How often should I get my 5th Element Air serviced?
A full service is recommended after 200 hours of riding or annually, whichever comes
first. 200 hours is about 5 hours per week so many riders will need an annual service
whilst some may need a service after 7 or 8 months. However the air can should be
serviced every 40 hours. Note: Your warranty is void if you have a full service
performed by anyone other than an authorised Progressive Suspension Service Centre.
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What is done during a 5th Element Air Service?
Before any service work is carried out the shock is cleaned & hand dynode to
check it's operation. It's then stripped & all air & oil seals/o-rings are
removed prior to cleaning the individual parts in a chemical bath. Once cleaned
& dried the parts are inspected before fitting new large & small Control
Valve O-Rings, Seal Head O-ring, IFP O-ring & Main Piston ring in the damper
unit plus all the air can seals. Then we assemble everything in accordance with
the factory/TFT procedures (speed-up the low speed rebound to improve the small
bump ride - makes shock feel less 'dead'), put oil in the important places &
bleed all the air out of the damper. Then we pump her up to match your weight/bike
(all settings are noted on the back of the invoice). Next we do a leak test for
air before popping it on the hand dyno to check all the adjusters do what they're
meant to do. Finally we replace the spherical mount bearings, install the mounting
hardware, pop a small TF Tuned sticker on it & send it back.
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Where can I get a Quick Start Guide for my bike?
QuickStart guides have not yet been produced for 5th Air shocks.
5th Element Air Set-up made simple
These tips are to be used in conjunction with Owner's Manual. Remember, what might
be your perfect set-up may not be the same for someone else with the same bike and
equal weight - we, like our bikes, are individuals!
- The main air spring pressure controls the 'sag' of the shock. Sag is the compression
of the rear wheel caused by the rider's weight. Correct sag allows the rear wheel
to follow the contour of the terrain as you ride and has the biggest effect on how
the bike feels. Sag is expressed as a percentage of maximum stroke and is best set
at 20-30% for XC (firm) and 25-35% for Enduro (plush). To increase your sag reduce
the main air spring pressure. To reduce sag increase the main air spring pressure.
For initial settings refer to your bike owners manual set-up
- Before finalising the main air spring pressure, first inflate the IFP chamber to
80 psi.
- Sitting on the bike in your riding gear and normal riding position with your elbow
against a wall for balance, push up & down allowing the the shock air spring
to push your weight back up until it settles. Now reach down & roll the shaft
O-ring against the air can wiper seal before gently getting off the bike. When you
get off the bike the shock will extend and you can measure the distance in mm between
can wiper seal and the O-ring. Check this measurement in the table below to see
your % sag. To increase your sag reduce the main air spring pressure. To reduce
sag increase the main air spring pressure.
- IFP Air Pressure - Lower pressures (50-90psi) will provide a softer ride & lower
blow-off threshold for sharp edge hi-speed bumps (large & small), and are ideal
when the going is on the slippery side or you're looking for a smooth ride. Higher
pressures (95-125psi) will provide a firmer ride control, firmer pedalling &
a higher blow-off threshold for sharp hi-speed bumps (large & small) & work
well when it's dry & pedally. If you alter the IFP pressure by more than 20psi
you will need to check your sag again & possibly alter the main air chamber
pressure.
NOTE - Some people damage the shock pump by screwing it in too far. As soon
as the gauge registers pressure, screw ½ turn more and pump to the desired level.
Use the black button on the pump to reduce air pressure. By the way, you know that
hiss you hear when you unscrew the pump? That's the air from the pump, not the shock!
Likewise, when you attach the pump, the opposite happens and air from the shock
fills the pump, reducing the pressure around 30-60 psi in the IFP & 10-15 psi
in the main air spring. All perfectly normal and no need to change your desired
pressure!
- Rebound is the speed at which the shock returns after being compressed. Gently turn
the rebound adjuster clockwise until it stops. This is the slowest rebound setting.
Now turn the adjuster anti-clockwise 2 turns. From this point you can fine-tune
your shock. If you feel the shock is too fast in rebound turn the adjuster clockwise,
if it's too slow - anti-clockwise. Make small ½ turn adjustments and try again.
When adjusting the rebound, please note that ‘+’ gives
you slower rebound and ‘-‘ makes it faster, i.e. less damping. Do not force past
the 'soft stop' at both limits of adjustment as this will damage the shock. There
are between 3.5 & 4 full turns of rebound adjustment
The rest is experience on the trail. Go to your favorite trail and ride short loops
of it where possible - don't forget your pump! Ride various obstacles to experience
how your 5th Air shock works. Only change one thing at a time and then determine
if this is good or bad. Each time you change a setting make a note of the change.
Setting up suspension takes time. Experiment a little and enjoy!
Once you find your perfect air pressures and damping settings, make a note of them
for future use.
Copyright © 2003 Tim Flooks
For more advice (or translation of the above!) call 01373 826800
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When I check my air pressures it always seems to have lost air - what's wrong?
You should expect to see IFP readings some 30-50 psi lower than you put into the
shock. This is because air from the reservoir is required to fill the pump connection
hose & gauge which increases the volume, decreasing the pressure (Boyle's Law).
As the IFP chamber is only around double the volume of your pump it reduces the
pressure by almost half. The main air chamber is much larger than the IFP chamber
so you should only see a small (3-5psi) drop in pressure when reconnecting the pump.
By the way, you know that hiss you hear when you unscrew the pump? That's the air
from the pump, not the shock! All perfectly normal and no need to change your desired
pressure, what you set on the gauge will be left in your shock as long as your pump's
hose connector is in good condition. NOTE: If you don't have any air in the IFP
there will be little or no damping, both in compression & rebound.
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During use a little oil appears on the shock body - is this a problem?
Sometimes a small residue of 'oil' can appear on the shock body after use, especially
during the first 20-30 hour of use. This is the liquid grease used during assembly
of the air can. It is nothing to worry about & usually diminishes with time.
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The owners manual mentions 'Tuneable negative spring system' - how's it done?
By trapping a certain volume of air behind the air piston during assembly we can
alter the sensitivity of the shock. Trapping a large volume will give a very plush
feel whilst a small volume will give a harsher feel. The amount of air trapped is
currently preset at the factory or by TFT to best match the bike the shock is fitted
to. It can only be altered with the use of a special 'air gulp setting tool'. If
you feel you want to change your negative air gulp we will happily do this at a
nominal charge (£15 including carriage), all we ask is for you to tell us what you
want & your bike details.