screw the cap back on.

Took a chance on the seaks being ok as there was no sign of leakage then fitted the new smaller size boot. OMG was that a struggle!!!!! but tugging at it and with help of a large flat bladed screwdriver got it on.

Could not get the fork back into the head bearings but when it was almost in, spun the fork to hear and feel graunchiness so rebuild has stalled until i receive the b5432rs headset bearings, not cheap at £19 a pair, but hopefully be worth it in the end.

 

[racefacecannondale]

Try qwerty cycles there a dale specialist.
used them a lot for spares for the lefty and fatty in the past bud.