Make sure that your fork is ready to ride

1. Check that quick-release levers and axle pinch bolts of the bike are properly adjusted and tightened.
2. 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 for further inspection and repair.
3. Check your headset adjustment. If loose, adjust it accordingly to your bicycle manufacturer's recommendations.
4. Check that all brake cables or hoses are properly fastened.
5. Test the proper operation of your front and rear brakes on level ground.
6. Before every race or ride, clean the outside of your fork with only mild soap and water, and wipe dry with a soft dry rag. Do not spray water directly into the seal/upper tube junction. Do not use a high pressure washer on your fork.

The 2015-2016 36 FLOAT uses 180mm Post Mounts that allow you to bolt your caliper directly to the fork and utilize a 180mm rotor. This post mount eliminates the need for a caliper adaptor when using the most common 180mm rotor size for forks with these amounts of travel, which saves overall system weight. 

If your current 180mm brake setup came with bolts and a caliper spacer, you may need to source shorter bolts as you will not need a caliper spacer when using a 180mm rotor.

If using a 203mm rotor, you will need to source the appropriate caliper spacer and bolts. Contact the brake manufacturer for further information.

The 2015-2016 36 TALAS 180 (20QR chassis) uses 203mm Post Mounts that allow you to bolt your caliper directly to the fork and utilize a 203mm rotor.

Install Your Wheel Correctly to Benefit From the Floating Axle

The 2015-2016 36 fork uses a true floating axle. Follow the installation instructions in the video below to properly install your front wheel and enjoy the friction reducing benefits of the floating axle. 

Wheel installation is identical for both the 15mm and 20mm axles. Information regarding converting between 15mm and 20mm axles can be found in the 15mm and 20mm Axle Conversion section. Additional information regarding installing wheels can be found here »

Sag should be set to 15 - 20% of total fork travel

To achieve the best performance from your FOX suspension, adjust the air pressure to attain your proper sag setting. Sag is the amount your suspension compresses under your weight and riding gear. Sag range should be set to 15–20% of total fork travel.

1. Unscrew the blue air cap on top of the left fork leg counter-clockwise to expose the Schrader valve. 
2. Attach a FOX High Pressure Pump to the Schrader valve.
3. Pump your fork to the appropriate pressure as listed in the 'Suggested starting points for setting sag' table below, then remove the pump.
4. Using your forks sag setting o-ring on the left upper tube (or temporarily install a zip tie to the upper tube), slide the o-ring (or zip tie) down against the fork dust wiper.
5. Make sure that your compression adjusters are in the Open position
   • Rotate the 3-Position lever to the Open mode (the riders 1 o'clock position).
   • If you have a 3-Position Remote fork, click the black release lever once to set the fork to Open mode.
   • If you have LSC or HSC/LSC adjust, make sure all adjusters are open (fully counter-clockwise.
6. Dressed to ride (including a filled hydration pack, if you use one), position your bike next to a wall or table to support yourself. Mount your bicycle. Assume your riding position for at least 10 seconds, allowing the suspension to fully settle. Make sure you distribute your weight evenly between the saddle, handlebars and pedals.
7. While in your riding position, slide the o-ring (or zip tie) down against the fork dust wiper.
8. Dismount your bike without bouncing, to avoid further moving the o-ring or zip tie. Measure the distance between the dust wiper and the o-ring or zip tie. This is your sag measurement. Suggested sag measurements are listed in the table below.
9. Add or remove air pressure until your sag measurement is between 15-20% of your forks total travel.
10. Repeat steps 2-8 and recheck sag measurement.
11. When sag measurement is correct, screw the blue air cap on clockwise until snug.

Rebound controls how fast the fork extends after compressing

The rebound adjustment is dependent on the air pressure setting. For example, higher air pressures require more rebound damping.

Use your air pressure to find your rebound setting. Turn your rebound knob to the closed position (full clockwise) until it stops. Then back it out (counter-clockwise) to the number of clicks shown in the table below.

Adjust rebound until when tested, the fork returns quickly but does not top out.

Top out is felt when a fork fully extends too quickly and comes to an abrupt stop when it reaches full extension (you will hear/feel a small noise). Top out should be avoided through proper rebound setting.

Easy on-the-fly adjustments for unprecedented control and performance

3-Position Lever: The 3-position lever is useful to make on-the-fly adjustments to control shock performance under significant changes in terrain, and is intended to be adjusted throughout the ride. You can use the OPEN mode during rough descending, the MEDIUM mode for undulating terrain, and the FIRM mode for smooth climbing.

FOX recommends beginning with the 3-position lever in the open mode.

*OPEN Mode Adjust: Open mode adjust is useful to control fork performance under rider weight shifts, G-outs, and slow inputs. OPEN mode adjust provides 22 additional fine tuning adjustments for the OPEN mode. Setting 22 will have a more plush feel and setting 1 will have a firmer feel.

FOX recommends beginning with the Open mode adjust set to 18 clicks out (counter-clockwise) from fully closed (clockwise).

*Factory and Performance Elite Series forks only.

Independently Control High and Low Speed Compression

Adjusting your high and low speed compression setting controls how the fork feels as it's compressed through its travel under various types of hits. Use your high and low speed compression adjusters to tune the fork to meet your riding style and terrain.

High-speed compression (HSC) adjustment is useful to control fork performance during bigger hits, landings, and square-edged bumps.

Low-speed compression adjustment is useful to control fork performance during rider weight shifts, G-outs, and other slow inputs.

FOX recommends beginning with the High-speed and Low-speed compression set 15 clicks out (counter-clockwise) from closed (full clockwise). 

Adjusting your low-speed compression setting controls how the fork feels as it's compressed through its travel under various types of hits. Use your low speed compression adjusters to tune the fork to meet your riding style and terrain.

Low-speed compression (LSC) adjustment is useful to control fork performance during rider weight shifts, G-outs, and other slow inputs.

FOX recommends beginning with the Low-speed compression set 12 clicks out (counter-clockwise) from closed (full clockwise). 

3-Position Micro Adjust: The 3-position lever is useful to make on-the-fly adjustments to control fork performance under significant changes in terrain, and is intended to be adjusted throughout the ride. Turning the lever to the full counter-clockwise position sets the fork in the Open mode. Turning the lever to the middle detent position sets the fork in the Medium mode. Turning the lever to the full clockwise position sets the fork in Firm mode. The positions between the Open, Medium, and Firm modes can be utilized to fine tune your compression damping. 

FOX recommends beginning with the 3-position lever in the Open mode.

FIT4 Dampers:

1. Install the remote lever onto your handlebar. Do not exceed 1.7 Nm (15 in-lb). Less torque may be needed for carbon bars. Refer to the handlebar manufacturer's instructions for use with carbon bars. Make sure to check for clearance between the remote lever and any brake or shifter controls.
2. Route cable housing from the fork topcap, around the rear of the crown, to the remote lever and cut to length. Install a ferrule on the end of the housing at the remote lever. The end of the housing at the fork topcap does not require a ferrule.
3. Set the remote lever to Open mode by pushing the black lever. Make sure that the cable head is completely seated in the remote lever.
4. With all cable housing fully seated and no slack in the system, lightly lubricate the inner cable and thread it through the cable housing and around the fork remote pulley. Tighten the pinch bolt, cut off the excess inner cable, and crimp the end.

Grip Dampers:

1. Install the remote lever onto your handlebar. Do not exceed 1.7 Nm (15 in-lb). Less torque may be needed for carbon bars. Refer to the handlebar manufacturer's instructions for use with carbon bars. Make sure to check for clearance between the remote lever and any brake or shifter controls.
2. Route cable housing from the fork topcap, around the rear of the crown, to the remote lever and cut to length. Install a ferrule on the end of the housing at the remote lever. The end of the housing at the fork topcap does not require a ferrule.
3. Set the remote lever to Firm mode by pushing the silver lever. Make sure that the cable head is completely seated in the remote lever.
4. With a 5mm hex wrench, turn the remote pulley clockwise until you feel it lightly stop, then hold in place.
   • For forks with the cable exiting the topcap at the rider's 1 o'clock position: the remote pulley should stop at the 10-11 o'clock position.
   • For forks with the cable exiting the topcap at the rider's 7 o'clock position: the remote pulley should stop at the 4-5 o'clock position.
5. With all cable housing fully seated and no slack in the system, lightly lubricate the inner cable and thread it through the cable housing and around the fork remote pulley. While gently holding the remote pulley against the clockwise stop with your 5mm hex wrench, tighten the pinch bolt.
6. Release the 5mm hex wrench, cut off the excess inner cable, and crimp the end. 
7. The in-line barrel adjuster may be used to change the lockout blow-off force. Clockwise barrel adjustment increases blow-off force, while counter-clockwise adjustment decreases blow-off force.

The 3-Position Remote lets you to switch between the Open, Medium, and Firm modes while riding. Each mode is optimized for a specific type of terrain, providing best performance and riding enjoyment. The 3-Position remote allows for complete rider control by using different modes on different types of terrain.

Firm Mode:

• Push the silver lever down to its lowest position to set the fork to Firm mode.

Firm mode is a very firm low-speed compression setting. This setting is most useful for climbing and sprinting. 

Medium Mode:

• From Firm mode, push the black release lever once and then push the silver lever down one click to the middle position to engage Medium mode.
• From Open mode, push the silver lever down one click to the middle position to engage Medium mode.

Medium mode offers less compression damping than Firm mode. Use this setting when pedaling on undulating terrain, and for preventing excessive travel in technical riding situations (such as low-speed drops). Medium mode is a great all-around setting for most terrain types and riding styles.

Open Mode:

• Push the black release lever in any setting to set the fork to Open mode.

Open mode has the lightest low-speed compression damping of the three modes. Open mode offers the most plush ride to ensure optimal traction over varied terrain.

The 2-position remote is designed to be used in place of a front shifter, under the handlebar on the rider's left side. The 2-position remote can be used with 2 cables to control both the front fork and rear shock simultaneously. 

The 2-Position Remote lets you to switch between the Open and Firm modes while riding. Each mode is optimized for a specific type of terrain, providing best performance and riding enjoyment. The 2-Position remote allows for great rider control by using different modes on different types of terrain.

Firm Mode:

• Push the actuation lever to set the fork to Firm mode.

Firm mode is a very firm low-speed compression setting. This setting is most useful for climbing and sprinting. 

Open Mode:

• Push the release lever to set the fork to Open mode.

Open mode has the lightest low-speed compression damping of the two modes. Open mode offers the most plush ride to ensure optimal traction over varied terrain.

Some 36 Fork Models Can Convert Between 15mm and 20mm Pinch-Axles

The video below guides you through the process of converting from the 20mm pinch-axle to the 15mm pinch-axle.

• Grease can be used in place of suspension oil when coating axle adaptors during installation. FOX recommends Slick Honey or a multi-purpose lithium based grease.

 The video below guides you through the process of converting from the 15mm pinch-axle to the 20mm pinch-axle.

Adjust Your Compression Ratio For The Perfect Air Spring Feel

The 2015-2016 36 FLOAT uses an air spring system that can be adjusted to provide different compression ratios. The video below shows you how to change your compression ratios by adding or removing air volume spacers.

There are two different air volume spacers: small Blue 7.6cc and large Orange 10.8cc

New 2015-2016 36 FLOAT forks come from the factory with one blue 7.6cc spacer installed. To make it easier to achieve full travel, you can remove the existing spacer to lower your compression ratio. If you are going through your travel too easily, you use  up to 4 total spacers (any combination of blue and orange) to achieve the desired compression ratio.

Air volume spacers may be desired when reducing travel as any reduction in travel will reduce your overall compression ratio. 

The 2015-2016 36 FLOAT uses an air spring system that can be adjusted down to lower travel settings in 10mm increments. To shorten travel you will need one Neg Plate Spacer (PN: 234-04-627) for each 10mm reduction in travel desired. 

• 2015-2016 36 FLOAT 170mm and 180mm forks can be reduced in travel down to 130mm.
• 2015-2016 36 FLOAT 160mm forks can be reduced in travel down to 110mm.
  
  

• 2015-2016 36 FLOAT 160mm forks CANNOT be extended past 160mm of travel.
• 2015-2016 36 FLOAT 180mm forks CANNOT be extended past 180mm of travel.
  
  
• 2015-2016 36 FLOAT 170mm forks can be extended to 180mm of travel.

• The 2016 36 831 uses an 831-specific transfer shaft that allows it to be run at 100mm travel in its stock configuration
  • 2016 36 831 100mm forks can be extended to 130mm of travel.
  • 2016 36 831 100mm forks can be reduced in travel down to 80mm.

The video below shows you how to travel adjust your 36 FLOAT fork.

Precise Travel Adjustments Offer Great Control

TALAS forks give you the option to switch between two travel settings while riding. 

Long Travel Mode:

Turning the TALAS lever toward the "+" (clockwise) sets your fork in the long travel mode. When adjusting to long travel mode, your fork will extend once unweighted.

Short Travel Mode:

Turning the TALAS lever toward the "-" (counter-clockwise) and compressing the fork sets your fork in short travel mode. You must compress the fork deeply into its travel after turning your lever to the short travel mode to travel adjust your fork to short travel mode.

Make sure to properly maintain your fork

To best maintain the performance and durability of your product under normal use, FOX recommends that you have regular fork and shock maintenance performed according to the service intervals listed below.

*Suspension product will require more frequent servicing the harder they are worked. For those who ride lift-accessed DH, Park, or Extreme Freeride or in extremely wet/muddy or dry/dusty environmental conditions where trail debris is sprayed onto the fork or shock while on the trail, or e-mtb's, FOX encourages riders to perform maintenance earlier than recommended above as needed. If you hear, see, or feel something unusual, stop riding immediately and contact a FOX Authorized Service Center for proper servicing.