You are here: Forks > 36 mm > 36 FLOAT O/B R

36 FLOAT O/B R

	travel	160 R: 6.3 in./160 mm 170 R: 6.7 in./170 mm 180 R: 7.1 in./180 mm
	air spring travel	Travel is adjustable down to 130 mm, in 10 mm increments
	features/adjustments	Air spring pressure, rebound
	spring/damper type	air/open bath R
	intended use	downhill, all-mountain, freeride

Note: This fork is designed to use the downhill brake system only. The disc brake caliper mounts directly to the fork leg and is positioned specifically for the use of 200-225 mm rotors.

Installing Your Fork

Be sure your fork is properly installed before proceeding. If your fork came pre-installed on your bicycle, continue to the next section.

Before You Ride

Check that your 20 mm axle pinch bolts and crown pinch bolts are properly adjusted and tightened.
Clean the outside of your fork with only mild soap and water, and wipe dry with a soft dry rag.
Note: Do not use any solvents or de-greasers, as these products can cause serious damage to paint and anodized parts (upper tubes, knobs, steerers).
Do not spray water directly on the seal/upper tube junction. Do not use a high pressure washer on your fork.
Inspect the entire exterior of your fork. The fork should not be used if any of the exterior parts appear to be damaged. Contact your local dealer or FOX Racing Shox for further inspection and repair.
Check your headset adjustment. If loose, adjust it accordingly to your bicycle manufacturer's recommendations.
Check that all brake cables or hoses are properly fastened.
Test the proper operation of your front and rear brakes on level ground.

Setting Sag

You can also view a Flash video on Setting Sag.

To get the best performance from your fork, it is necessary to set and adjust sag. Generally, sag should be set to 15 – 25% of total fork travel.

Unscrew the center blue aircap on top of the left fork leg to expose the Schrader valve.
Attach a FOX Racing Shox High Pressure Pump to the Schrader valve.
Pump your fork to the appropriate setting from the Suggested Air Spring Pressure Settings table below, then remove the pump.
Unless your fork already has a sag setting o-ring on an upper tube, install a zip tie to an upper tube. Slide the o-ring or the zip tie down against the scraper lip of the fork dust seal.
Dressed to ride, position your bike next to a wall or table to support yourself. Without bouncing, mount your bicycle. Assume a normal riding position for at least 30 seconds, allowing the suspension to fully settle.
Dismount your bike without bouncing downward, without further moving the o-ring or zip tie. Measure the distance between the seal and the zip tie. This measurement is your sag value.
Compare your actual sag value to your target sag value in the Sag Setup table below.

If your sag measurement value is less than the Sag Setup table value, screw on the pump ﬁtting, note the current air pressure setting and depress the black bleed-valve to reduce the gauge pressure by 5 psi. Measure sag again and repeat this adjustment, if necessary.

If your sag measurement value is greater than the Sag Setup table value, screw on the pump ﬁtting, note the current air pressure setting and pump to increase the gauge pressure by 5 psi. Measure sag again and repeat this adjustment if necessary.

Screw the blue aircap back on, and go ride.

Rider Weight lbs.	Suggested Air Spring Pressure Settings PSI
Rider Weight lbs.	160 mm	170 mm	180 mm
≤125	45	45	45
125 - 135	48	48	48
135 - 145	50	50	50
145 - 155	53	53	53
155 - 170	55	55	55
170 - 185	65	60	60
185 - 200	75	70	70
200 - 215	85	80	80
215 - 230	95	90	90
230 - ≥250	105	100	100

Sag Setup
Travel	XC/Race FIRM	All-Mountain PLUSH
160 mm (6.30")	24 mm (0.94")	40 mm (1.57")
170 mm (6.70")	25 mm (1.00")	42 mm (1.65")
180 mm (7.09")	27 mm (1.06")	45 mm (1.77")

Sag Troubleshooting
Symptom	Remedy
Too much sag	(+) air pressure in 5 psi increments
Too little sag	(-) air pressure in 5 psi increments
Excessive bottoming	(+) air pressure in 5 psi increments
Harsh ride; full travel not utilized	(-) air pressure in 5 psi increments

Adjusting Rebound

The rebound knob (shown below) is located on the top of the right fork leg, and has 15 clicks of adjustment. Rebound controls the speed at which the fork extends after compressing. Turning the knob clockwise slows down rebound; turning the knob counter-clockwise speeds up rebound. As a starting point, turn the rebound adjuster knob all the way clockwise (full in) until it stops, then turn counter-clockwise (out) 8 clicks.

Knob Setting (clicks out from full in)	Setting Description	Tuning Tips	Setup Tips
1	Slow Rebound	Too slow and your fork will pack down and ride harsh.	If you increase your spring rate or air pressure, you will need to slow down your rebound
8 (Factory setting)	Average Rebound
15	Fast Rebound	Too fast and you will experience poor traction and wheel hop.	If you decrease your spring rate or air pressure, you will need to speed up your rebound setting.

Changing Travel

Travel on your 36 FLOAT open bath R 160, 170, or 180 mm fork can be changed by adding or removing air spring travel spacers. After changing travel, check the fork for proper operation before riding. If there is noticeable play in the fork or if it makes strange noises, disassemble the air spring leg of the fork and recheck your travel spacer configuration.

Note: 36 FLOAT open bath R 160, 170 or 180 mm forks can be reduced in travel, but the 160 cannot be increased in travel beyond 160 mm, and the 170 and 180 cannot be increased in travel beyond 180 mm.

Tools Required for Travel Change

32 mm 6-sided socket
10 mm socket
Small screwdriver
Torque wrench
Oil drain pan
Plastic-faced hammer
Measuring container w/ cc or ml increments

Supplies Required for Travel Change

Learn how to use the FOX High Pressure Pump

Supplies Required
Quantity	Part Number	Part Name
1	025-02-003	1 qt. bottle of FOX Suspension Fluid (10 wt.)
1	025-03-002-A	5 cc Pillow Pack of FOX FLOAT Fluid
2	241-01-002-C	Crush washer
1	803-00-078	FLOAT Forx Air Piston Seal Kit (optional)

Remove the blue air cap from the top of the left fork leg. Let the air out of the fork. Remove the left top cap with a 32 mm (or 1.25") 6-point socket wrench.
Loosen the bottom nut 3-4 turns with a 10 mm wrench. With a plastic mallet, gently tap the bottom of the shaft to disengage it from the lower leg. Allow oil to drain into a bucket. Remove the bottom nut and crush washer.
Compress the fork as much as possible. The air piston will be visible about one inch below the top of the upper tube. Push the bottom of the air shaft upwards to push the air piston out of the top of the upper tube. Use a long, thin shaft screwdriver to push the bottom of the air shaft up through the hole in the bottom of the lower leg.
Pull the air shaft assembly from the fork. Refer to the Travel Spacer Orientation image below, and add or remove a 10 mm spacer to decrease or increase your travel length.
Note: Spacers snap onto the air shaft between the negative spring guide and topout plate, as shown in the travel spacer orientation drawing below.
Lubricate the U-cup seal on the air piston with FOX FLOAT Fluid and re-install the air shaft assembly into the upper tube. Be sure to orient the U-cup seal as shown in the Seal Orientation drawing below.
Push the shaft until it approaches the bottom hole of the fork. Do not push the shaft all the way through the bottom hole.
Turn the fork upside down. Measure and pour 25 cc of FOX Suspension Fluid through the bottom hole.
Push the air shaft assembly up until the shaft comes through the bottom hole. Install the crush washer and bottom nut. Torque to 50 in-lb.
Turn the fork right side up. Pour 5 cc of FOX FLOAT Fluid on top of the air piston.
Lubricate the o-ring on the air topcap with FOX FLOAT Fluid.
Re-install the topcap and tighten to 220 in-lb torque.
Pump up the fork to the desired pressure and cycle it several times to check for proper operation.
Re-install the blue air cap.
You’re done. Go ride.

Travel Spacer Orientation

Seal Orientation