Fox 34 Float 29 User manual

34 FLOAT 29
Installing Your Fork | Before You Ride | Setting Sag | Adjusting Rebound | Climb. Trail. Descend. | Adjusting Trail Mode | Service Intervals | Important Safety Information
travel •5.5 in./140 mm
•5.9 in./150 mm
model
features,
adjustments
Factory FIT CTD with Trail Adjust; 140,
150: Kashima coated or hard anodized
upper tubes, 1.5" tapered steerer, lever
actuated 3-position Climb/Trail/Descend, 3-
position Trail Adjust, air spring pressure,
rebound
Factory FIT CTD Remote; 140, 150:
Kashima coated or hard anodized upper
tubes, 1.5" tapered steerer, remotely
actuated 3-position Climb/Trail/Descend, air
spring pressure, rebound
Performance FIT CTD; 140, 150: Hard
anodized upper tubes, 1.5" tapered steerer,
lever actuated 3-position Climb/Trail/
Descend, air spring pressure, rebound
Evolution O/C CTD Remote; 140, 150:
Hard anodized upper tubes, 1.5" tapered
steerer, remotely actuated 3-position Climb/
Trail/Descend, air spring pressure, rebound
Evolution O/C CTD; 140, 150: Hard
anodized upper tubes, 1.5" tapered steerer,
lever actuated 3-position Climb/Trail/
Descend, air spring pressure, rebound
lower leg 15QR thru axle system, post style disc brake
mounting
spring air
riding style trail, AM
Installing Your Fork
Be sure your fork is properly installed before proceeding. 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 only mild soap and water, and wipe dry with a soft dry rag. NOTE: Do not use any solvents or de-greasers, as these products can cause serious
damage to paint and anodized parts (upper tubes, knobs, steerers).
Do not spray water directly on the seal/upper tube junction. Do not use a high pressure washer on your fork.
3. 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 Racing Shox for further inspection
and repair.
4. Check your headset adjustment. If loose, adjust it accordingly to your bicycle manufacturer's recommendations.
5. Check that all brake cables or hoses are properly fastened.
6. Test the proper operation of your front and rear brakes on level ground.
Setting Sag
To get the best performance from your fork, it is necessary to set the proper air spring pressure by adjusting sag. Generally, sag should be set to 15-25% of total fork travel.
1. Unscrew the blue aircap on top of the left fork leg to expose the Schrader valve.
2. Attach a FOX Racing Shox High Pressure Pump to the Schrader valve.
3. Pump your fork to the appropriate setting from the Suggested Air Spring Pressure Settings table below, then remove the pump. TIP: Use your air spring PSI value in "34 FLOAT 29" only
as a starting point. Discovering your best sag value is a process that takes some time to fully discover, given your riding style, bike geometry, total weight, and suspension feel
preferences.
4. Unless your fork already has a sag setting o-ring on an upper tube, install a zip tie to an upper tube. Slide the o-ring or the zip tie down against the scraper lip of the fork dust seal.
5. Make sure your fork is in Descend mode (fully counter-clockwise).
6. Dressed to ride, position your bike next to a wall or table to support yourself. Without bouncing, mount your bicycle. Assume a normal riding position for at least 30 seconds, allowing the
suspension to fully settle.
7. Dismount your bike without bouncing downward, without further moving the o-ring or zip tie. Measure the distance between the seal and the zip tie. This measurement is your sag value.
8. Compare your actual sag value to your target sag value in the Sag Setup table below.
If your sag value is less than the table value, 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 this adjustment, if necessary.
If your sag value is greater than the table value, 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 this adjustment if necessary.
9. Screw the blue aircap back on.
10. Rider
Weight
lbs.
11. Suggested Air Spring Pressure Settings
PSI
12. 140 mm 13. 150 mm
14. ≤125 15. 45 16. 40
17. 125 - 135 18. 50 19. 45
20. 135 - 145 21. 55 22. 50
23. 145 - 155 24. 65 25. 60
26. 155 - 170 27. 70 28. 65
29. 170 - 185 30. 75 31. 70
32. 185 - 200 33. 80 34. 80
35. 200 - 215 36. 90 37. 90
38. 215 - 230 39. 100 40. 100
41. 230 - ≥250 42. 110 43. 110
44.
45. Sag Setup
46. Travel 47. XC/Race FIRM 48. All-Mountain PLUSH
49. 140 mm (5.5") 50. 21 mm (0.83") 51. 35 mm (1.38")
52.
53. Sag Troubleshooting
54. Symptom 55. Remedy
56. Too much sag 57. (+) air pressure in 5 psi increments
58. Too little sag 59. (-) air pressure in 5 psi increments
60. Excessive bottoming 61. (+) air pressure in 5 psi increments
62. Harsh ride; full travel not utilized 63. (-) air pressure in 5 psi increments

53. Sag Troubleshooting
54. Symptom 55. Remedy
56. Too much sag 57. (+) air pressure in 5 psi increments
58. Too little sag 59. (-) air pressure in 5 psi increments
60. Excessive bottoming 61. (+) air pressure in 5 psi increments
62. Harsh ride; full travel not utilized 63. (-) air pressure in 5 psi increments
Adjusting Rebound
The rebound adjuster knob is located at the bottom of the right fork leg.
Rebound controls the rate of speed at which the fork extends after compressing. Turning the knob clockwise slows down rebound; turning the knob counter-clockwise speeds up rebound. As a
starting point, turn the rebound adjuster knob all the way clockwise (full in) until it stops, then turn counter-clockwise (out) 12 clicks.
Knob
Settin
g
(clicks out
from full in)
Setting
Descriptio
n
Tuning Tips Setup Tips
Full in
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
12
(Factory
setting)
Average
Rebound
Full out
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.
Climb. Trail. Descend.
The blue CTD lever lets you to switch between the Climb, Trail, and Descend ride modes. Each mode is most suitable for each specific type of terrain, providing best performance and riding
enjoyment with your fork. With some experience, you can experiment with using Trail mode when descending, or Descend mode for flat or undulating trails.
NOTE: With full CTD suspension, front to rear suspension balance is best achieved by running the fork in the same ride mode as the rear shock (Climb with Climb, Trail with Trail,
Descend with Descend).
Climb Mode
Rotate the CTD lever fully clockwise to set the fork in Climb mode, which is most useful for climbing and sprinting. In Climb mode, the fork will "blow off" in the event that a big hit is
encountered. This setting was formerly known as “lockout.”
Climb Tune Factory Settings
There are two pre-set Climb Tune mode settings offered for Factory and Performance model forks: medium and firm.
Refer to the Climb Tune decal located on the crown next to the CTD lever, to determine which factory pre-set climb tune your fork has:
Medium factory settings will be found on longer travel forks (130 mm travel and above for 26
forks, and 120 mm travel and above, for 29 forks)
Firm factory settings will be found on shorter travel XC-type forks
Climb Tune factory settings can only be altered through complete disassembly and re-bleeding of the CTD damper system. Contact your local dealer or FOX at 1-800-FOX-SHOX for more
information. Additional service information can be viewed at http://service.ridefox.com.
NOTE: The fork may cycle a couple of times after you engage Climb mode. Once complete Climb mode is achieved, the fork may continue to move 3 - 5 mm. This is normal, and does
not affect performance.
Trail Mode
Rotate the lever to the middle setting of the blue CTD lever to engage Trail mode. Trail mode offers significantly less compression damping than climb mode, which is good for a light pedaling
platform when pumping undulating terrain, and for preventing excessive travel in technical riding situations (such as low-speed drops).
Descend Mode
Rotate the lever fully counter-clockwise to set the fork in Descend mode, which is similar to Trail mode but with significantly less low-speed compression damping, for the softest ride when
descending.
Adjusting Trail Mode (FIT CTD Trail Adjust Only)
Factory FIT CTD Trail Adjust model forks feature a three-position Trail Adjust control that regulates low-speed compression damping only while you are in Trail mode.
NOTE: While it is possible to readjust FIT CTD Trail Adjust when you are in either Climb or Descend mode, Trail Adjust changes will only be felt in Trail mode.
For a firmer low-speed compression setting in Trail mode, turn the black Trail Adjust dial clockwise. For a lighter setting, turn the Trail Adjust dial counter-clockwise.
TIP: This setting is designed to work in conjunction with the rear shock, keeping in mind that front to rear suspension balance works best when the fork is in the same ride mode as
the rear shock.
Knob
Settin
g
(clicks IN
from full
OUT)
Setting
Descriptio
n
Tuning Tips Setup Tips
3
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.
3
(factory
setting)
1
Soft
Compression
Too soft and your
fork will pack down
and ride harsh.
Maximum wheel traction and bump
compliance. Too soft and you may
have excessive brake dive and a
wallowy feel.

Knob
Settin
g
(clicks IN
from full
OUT)
Setting
Descriptio
n
Tuning Tips Setup Tips
3
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.
3
(factory
setting)
1
Soft
Compression
Too soft and your
fork will pack down
and ride harsh.
Maximum wheel traction and bump
compliance. Too soft and you may
have excessive brake dive and a
wallowy feel.
Service Intervals
To extend the service life of your FOX fork or shock, the best
product maintenance plan you can follow is cleaning the
product exterior after each and every ride or race. Use mild
soapy water, a very light pressure water spray to rinse, and
wipe dry with a clean, dry cloth.
CAUTION: Do not use any solvents or de-greasers, as these products can damage the shock's exterior finish or its anodized parts.
Do not spray water directly on the seal/upper tube junction.
Never use a high pressure washer on your FOX fork or
rear shock.
When dirt dries onto the fork upper tube or shock body, it will
chafe and damage the wiper seal. With a damaged seal, dirt
works its way into the fork or shock. Simple, periodic
maintenance can greatly extend the service life of your FOX
fork or shock.
TIP: If you ride in extreme conditions frequently (wet and muddy, downhill racing, winter riding, etc.), correspondingly the service intervals should be more frequent.
Rear Shocks
service item new each ride/
race
every 30
hours every 100 hours/annually
set sag X
check sag; reset if necessary X
set damping adjustments X
clean shock exterior with mild soap and water only; wipe dry
with soft towel X
air sleeve maintenance (FLOAT & DHX Air shocks) X
clean and inspect bushings & reducers X
suspension fluid service (must be performed by FOX Racing
Shox or Authorized Service Center)X
Air Spring Forks (All 32, 34, 36 FLOAT, TALAS, and DRCV)
service item new each ride/race every 30 hours every 100
hours
set sag X
check sag; reset if necessary X
set damping adjustments X
clean exterior of fork with mild soap and water only; wipe dry
with soft towel X
inspect dropout thickness (9 mm) X
inspect bushings X
change oil in lower legs
Visit the FOXHelp service site for more service procedures
information.
X
change FLOAT fluid in air chamber of FLOAT forks. X
change FLOAT fluid in air chamber TALAS and DRCV forks. X
service damper: 32, 34, and 36 FIT; open cartridge (OC) and
Terralogic®X
Coil Spring Forks (36 VAN & 40)
service item new each
ride/race
every 30
hours
every
100
hours
set sag X
check sag; reset if necessary X
set damping adjustments X
clean exterior of fork with mild soap and water only; wipe dry
with soft towel X
inspect bushings X
change oil in lower legs
Visit the FOXHelp service site for more service procedures
information.
X
service damper: 36 RC2, 40 RC2 X
Important Safety Information
Forks
WARNING: DO NOT use FOX bicycle suspension products on any motorized bicycle, motorized cycle or motorized vehicle, or on any vehicle carrying more than one operator/rider,
such as a tandem bicycle. Any such misuse may overload the suspension and may result in failure of the suspension. Suspension failure may cause a crash and result in property
damage, SERIOUS INJURY, OR DEATH. Misuse of FOX suspension products voids all FOX warranties.
WARNING: FOX suspension products contain pressurized nitrogen, air, or both. Suspension misuse may cause property damage, SERIOUS INJURY, OR DEATH. DO NOT puncture,
incinerate or crush any portion of a FOX suspension product. DO NOT attempt to disassemble any portion of a FOX suspension product, unless expressly instructed to do so by the
applicable FOX technical documentation, and then ONLY while strictly adhering to all FOX instructions and warnings in that instance.
WARNING: Modification, improper service, or use of aftermarket replacement parts with FOX forks and shocks may cause the product to malfunction, resulting in SERIOUS INJURY
OR DEATH. Do not modify any part of a fork or shock, including the fork brace (lower leg cross brace), crown, steerer, upper and lower leg tubes, or internal parts, except as
instructed herein. Any unauthorized modification voids all warranties, and may cause failure of the fork or shock, resulting in SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
WARNING: Make sure that your wheels and wheel axles are securely fastened before riding, in accordance with the bicycle owner’s manual instructions. Either wheel separating out
of the bicycle frame can cause a loss of control, resulting in property damage, SERIOUS INJURY, OR DEATH.
WARNING: Before riding, verify that the brakes on your bicycle are installed and adjusted correctly in accordance with the brake manufacturer’s instructions. Improperly installed
and adjusted brakes may cause a crash and result in property damage, SERIOUS INJURY, OR DEATH.
WARNING: To avoid potential disc brake failure that could result in SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH, the disc brake caliper mounting bolts must 1) always have 10-12 mm of thread
engagement with the fork and 2) be kept torque wrench tightened to the manufacturer’s specification. In all cases, the disc brake caliper mounting bolt tightening torque level must
never be less than the manufacturer’s torque specification, or exceed 90 in-lb torque.

WARNING: If mounting the bicycle in a carrier designed to hold a fork by its dropouts, avoid tilting the bicycle to either side, to avoid causing structural damage to the fork. Be sure
your fork is fastened securely with the quick-release mechanism (the 15QR, 20QR and 40 pinch axle, with the bike carrier’s thru-axle mount), and the rear wheel is properly secured.
If the bicycle ever tilts on or falls from a bicycle carrier, do not ride it until it is examined by a qualified bicycle service technician, Authorized Service Center, or by FOX Racing Shox. A
structurally damaged fork leg or dropout failure can cause a sudden loss of control, resulting in SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
WARNING: When using a quick release mechanism to secure the front wheel into the FOX fork that is equipped with open dropouts and a disc brake system, be sure that you adjust
the quick release mechanism properly before closing it. A maladjusted quick release mechanism can lead to the sudden separating of the front wheel from the bicycle at any time
including when the front brake is applied. Front wheel separation may result in SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
If your fork loses oil, tops out excessively or suddenly makes
unusual sounds, immediately stop riding and contact FOX
Racing Shox or an Authorized Service Center for inspection.
NOTE: Some sounds (such as oil flow, minor clicks, and spring rattle) are normal.
WARNING: A broken or malfunctioning damper cartridge may cause loss of vehicle control and result in SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
CAUTION: Use a torque wrench to tighten the pinch bolts and axle on the FOX 40 to 19 in/lb. (2.15 Nm).
WARNING: Never attempt to remove or replace the steerer or upper tubes independently from the crown. Modifying the integrated crown, steerer, or upper tubes can cause an
assembly failure, resulting in a loss of control of the bicycle and SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
WARNING: Never attempt to cut threads into the threadless steerers of FOX forks. Cutting threads into a threadless steerer can cause the steerer tube to fail prematurely, resulting
in a loss of control of the bicycle and SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
WARNING: If the steerer tube has any nicks or gouges, the crown/steerer tube assembly must be replaced. A nick or gouge can cause the steerer tube to fail prematurely, resulting
in a loss of control of the bicycle and SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
CAUTION: The total height of spacers used on a FOX steerer tube should never exceed 30 mm.
NOTE: FOX forks do not include reflectors for public road use. FOX forks are designed for use in competitive off-road riding and racing. Proper reflectors meeting the Consumer
Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) requirements should be installed if the fork will be used on public roads.
NOTE: After riding in salt-abundant areas (ocean coasts, desert salt flats, salted roads in winter), completely rinse off your bicycle to prevent corrosion.
Rear Shocks
If your shock ever loses oil or makes unusual noises, stop
riding and have the shock inspected by a qualified technician.
WARNING: A broken or malfunctioning shock may cause loss of vehicle control and result in SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Do not modify your bike frame or shock. Use only genuine
FOX Racing Shox parts.
WARNING: Modification, improper service or use of aftermarket replacement parts voids the warranty and may cause the shock to malfunction, resulting in loss of vehicle control
and SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Follow service maintenance recommendations. Shock service
should be performed by FOX Racing Shox in the USA or an
Authorized Service Center outside the USA. The exception is
air sleeve maintenance and mounting hardware service, which
can be performed by the consumer or a dealer.
FOX Racing Shox contain a nitrogen charge. Do not pry out the
white nylon (plastic) plug at the body eyelet end of the shock.
The charged portion of the shock should only be opened by a
FOX Racing Shox technician.
WARNING: Opening a nitrogen pressurized shock is dangerous and can result in SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
On air shocks, the portion of the shock charged with nitrogen
does not need to be opened to perform air sleeve
maintenance.
WARNING: Attempting to pull apart, open, disassemble, or service a shock that is in a “stuck down” condition can result in SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
A “stuck down” condition results from a failure of the dynamic
air seal located between the positive and negative air
chambers within the shock air sleeve, resulting with the
negative chamber retaining a higher air pressure than the
positive chamber. To test whether the shock is in fact “stuck
down”:
1. Remove the air cap and depress the Schrader valve to completely release air pressure from the positive air chamber of the shock.
2. If shock body retracts into the air sleeve near bottom out after air is released from positive air chamber, attach a FOX Racing Shox high pressure hand pump and pressurize the shock to 250
psi/17 bar.
3. If the shock does not fully extend, it is in fact “stuck down”.
WARNING: Any improper servicing procedure with FOX air shocks in the “stuck down” condition can lead to SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. Contact FOX Racing Shox or an Authorized
Service Center for repair service.
After riding in salt-abundant areas (ocean coasts, desert salt
flats, salted roads in winter), FOX recommends completely
rinsing off your bicycle to prevent corrosion.
Copyright © 2012
FOX Factory Inc.