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36 VAN RC2 & R

Installing Your Fork  |  Before You Ride  |  Setting Sag  |  Adjusting Rebound  |  Adjusting High-Speed Compression  |  Adjusting Low-Speed Compression  |  Changing the Coil Spring  |  Service Intervals  |  Important Safety Information

weight

RC2: 5.21 lbs. / 2.36 kg

R: 5.12 lbs. / 2.32 kg

travel

6.3 in. / 160 mm

features/adjustments RC2

low-speed compression, high-speed compression, hydraulic bottom-out in damper, coil spring preload, rebound

features/adjustments R

hydraulic bottom-out in damper, coil spring preload, rebound

spring/damper type

steel spring/RC2 FIT damper

intended use

downhill, all-mountain, freeride

Installing Your Fork

Be sure your fork is properly installed before proceeding. Clicking on the link above will take you to a new page.

Before You Ride

  1. Check that the 20mm axle pinch bolts and crown pinch bolts 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. Install a zip tie with light friction on the upper tube and push it down until it contacts the fork seal.
  2. Carefully sit on the bike and assume a normal riding position. The fork should compress slightly.
  3. 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.
  4. Compare your sag measurement to the Sag Setup table below.

    If sag is lower than in the table
    , turn the preload knob (shown below) counter-clockwise one (1) full turn. Measure sag again and repeat adjustment if necessary.

    If sag is higher than in the table
    , turn the preload knob clockwise one (1) full turn. Measure sag again and repeat adjustment if necessary. If correct sag cannot be achieved by adjusting the preload knob, see the 36 Van Coil Spring Setting Guidelines table below. You may need to change to a coil spring with a different spring rate.


    36 Van Coil Spring Setting Guidelines

    FOX Part #

    Spring Rate

    Color Code

    Travel Range

    Rider Weight
    Lbs.

    039-05-050

    35 lb/in

    Black

    160

    <90–115

    039-05-051

    40 lb/in

    Purple

    160

    115–155

    039-05-052

    45 lb/in

    Blue

    160

    150–180

    039-05-053

    50 lb/in

    Green

    160

    175–210

    039-05-054

    55 lb/in

    Yellow

    160

    205–240+


    Sag Setup

    Travel

    Race FIRM

    Freeride PLUSH

    160 mm (6.3")

    24mm (15/16")

    40mm (1.5")


    Sag Troubleshooting

    Symptom

    Remedy

    Too much sag

    Change to higher rate coil spring

    Too little sag

    Change to lower rate coil spring

    Excessive bottoming

    Change to higher rate coil spring

    Harsh ride; full travel not utilized

    Change to lower rate coil spring

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 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) 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.

Adjusting High-Speed Compression (RC2 only)

High-speed compression damping controls the force it takes to move the fork through its travel and how the wheel reacts to a bump. This adjuster rotates to stops at each end and has 15 clicks of adjustment. It is set from the factory at 8 clicks out from the full closed (clockwise) position. The knob is protected by the black protective cap. Never ride your FOX 36 without the black protective cap.


Knob Setting
(clicks IN from full OUT)

Setting Description

Tuning Tips

1

Soft Compression

Maximum wheel traction and bump compliance. If setting is too soft, you may bottom often on square-edged hits and G-outs.

8

(Factory setting)

Average Compression

15

Firm Compression

Reduces bottom-out and provides maximum bump absorption. If setting is too firm, you may experience a harsh ride with bad traction and use too little available travel.

Adjusting Low-Speed Compression (RC2 only)

Low-speed compression damping controls the influence of the rider’s weight shifts and bike attitude under braking. This adjuster rotates to stops at each end and has 17 clicks of adjustment. It is set from the factory at 8 clicks out from the full closed (clockwise) position. The knob is protected by the black protective cap. Never ride your FOX 36 without the black protective cap.


Knob Setting
(clicks IN from full OUT)

Setting Description

Tuning Tips

1

Soft Compression

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

8

(Factory setting)

Average Compression

17

Firm Compression

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

Hydraulic Bottom-Out System

The 36 VAN is equipped with a patent-pending Internally Adjustable Hydraulic Bottom-Out Control System. This feature can be adjusted inside the cartridge by FOX Racing Shox or an Authorized Service Center. It comes preset from the factory at the FIRM setting.

Changing the Coil Spring

Note:  36 VAN forks cannot be reduced in travel.

  1. With a 32mm 6-point socket wrench, loosen and remove the preload topcap (top of left leg).
  2. Compress the fork slightly and remove the coil spring. You may need to firmly pull up on the spring to disengage it from the plunger shaft.
  3. Wipe the spring dry with a rag and check its color code.
  4. Install the new spring by dropping it into the upper tube, then torque the top cap to 165 in-lbs (1864 N-cm).
  5. Rotate the fork to a horizontal position and shake it. This lubricates the spring before its first push into travel.
  6. Measure and set sag.

WHEREVER YOU RIDE. WHEREVER YOU RIDE.

 

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