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How To Lower Argyle 318

Jan 29, 2008 at 15:20
by cool breeze  
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.

photo

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.

photo

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.

photo

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.

photo

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7. Replace top cap. Done. Fork is now set at 70mm. Smile

Author Info:
rlee560 avatar

Member since Jul 6, 2007
1 articles

85 Comments
  • 11 0
 thx , you the man! Wink
  • 2 1
 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
  • 3 1
 that will damage your internals, and the whole fork structure if you do to hard, as it puts a lot of force on the bridge (which shouldnt even be hit with a mallet) and the rebound cartridge is what you are pulling apart when doing that=bad
  • 1 0
 I just lowered my new 302 the other night using only the components that were in the fork already. I used the spacer with the hex on it over the top of the negative spring snaping it into placeusing the groove on it then taking the black plastic washer that was snaped onto the negative spring and moving it onto the main compression spring then putting the 2 tune spacer back on top to maintain the same spring tension.
  • 1 0
 does this work safely yes?
  • 1 0
 done this tonight randomly because i was bored, i put the big spacer back in the top of them as well as 20mm of spacers on the top out spring, it feels fine but am wondering if its ok to ride it like that, i like them stiff for park
  • 1 0
 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??
  • 1 0
 I've used the top plastic part that was over the spring as the spacers. It has reduced travel to 80mm like I wanted. But the spring sits exactly underneath the top cap (it was abit hard to install the top cap back but I managed to do it eventually applying reasonable force).
The fork seems to be working fine however there is a knocking sound/kind of freedom when I pull the bike to manual or preload the fork. Is it because the spring is exactly underneath the top cap? In normal position the top cap would be contacting the while plastic thing.
Any ideas what I should do? The service manual is not clear about it
  • 1 0
 hey can you tell me what those plastic spacers are called that you used to lower the rock shox 318 because the guy at the hardware shop does'nt know what im talking about.cheers
  • 1 0
 i would recommend using some old handle bars.... as in go find your old bars and cut off the amount u want for spacers that works well. bmx crank spacers also work (what i use).
  • 1 0
 i thing they are compression spacers or something
  • 1 1
 Would this be exactly the same on lowering new rock shox argyle solo air forks? Do you just undo one leg and insert a spacer to lower from 140mm to 100mm? Think they have come with 2 20mm spacers. And do you not have to do the same to both legs?
Cheers
  • 1 0
 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
  • 1 0
 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.
  • 1 0
 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
  • 0 0
 have you had any problem's with them now there at 70mm ?

because im thinking of doing it to mine !
  • 1 0
 nah but there about 60 by using the inside spacer
  • 1 0
 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
  • 1 0
 ye mine did tht you have to angle the screw a bit and tighten that worked for me
  • 1 0
 can you lower any fork with this kind of assembly ( coil in left leg air in right?) cus i have some drop offs iv at 100mm and would want to run at 60-70 with my new frame
  • 0 0
 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?
  • 1 0
 For the spacers can I use the ones that came in the box or are those for something else
  • 1 0
 can you lower them to 80mm?
would you just use 2 10mm spacers instead of 3?
  • 1 0
 yes... or you could add 1 to make them 90
  • 1 0
 well yeah... 3x10mm=30mm durh
  • 1 0
 To be clear,
adding the spacers lowers the travel AND lowers the axle to crown?
  • 1 0
 yes
  • 1 0
 so my forks top out when ever i preload for a manuel anybody know what ive done wrong ?
  • 2 0
 you have a rabbit in there :/
  • 1 0
 yo i hace some rubber thick car fuel pipe that is exactly the same detentions would it work? :/
  • 1 0
 its OK i used a layth and made a peace of hard plastic material 30mm long 12mm center hole and 20mm diameter it fits perfect
  • 1 0
 My forks have 120mm of sanction showing, does this mean if I put 2 10mm spacers for 80mm they'll be 100mm?
  • 1 0
 Just used the white spacer inside the 318 forks and now there at 60 mm Smile happy me
  • 1 0
 Will this work for the new 2015 argyle rc's? And with the oil do you fill it to the top? Cheers guys
  • 0 0
 will this work on a domain 302 without the u turn?
like with just more spacers or no?
  • 0 0
 I'm not familiar with the domain but they should be similar. You will have to take it apart and see. No big deal.
  • 1 0
 Anybody find that their fork is mad easy to bottom out like this?
  • 1 0
 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.
  • 1 0
 well you could've just added more preload spacers (the spacers ontop of the spring) to change the stiffness
  • 1 0
 dude this worked great THANKS!
  • 1 0
 Dude thanx so much ive been wanting to put them to 70mm for so long
  • 1 0
 should i do this to my forks does it make the bike better to ride?
  • 1 0
 does the compression adjustment still work after lowering it?
  • 1 0
 yes
  • 1 2
 why would you lower your fork? i have a rock shox argyle 409 and i think it is already stiff enough, or are there more than one reason to do it?
  • 1 0
 front end height
  • 1 0
 Where do you poor the Oil back in after?
  • 1 0
 I'm guessing this voids my warranty?
  • 1 0
 does this mechanism working on simple pike?(Only u-turn with coil)
  • 1 0
 Take it apart and see.
  • 0 1
 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 0
 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
  • 1 0
 how wide is the rod that the spacers go on?
  • 1 0
 Is it possible to raise Argyles?
  • 1 0
 no
  • 1 0
 Fair enough.
  • 1 0
 so my argyles came with those black spacers, is that what there used for?
  • 1 0
 Can you use part of handle bar at 30 to 40mm thanks
  • 1 0
 2015 Argyle R does this method work ?
  • 1 0
 Can I put a smaller spacer and raise my 80mm to 100mm
  • 0 0
 wat would happen say if there was no nylon washer
  • 0 0
 Nothing. I just put it there so it wasn't metal on metal contact.
  • 0 0
 would it effect anything if it was metal on metal
  • 0 0
 dont think so mines been fine now for over 3 months
  • 0 0
 do the spacers need to be plastic or can they be steel
  • 0 0
 doesn't matter, just steel is going to be heavyer and could be louder than plastc because of metal-on-metal.
  • 1 0
 is 302 the same?
  • 1 0
 yes
  • 0 0
 will this method work for nay fork?
  • 0 0
 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.
  • 0 0
 will this work for pretty much any fork?

Thanx. (:
  • 0 0
 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
  • 1 0
 u r a legdend thnaks!!
  • 0 0
 what is the width of the spacers
  • 1 0
 Legit. thnks man!
  • 1 0
 i love you!! thanks! lol
  • 1 0
 thanks dude it worked
  • 1 0
 thanks
  • 1 0
 thanks man...
  • 0 0
 i want to lower my argyle 409, got any tips?
  • 1 0
 will fox spacers work?
  • 0 0
 thanks dude
  • 2 0
 yes pev
  • 0 2
 im just wondering if you lower the travel will the argyle become stiffer?
  • 1 2
 yes it should do







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