VANILLA RLC - FIT Damper

Installing Your Fork | Before You Ride | Setting Sag | Adjusting Rebound | Locking Out the Fork | Adjusting Lockout Force | Adjusting Low-Speed Compression | Changing the Coil Spring | Service Intervals | Important Safety Information

Installing Your Fork

Be sure your fork is properly installed before proceeding. Clicking on the link above will take you to a new page.

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 entire exterior of fork for damage. The fork should not be used if any of the exterior parts appear to be damaged. Please contact your local dealer or FOX Racing Shox for further inspection and repair.
4. Check headset adjustment. If loose, adjust according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
5. Check that brake cables or hoses are properly fastened.
6. Check that the front and rear brakes operate properly on flat land.

Setting Sag

You can also view a Flash video on Setting Sag.

To get the best performance from your fork, it is necessary to set and adjust sag. Generally, sag should be set to 15 – 25% of total fork travel.

1. Install a zip tie with light friction on the upper tube and push it down until it contacts the fork seal.
2. Carefully sit on the bike and assume a normal riding position. The fork should compress slightly.
3. Being careful not to further compress the fork, dismount the bicycle. Measure the distance between the seal and the zip tie. This distance is sag.
4. Compare your sag measurement to the Sag Setup table below.
   
   If sag is lower than in the table, turn the preload knob (shown below) counter-clockwise one (1) full turn. Measure sag again and repeat adjustment if necessary.
   
   If sag is higher than in the table, turn the preload knob clockwise one (1) full turn. Measure sag again and repeat adjustment if necessary. If correct sag cannot be achieved by adjusting the preload knob, see the Vanilla Coil Spring Setting Guidelines table below. You may need to change to a coil spring with a different spring rate.

   

   
   

   Vanilla Coil Spring Setting Guidelines
   FOX Part #	Approximate Spring Rate	Color Code	Travel (mm)	Rider Weight lbs. (kg)
   039-05-080	40.6 lb/in	Black	140	<90–115 (40.8-52.2)
   039-05-081	48.5 lb/in	Purple	140	115–150 (52.2-68.0)
   039-05-082	56.4 lb/in	Blue	140	150–180 (68.0-81.6)
   039-05-083	60.9 lb/in	Green	140	180–210 (81.6-95.3)

   
   

   Sag Setup
   Travel	XC/Race FIRM	All-Mountain PLUSH
   80 mm (3.50")	12 mm (0.50")	20 mm (0.75")
   100 mm (3.90")	15 mm (0.62")	25 mm (0.98")
   120 mm (4.70")	18 mm (0.69")	30 mm (1.19")
   140 mm (5.50")	21 mm (0.81")	35 mm (1.38")
   150 mm (5.90")	23 mm (0.91")	38 mm (1.50")

   
   

   Sag Troubleshooting
   Symptom	Remedy
   Too much sag	Change to higher rate coil spring
   Too little sag	Change to lower rate coil spring
   Excessive bottoming	Change to higher rate coil spring
   Harsh ride; full travel not utilized	Change to lower rate coil spring

Adjusting Rebound

The rebound adjuster knob is located at the bottom of the right fork leg, as shown in the above figure. This knob has 18 clicks of adjustment range.

Rebound controls the rate of speed at which the fork extends after compressing. Turning the knob clockwise slows down rebound; turning the knob counterclockwise speeds up rebound. As a starting point, turn the rebound adjuster knob all the way clockwise (full in) until it stops, then turn counterclockwise (out) 12 clicks.

Locking Out the Fork

The blue compression lockout lever is located just below the black lockout force adjuster knob (see "Adjusting Lockout Force" below). It allows the rider to close the compression damping circuit in the fork. This keeps the fork at the top of its travel, making it harder to compress.

Note:  When you adjust the compression lockout lever, the black lockout force adjuster knob will also move. This is normal; the lockout force adjustment setting will not be affected.

Rotate the lever fully clockwise to lockout the fork. This position is useful in climbing and sprinting situations, but will sag with the rider’s weight. The fork will "blowoff" in the event that a big hit is encountered with the fork locked out.

To unlock the fork, simply rotate the lever fully counterclockwise.

Note:  The fork may cycle a couple of times after enabling lockout. Once complete lockout is achieved, the fork may continue to move 3 - 5 mm. This is normal and does not affect performance.

Adjusting Lockout Force

Even when your fork is fully locked out, there are instances when you still want your fork suspension to be active. To protect your fork's internal parts, your FOX fork will "blowoff" when it encounters an intense hit. You can adjust when the fork blows off—lockout force—with the black knob on the right-side top cap.

A convenient tuning feature of the lockout force knob is that it allows you to leave your fork in the locked out position—no more fiddling with fork controls when the trail requires your undivided attention. Although you might need to adjust the knob a few times to find the sweet spot, once it is found you can simply leave your fork locked out. Your fork will then respond to hits in the trail for example, but will be locked out when you are out of your saddle on a climb.

Turn the knob clockwise to increase lockout force and counterclockwise to decrease lockout force.

Note:  When you adjust the black lockout force adjuster knob, hold the blue compression lockout lever in place.

There are 10 clicks of adjustment. As a starting point, turn the knob all the way clockwise until it stops, then back off one click counterclockwise.

Adjusting Low-Speed Compression

Low-speed compression damping is adjusted with the blue bezel ring that is positioned just below the blue lockout lever. This ring has 8 clicks of adjustment range. Compression damping controls the fork compression speed. Adjust the low-speed compression with lockout off (the lockout lever turned fully counterclockwise). The factory setting is 8 clicks out counterclockwise, from fully in clockwise.

Changing the Coil Spring

Note:  32 mm Vanilla forks cannot be reduced in travel.

1. With a 26 mm 6-point socket wrench, loosen and remove the preload topcap (top of left leg).
2. Compress the fork slightly and remove the coil spring. You may need to firmly pull up on the spring to disengage it from the plunger shaft.
3. Wipe the spring dry with a rag and check the color code.
4. Install the new spring by dropping it into the upper tube.
5. Torque the topcap to 165 in-lb. (1864 N-cm).
6. Rotate the fork to a horizontal position and shake it to move the oil inside the fork over the spring. This lubricates it before its first travel push.
7. Measure and set sag.

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