rlee560's blog
<< back to profile

How To Lower Argyle 318

Posted: Jan 29, 2008

How to lower Argyle 318 to 70mm.

1. Remove topcap from compression(left) side of fork. Require 24mm socket.

2. Back the screw on the bottom of the same leg out 3 or 4 turns. Wack the screw with a Rubber mallet to unseat the shaft assembly. Then remove the screw the rest of the way. You will need a clean cup to catch the oil that drains out. Save the oil you will have to put it back in later.

3. Tip fork over upside down. The spring assembly will slide out. This is what it looks like.

1712102

1712102


4. You will need 30 mm of spacers. The ones I use are 10mm each. They can be purchased at any hardware store for less than a dollar. They are in the same isle as the nuts and bolts.

1692220

1692220


5. Remove the spacer on the top of spring assembly. Put in safe place in case you decide to change it back. Slide the 30mm of spacers on the bottom of shaft. I put them in between the negative spring and shaft hat.

1712101

1712101


6. Slide assembly back into fork. Replace screw in bottom of leg. Pour oil back in the fork. I used a nylon washer to cushion the spring topcap contact area.

1692221

1692221


7. Replace top cap. Done. Fork is now set at 70mm. Smile
Share on Twitter, Facebook, Email

| More

Link to News Story


43 Comments

  • + 6
flag abrahamsson (Feb 26, 2008 at 1:54)
thx , you the man! Wink
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag dg85 (May 5, 2008 at 6:00)
i did this to my argyles when i had them. i set it to 80 but put the softer yellow spring in so it felt a bit more consistent and not to firm. nice instructions tho dude.
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag alvit (May 15, 2008 at 19:40)
im just wondering if you lower the travel will the argyle become stiffer?
  • + 1
flag court247 (Oct 6, 2009 at 12:59)
yes it should do
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag kieran-street (Aug 5, 2008 at 9:32)
wat would happen say if there was no nylon washer
  • + 0
flag rlee560 (Aug 20, 2008 at 18:22)
Nothing. I just put it there so it wasn't metal on metal contact.
  • + 0
flag djh69 (Nov 15, 2008 at 10:43)
would it effect anything if it was metal on metal
  • + 0
flag kieran-street (Nov 15, 2008 at 11:15)
dont think so mines been fine now for over 3 months
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag bruiser284 (Aug 25, 2008 at 20:56)
do the spacers need to be plastic or can they be steel
  • + 0
flag markhumphris (Nov 21, 2008 at 12:16)
doesn't matter, just steel is going to be heavyer and could be louder than plastc because of metal-on-metal.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag ns001 (Sep 18, 2008 at 4:10)
is 302 the same?
  • + 1
flag rlee560 (Aug 10, 2009 at 5:33)
yes
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag djh69 (Nov 15, 2008 at 10:14)
you said to take off cap on left side, is that the blue thing on the 318 becasue on the pictures its on the other side, i have the 302 and there both the same??
  • + 0
flag mtbdarren318 (Dec 17, 2008 at 22:11)
take out the spring assembly on the left side, where theres the little bolt sticking out the bottom, not the side with the rebound on the bottom
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag themightyboss (Nov 17, 2008 at 12:15)
will this method work for nay fork?
  • + 0
flag donleon (Mar 23, 2009 at 5:42)
You just hace to insert some spacers under the negative spring, it'll look similiar in every fork, got some 'hooks' on the dumpers body, where U need to mount those spacers, It'll lower the fork and the travel as well. Don't remove the original spacers from another places, it could cause the effect that we could have seen in the pre 'tire clearance upgrade' manitous - bottomed out fork makes the tire hit the crown... In every brand our mod would look various, in manitous U don't have neither to remove the caps nor to pour the oil out, you just have to take the lower stanchions off.
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag pev182 (Dec 20, 2008 at 11:17)
thanks dude
  • + 1
flag civicmafia (Aug 14, 2009 at 12:50)
yes pev
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag dillonchamberlain (Dec 21, 2008 at 13:32)
i want to lower my argyle 409, got any tips?
[Reply]
  • + 0
flag Blk-Mrkt (Jan 19, 2009 at 15:21)
will this work for pretty much any fork?

Thanx. (:
  • + 0
flag kieran-street (Mar 9, 2009 at 14:29)
no it will only work for an argyle 302 or 318 but its very simalar to doing a 409 other forks such as mz are harder as you need to take apart the whole for but its the same principle as the more spacers/higher the spacers the lower the fork will be
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag bikingarran (Mar 14, 2009 at 13:22)
u r a legdend thnaks!!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag m-and-ms (Apr 5, 2009 at 10:05)
will this work on a domain 302 without the u turn?
like with just more spacers or no?
  • + 1
flag rlee560 (Apr 5, 2009 at 10:40)
I'm not familiar with the domain but they should be similar. You will have to take it apart and see. No big deal.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag roger-dodger (Apr 13, 2009 at 9:41)
Were would I pour the oil back in?
Once you have tightened the bolt on the bottom of the fork do you just pour it in the top?
Or a certain area?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag konerking (Apr 24, 2009 at 18:00)
what is the width of the spacers
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag p45tom (May 16, 2009 at 4:20)
i just did my 302s used the spacer that was inside they seem really low now an lot stiffer too bitch to fget the top cap backk on because theres loads of tension
  • + 1
flag live-life-2-ride-mtb (Jun 2, 2009 at 9:20)
have you had any problem's with them now there at 70mm ?

because im thinking of doing it to mine !
  • + 2
flag p45tom (Jun 2, 2009 at 9:50)
nah but there about 60 by using the inside spacer
  • + 2
flag live-life-2-ride-mtb (Jun 2, 2009 at 10:32)
oh right, yeah i tryed to do that just the minute ago but when i tryed to put it back in the same order as the pictures ^, i couldnt get the little allen key screw to bite to the internal thread near the bottom of my fork !

so i gave up and put them back to normal
  • + 2
flag p45tom (Jun 2, 2009 at 11:12)
ye mine did tht you have to angle the screw a bit and tighten that worked for me
[Reply]
  • + 2
flag joe3316norco (Jun 2, 2009 at 19:20)
For the spacers can I use the ones that came in the box or are those for something else
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag Scobek2 (Jul 16, 2009 at 21:22)
do the spacers have to be the exact same size as what you put it one so it doesnt rattle. My spacer is a little bit bigger than the spot where you put it so it makes that weird sound. It that fine or do I need to get a smaller one??
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag dj4carson (Aug 10, 2009 at 14:43)
i just used this it was actually pretty easy i just put the spacer on the top, on the bottom instead of spacers and worked the same only it was hard fitting the top cap back on..... here is a trick i used tho ... when you put the cap back on pull on your fork bridge up as hard as you can and wedge some thing in the open space (i used a block of wood wrapped in a rag ) and then it pulls up the crown so all you have to do is screw the cap on easily .. anyways thanks
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag ben-24 (Aug 14, 2009 at 7:48)
these instuctions are great
just follow exacly what they say
i lowwerd mine to 60 mm
top caps bit hard to put on
but worth it thank you very much for these instructions Salute
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag drew44 (Aug 29, 2009 at 22:14)
Legit. thnks man!
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag drew44 (Sep 1, 2009 at 22:12)
Anybody find that their fork is mad easy to bottom out like this?
  • + 1
flag phobospwns (Sep 7, 2009 at 12:56)
yes, I found the bottom out to be a lot easier to hit with the 80mm, the fork was a lot more plush. I converted it back to 100 due to this.
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag one25forlife (Oct 2, 2009 at 17:12)
dude this worked great THANKS!
  • + 1
flag BicycLLiNjosh (Oct 14, 2009 at 20:12)
Dude thanx so much ive been wanting to put them to 70mm for so long
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag morninglory1 (Oct 15, 2009 at 0:32)
should i do this to my forks does it make the bike better to ride?
[Reply]
  • + 1
flag mrandt (Oct 23, 2009 at 8:06)
does the compression adjustment still work after lowering it?
  • + 1
flag rlee560 (Oct 23, 2009 at 16:32)
yes
[Reply]

Post A New Comment
Why was a comment deleted?

1. add additional on topic info to the article that other users will find useful
2. add props and support/encouragement for the video/photo/article/product/story
3. add and explain constructive criticism for the video/photo/article/product/story
Bold Italic Link