36 FLOAT 160

Installing Your Fork | Before You Ride | Setting Sag | Adjusting Rebound | Locking Out the Fork | Adjusting Lockout Force | Adjusting Low-Speed Compression | Changing Travel | Service Intervals | Important Safety Information

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

1. Check that your 20 mm axle pinch bolts and crown pinch bolts are properly adjusted and tightened.
2. 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.

3. 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.
4. Check your headset adjustment. If loose, adjust it accordingly to your bicycle manufacturer's recommendations.
5. Check that all brake cables or hoses are properly fastened.
6. 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.

1. Unscrew the blue aircap on top of the left fork leg to expose the Schrader valve.
   
2. Attach a FOX Racing Shox High Pressure Pump to the Schrader valve.
3. Pump your fork to the appropriate setting from the Suggested Air Spring Pressure Settings table below, then remove the pump.
4. 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.
5. Make sure your fork lockout is not engaged.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Screw the blue aircap back on, and go ride.
   
   

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

   
   

   Sag Setup
   Travel	XC	All-Mountain
   160 mm (6.30")	24 mm (0.94")	40 mm (1.57")

   
   

   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 adjuster knob is located at the bottom of the right fork leg, as shown in the above figure. This knob has 18 clicks of adjustment range.

Rebound controls the rate of 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) 12 clicks.

Locking Out the Fork

The blue compression lockout lever, located just below the black lockout force adjuster knob, allows you to close the compression damping circuit in the fork. This keeps the fork at the top of its travel, making it harder to compress.

NOTE:  When you adjust the compression lockout lever, the black lockout force adjuster knob will also move. This is normal; the lockout force adjustment setting will not be affected.

Rotate the lever fully clockwise to lockout the fork. This position is useful in climbing and sprinting situations, but will sag with the rider’s weight. The fork will "blowoff" in the event that a big hit is encountered with the fork locked out.

To unlock the fork, simply rotate the lever fully counter-clockwise.

NOTE:  The fork may cycle a couple of times after enabling lockout. Once complete lockout is achieved, the fork may continue to move 3 - 5 mm. This is normal and does not affect performance.

Adjusting Lockout Force

Even when your fork is fully locked out, there are instances when you still want your fork suspension to be active. To protect your fork's internal parts, your FOX fork will "blowoff" when it encounters an intense hit. You can adjust the level of force it takes to trigger blowoff — "lockout force" — by adjusting the black knob on the right-side top cap.

A convenient tuning feature of the lockout force knob is that it allows you to leave your fork in the locked out position — no more fiddling with fork controls when the trail requires your undivided attention. Although you might need to adjust the knob a few times to find your sweet spot, once it is found you can simply leave your fork locked out. For example, your fork will then respond to hits in the trail, but will be locked out when you are out of your saddle on a climb.

Turn the knob clockwise to increase lockout force, and counter-clockwise to decrease lockout force.

NOTE:  When you adjust the black lockout force adjuster knob, hold the blue compression lockout lever in place.

There are 10 clicks of adjustment. As a starting point, turn the knob all the way clockwise until it stops, then back off one click counter-clockwise.

Adjusting Low-Speed Compression

Low-speed compression damping is adjusted with the blue bezel ring that is positioned just below the blue lockout lever. This ring has 8 clicks of adjustment range. Compression damping controls the fork compression speed. Adjust the low-speed compression with lockout off (the lockout lever turned fully counter-clockwise). The factory setting is 8 clicks out counter-clockwise, from fully in clockwise.

Changing Travel

Travel on your 36 FLOAT FIT RLC 160 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:  The 36 FLOAT FIT RLC 160 mm fork can be reduced in travel, but it cannot be increased in travel beyond 160 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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.  

5. 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.
6. Push the shaft until it approaches the bottom hole of the fork. Do not push the shaft all the way through the bottom hole.
7. Turn the fork upside down. Measure and pour 25 cc of FOX Suspension Fluid through the bottom hole.
8. 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.
9. Turn the fork right side up. Pour 5 cc of FOX FLOAT Fluid on top of the air piston.
10. Lubricate the o-ring on the air topcap with FOX FLOAT Fluid.
11. Re-install the topcap and tighten to 220 in-lb torque.
12. Pump up the fork to the desired pressure and cycle it several times to check for proper operation.
13. Re-install the blue air cap.
14. You’re done. Go ride.

Travel Spacer Orientation

Seal Orientation

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FOX Factory Inc.