Suntour CR-8V forks - how to adjust preload?

[danfoto]

Well, if it's on the Kalkhoff "manual" CD I can't find it, and surprisingly I got nowhere with Google just now, so ...

How do I adjust the preload on the Suntour CR-8V forks fitted to our Agattus? Seems weird to me that there's only a knob on one leg, but actually many things seem weird to me so that's nothing to go by ...

 

[JamesC]

This page at Suntour shows the CR-8V forks for Model Year (MY) 2011. You can select a different Model Year if neccessary.

Click on More Details for your model, then click again on Show More Details.

At the end of the details, there is a button to click for the Owners Manual which might tell you.

James

 

[danfoto]

James, thank you ever so for that, but either the manual doesn't tell me or it does but I can't see the wood for the trees ...

 

[shemozzle999]

Further to JamesC link see the exploded view pdf:

select: sf7-cr-8v - for 26" 2007 model.


SR SUNTOUR Cycling

Doesn't appear there is any adjustment for the spring.

 

[flecc]

The 8v on that page has two adjusters though?

 

[shemozzle999]

Your right, I confused JamesC list of bikes (shows 2007 Agattu) with Danfoto.
Danfoto will have to adjust the search year to his model.

 

[danfoto]

Which I tried and got nowhere. It's no big deal, but it's scrolling my nerd that one leg has a + and - preload adjuster on top of it and the other doesn't. I can't for the life of me think how that's supposed to work!

 

[shemozzle999]

A quick tour of the Kalkhoff main site show the Agattu range have various Suntour forks fitted, not only the CR-8V, are you sure you have the CR-8V?

Kalkhoff link:
http://www.kalkhoff-bikes.com/int/en.html

Perhaps if you posted here a picture of your forks that might help progress the search for an answer.
What is the model and year of manufacture of your bike?

 

[NRG]

Dont some forks only have a spring in one leg?

SR SUNTOUR Cycling

This one has lockout on one leg and the spring on the other....you may only have preload and no lockout.

 

[danfoto]

Dont some forks only have a spring in one leg?

This one has lockout on one leg and the spring on the other

Good grief! And I suppose some CAD program or other reckoned that was sound engineering.

Whatever, the forks are on a brand new Agattu and it definitely says CR-V8 on them, just like it does on my wife's Agattu, which is also brand new.

However, they are completely different forks! Mine has the brakes on the bridge i.e. in front of the fork legs, hers are behind the legs. Hers also have a preload adjustment thingy on one leg only, but the knobs are a different design.

Gentlemen, thank you for your suggestions but I think I'll phone 50 cycles on Monday and see if they know the answer. If they do, I'll post it here in case it's of help to anybody else.

Dan

 

[shemozzle999]

Dont some forks only have a spring in one leg?

SR SUNTOUR Cycling

This one has lockout on one leg and the spring on the other....you may only have preload and no lockout.

Well spotted NRG - Danfoto confirms the bikes a brand new so must be this newer type, adjustable via one dial only - problem solved.

 

[flecc]

I think I'm right in saying the Suntour fork with front mounted brake was only used on the small 45 cm Agattu originally in 2007/8. The larger one I rode had forks with rear mounted brake and twin adjusters which I'm sure were a different make but can't remember which.

 

[danfoto]

Well spotted NRG - Danfoto confirms the bikes a brand new so must be this newer type, adjustable via one dial only - problem solved.

And it looks like today's prize goes to shemozzle for what certainly seems to be the most likely answer!

I think I'm right in saying the Suntour fork with front mounted brake was only used on the small 45 cm Agattu originally in 2007/8.

It might well have been used for that, flecc, but this one's on my 53cm 2011/12 Agattu step-through...

 

[flecc]

I guessed that was probably the case, it seems they changed all models to the Suntour, a pity in my view since the previous fork on the three larger Agattus was ok and I prefer a rear of fork brake.

 

[Caph]

It's usually either a metal coil or air in one side to absorb compression and then oil in the other side to for dampening the rebound. The coil may or may not have a preload which does nothing more than compress the coil, it sounds like yours has this. Air suspension will have a valve to allow you to add air. Both coil and air will usually have a lock out lever to prevent any compression (usually it substantially reduces the compression but doesn't eliminate it). The oil usually has a lever to allow you to control the diameter of the hole that the oil runs through which controls how quickly the coil/air is allowed to rebound. Mine has the oil adjust lever underneath the bottom of the right fork with the lockout on top of the same fork, the preload is on the top of the left fork. That's a pretty typical setup.