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F100RLC/29 & F80RLC/29 (OE Edition)

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

F100 weight
F80 weight

3.87 lb / 1.76 kg

F100 travel
F80 travel

3.9 inches / 100 mm
3.1 inches / 80 mm

features/adjustments

low-speed compression, lockout, lockout force adjust, air spring pressure, rebound

spring/damper type

air/open bath

intended use

cross-country

color

White or Black Diamond

Installing Your Fork

Be sure your fork is properly installed before proceeding. Clicking on the link above will take you to a new page. If your fork came pre-installed on your bicycle, continue to the next section.

Before You Ride

  1. Check that quick-release levers are properly adjusted and tightened.
  2. Clean the outside of your fork with soap and water and wipe dry with a soft dry rag. Do not spray water directly on the seal/upper tube junction. Do not use a high pressure washer on your fork.
  3. Inspect entire exterior of fork for damage. The fork should not be used if any of the exterior parts appear to be damaged. Please contact your local dealer or FOX Racing Shox for further inspection and repair.
  4. Check headset adjustment. If loose, adjust according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
  5. Check that brake cables or hoses are properly fastened.
  6. Check that the front and rear brakes operate properly on flat land.

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 (shown below) on top of the left fork leg to expose the Schrader valve.  

  1. Attach a FOX Racing Shox High Pressure Pump to the Schrader valve.
  2. Using the Air Spring Settings table below, pump your fork to the appropriate setting using the FOX High Pressure Pump, then remove the pump.
  3. Install a zip tie with light friction on the upper tube and push it down until it contacts the fork seal.
  4. Carefully sit on the bike and assume a normal riding position. The fork should compress slightly.
  5. Being careful not to further compress the fork, dismount the bicycle. Measure the distance between the seal and the zip tie. This distance is sag.
  6. Compare your sag measurement to the Sag Setup table below.

    If your sag is lower than on the table
    , 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 adjustment, if necessary.

    If your sag is higher than on the table
    , 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 adjustment if necessary.
  7. Screw the blue aircap back on, and go ride.

 

AIR SPRING SETTING guidelines

Rider Weight

Air Pressure

< 125 lbs.

45 psi

125 - 135 lbs.

50 psi

135 - 145 lbs.

55 psi

145 - 155 lbs.

65 psi

155 - 170 lbs.

75 psi

170 - 185 lbs.

85 psi

185 - 200 lbs.

95 psi

200 - 215 lbs.

105 psi

215 - 230 lbs

115 psi

230 - 250 lbs.

125 psi

 

sag setup

Travel

XC/Race FIRM

PLUSH

80 mm (3 1/8")

12mm (1/2")

20mm (3/4")

100 mm (4")

15mm (5/8")

25mm (1")

120 mm (4.7")

18 (3/4")

30 (1 1/4")

 

sag troubleshooting

Symptom

Remedy

Too much sag

(+) air pressure in 5psi increments

Too little sag

(-) air pressure in 5psi increments

Excessive bottoming

(+) air pressure in 5psi increments

Harsh ride; full travel not utilized

(-) air pressure in 5psi increments

Adjusting Rebound

The rebound knob (shown below) is located on the top of the right fork leg, and has 12 clicks of adjustment. Rebound controls the speed at which the fork extends after compressing. Turning the knob clockwise slows down rebound; turning the knob counterclockwise speeds up rebound. As a starting point, turn the rebound adjuster knob all the way clockwise (full in) until it stops, then turn counterclockwise (out) 6 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

6

(Factory setting)

Average Rebound

 

12

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.

Locking Out the Fork

The blue compression lockout lever is located below the red rebound adjuster knob. It allows the rider to close the compression damping circuit in the fork. This keeps the fork at the top of its travel, making it harder to compress.

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 counterclockwise.  

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 to be active. To protect your fork's internal parts, your FOX fork will "blowoff" when it encounters an intense hit. You can adjust when the fork blows off—lockout force—by adjusting the blue knob on the bottom of the right leg.

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 the sweet spot, once it is found you can simply leave your fork locked out. Your fork will then respond to hits in the trail (greater lockout force), for example, but will be locked out (lower lockout force) when you are out of your saddle on a climb.

Turn the knob clockwise to increase lockout force and counterclockwise to decrease lockout force.

There are 12 clicks of adjustment. As a starting point, turn the knob all the way clockwise until it stops, then back off one click counterclockwise.

Adjusting Low-Speed Compression

Low-speed compression damping is adjusted with the blue bezel ring (shown below) below the blue lockout lever, and has 8 clicks of adjustment. Compression damping controls the speed at which the fork compresses. Adjust low-speed compression with lockout disabled (lockout lever fully counterclockwise). As a starting point, turn the low-speed compression dial all the way counterclockwise (full out) until it stops, then turn clockwise (in) 5 clicks.   

Knob Setting
(clicks in from full OUT)

Setting Description

Tuning Tips

Setup Tips

1

Soft Compression

Too soft and your fork will pack down and ride harsh.

Maximum wheel traction and bump compliance. Too soft and you maybe have excessive brake dive and wallowy feel.

5
(Factory setting)

Average Compression

 

9

Firm Compression

Too firm and you will experience poor traction and wheel hop.

Resists brake dive and keeps the fork up in the travel. Too firm and you may have poor traction in loose conditions.  

Changing Travel

Travel on your F-SERIES fork can be changed by rearranging the internal 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 fork and check for complete number and correct orientation of spacers.

An F100 can be lowered in travel to 80mm, but an F80 cannot be increased to 100mm.

Tools Required for Travel Change
Supplies Required for Travel Change
Learn how to use the FOX High Pressure Pump

Supplies REQUIRED

Quantity

Part Number

Part Name

1

025-03-004-A

1 qt. bottle of FOX Suspension Fluid (7 wt.)

1

025-03-002-A

5cc Pillow Pack of FOX FLOAT Fluid

2

241-01-002-C

Crush washer

1

803-00-078

32MM Cartridge Seal Kit (optional)

  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 26mm socket 6-point socket wrench.
  2. Loosen the bottom nut 3-4 turns with a 10mm 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 drawings on the next page and add or remove the appropriate spacer(s) to achieve the desired travel.

Spacers snap onto the air shaft between the negative spring guide and topout plate, as shown in the travel spacer orientation drawing below.

  1. 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.
  2. Push the shaft until it approaches the bottom hole of the fork. Do not push the shaft all the way through the bottom hole.
  3. Turn the fork upside down. Measure and pour 30cc of FOX Suspension Fluid through the bottom hole.
  4. 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-lbs.
  5. Turn the fork right side up. Pour 5cc of FOX FLOAT Fluid on top of the air piston.
  6. Lubricate the o-ring on the air topcap with FOX FLOAT Fluid.
  7. Re-install the topcap and torque to 165 in-lbs.
  8. Pump up the fork to the desired pressure and cycle it several times to check for proper operation.
  9. Re-install the blue air cap.
  10. You’re done. Go ride.
Travel Spacer Orientation

Seal Orientation

   

eng029

WHEREVER YOU RIDE. WHEREVER YOU RIDE.

 

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