Fox Transfer 2018 rebuild

[@racetrack491]

Thanks for the video, gives me a lot of information. At least I'll be able to do a small service, i.e. clean the inside a bit and change the bushings, dust wiper seal and the guidance pins. Unbelievable and shocking how many special tools are required just to do a service !

[@rodulfosuspensionworks]

I went a few years without Transfer tools too because the reasons you mentioned... Great videos men, love your channel!

[@ButterSuspension]

Thanks for watching bud!

[@mykhailolevchenko2134]

Many thanks for your video. Last year I bought used YT jeffsy 2018 with sticky fox transfer. It was clean, greased enough, but didn't work as expected. I compared it with another droppost on my hardtail, there was a difference in compression force. So, as I understood it lost some pressure. I made an adapter for pump with 4mm nylon high pressure pipe and fitting, which cost about $5. All I need to know which fill side and which blead side. Even after 250 psi it works perfect.

[@dudeonbike800]

Great video. Thanks! This attitude on the part of manufacturers is what keeps many shops from providing service like this. After going through the Mag 21 service training and obtaining the tools way back in the dark ages, and then seeing the non-stop evolution and obsolescence of suspension product design, I lost interest in trying to keep up. Unfortunately, that leaves the consumer in a tough spot.

[@ButterSuspension]

Thanks for watching! I still have my Mag21 tools! Gonna rebuild one in a few weeks. Here's the real question though...if everyone kept progressing (bike manufacturers, riders and trail builder's) but you were able to stock up on tools, seals and parts, do you think that old Mag could keep up? I know for a fact I would destroy my old GT Avalanche with a Judy SL in about a week of riding the trails the way I ride now. Time marches on, everything gets better (for the most part) and we get to go faster on safer machines.

[@robrousseau4478]

This is effing nonsense. I bought an old dropper from PinkBike only to find out AFTER that it needs a service… and THIS IS THE JOB?? Cost to repair is more than the dropper itself. So yeah, NO. I’m 100% doing this at home. I’m gonna ‘science the shit out of it’. I’m absolutely annoyed by this bullshit! All that to say… this video is awesome and what I need to get there.

[@TrailtoTrailTom]

Can 5 or 10psi more (275 to 285) be added to help the post pop up better. As I mentioned mine doesn't come up all the way. Feel if it had 5 psi more it would help.

[@rg8707]

Great video, thanks. Again! Can we find the tech. Drawing to these tools? i could make most of them. I priced out the essentials needed came out $780. WTF. Is the upper bushing removal tool really needed? There is no other way?

[@ButterSuspension]

No tech drawings for the tools that I've seen. And I'm sure there's a way to pull them apart without that bushing tool, but I just bit the bullet and invested. The whole point of this video was to basically show that these just aren't economical to rebuild by the home mechanic. 🤷

[@EmmaJones-nq3uk]

Hi, great video! I'm looking to buy the IFP height setting tools for servicing Fox Transfer posts. Can you tell me if the 2018 -2021 tools are the same sizes as the ones for the 2021 onwards models please? It is going to get costly to buy two new sets. Thanks

[@ButterSuspension]

They're a little different between model/years, you can find the dimensions on the 2021 service page and I think they list the dimensions on the parts page as well.

[@marek19]

Impressive! Absolutely impressive. What would be the best online place to buy the necessary tools as well as the Fox replacement part kit please? Thank you.

[@ButterSuspension]

Tools have to be bought from Fox through a dealer. Seal kits are probably online somewhere (I'll let you self-google) but are definitely also available through Fox dealers. Tool list and seal kit part numbers are on the Fox service site.

[@marek19]

@@ButterSuspension Thank you very much.

[@comoflo2016]

My stanchion has about 2mm of left and right play. Is that a sign that it needs service? Other than that, it works normal. Thanks!

[@ButterSuspension]

Some wobble is normal, and actually necessary. If there was no play left and right, it wouldn't move up and down.

[@comoflo2016]

Thanks! Just wanted to make sure it was ok. I have two other mtb’s with droppers and no wiggle

[@cliffordcawthon3916]

Thank you for this in depth video. I just got a top fuel with this dropper. My other bike has a one up. One up for the win. Fox has way over engineered this. I will be selling it or sending it off when it goes out.

[@ButterSuspension]

I agree that it's over engineered, but you can say the same about any of their forks and shocks as well... And any and every dropper post will need annual maintenance, this one just needs MORE special tools.

[@onefortysix6955]

Great video! Just coming around servicing my own transfer, always checking back with the manual ofc. At the step where the IFP chamber gets pumped, does it really matter if the actuator is engaged? I assume it is to allow for all the oil in the chamber to be put under pressure, not just the portion below (above?) the piston, but if the bleed was done correctly, wouldn't it be trivial?

[@ButterSuspension]

Great question! I actually rebuilt one and forgot to use the actuator "cap" during inflation and it worked perfectly. But I also bleed the crap out of these (even though they seem to not care about some air in the upper chamber) so that's probably why it didn't matter.

[@matthewmigdalewicz5974]

Hey. Maybe you answered this but I can't find it anywhere. Is the top nut pressurized? My brand new post is sticking. Adding fork oil helps but I want to grease from the inside. I am worried if I take that nut off it will shoot off. Thank you

[@ButterSuspension]

Are you talking about the seal head in the middle of the post? At the top of the lower post? It is not pressurized, but it's also kinda hard to actually get lube where it needs to go from underneath that nut. Most of these don't have much lube from the factory and a bunch of the 2021+ models have had issues with keeping proper air pressure. Some need an updated inner seal head.

[@matthewmigdalewicz5974]

@@ButterSuspension thank you again. Took it off. Jammed as much sram butter in as I could. Closed it up!

[@ka81alex]

1:02:45 Why air didn't come out after unscrewing needle-tool? Is there something holding air in 'fill port' ?

[@ButterSuspension]

The seal head has a tiny hole backed up by an o-ring; when the seal head is installed into the upper post that o-ring is basically captured and acts as a one way valve during filling.

[@Paul-hk7kh]

Is it possible to do an air recharge w/o complete disassembly? I don't have any oil leaking and the return is just not completely extended when I actuate it.

[@ButterSuspension]

Hey Paul- Yes, I do this with newer posts that aren't working properly. I'll pull the upper and lower posts apart, clean and grease everything and I'll check the air pressure, refilling if necessary. I had one in the other day that was at 24psi, it was supposed to be at 275. It was only a few weeks old.

[@Paul-hk7kh]

@@ButterSuspension I appreciate the reply. I've got a fox transfer factory 150mm that came on a frame I bought used. I have an ethirteen that works fine but the transfer is much nicer if I can get it just to return the last few inches. Just hate to spend 140 for a rebuild on something I just don't absolutely need right now.

[@Gallardo6669]

@@ButterSuspension can you pls make a video on this??

[@ButterSuspension]

@@Gallardo6669 I can, but you'll need the Fox specific air fill tool, they're $180! If you skip to the fill section of the video it's the same procedure.

[@Gallardo6669]

@@ButterSuspension thank you kindly.

[@iffy_too4289]

Im getting max resolution of 360p. Are you exporting this at a res you didnt intend or recording this with a potato?

[@ButterSuspension]

Odd, we're getting mixed results. We'll sort it out, we definitely only want hi res.

[@cbc76am]

@@ButterSuspension Render it in h265 at 320 bit rate rate and it will transcode properly for KZbin even if he video is less resolution is solves the problem... i know the guys who's post your doing giving advise ;)

[@jonathanhowson6420]

Thanks for this. My Transfer has some slight wear on the black stanchion. Is it shot or possible to fix? Its on a 5 year old bike, so im not bothered about aesthetics, as long as it works. Also, how does sweat get down into the frame and inserted section of the post? I would have thought road salts would be more likely

[@ButterSuspension]

It is possible to fix, you can replace the upper tube, but light wear shouldn't affect performance. Sweat gets EVERYWHERE. Many folks think their frames are somewhat waterproof where seatposts and headsets meet, but water and sweat are super intrusive. We don't have road salts here in the PNW but we do have sweaty people. Add in aluminum vs. carbon frames and it accelerates the corrosion.

[@ka81alex]

1:01:00 My fellow DIY-home-mechanics, tell us all - how did you solve the "problem" of having that needle-tool for air charge ? Any manufactured items on sale, or homemade or .. ??

[@ButterSuspension]

If you really want to DIY, a Fox dealer can order the tool for you... But this is the conundrum...the tools cost more than a rebuild.

[@ka81alex]

@@ButterSuspension i know how much original tool cost. I asked if anyone made some homemade WORKING analogs, like that -

[@ka81alex]

@@ButterSuspension 6:18 kzbin.info/www/bejne/r6iVZ2qYjdJrm7c

[@ahdullahahmin9776]

Hello I have transfer post that needs servicing how can I bring it to you?

[@ButterSuspension]

Send me an email. [e-mail]

[@Gallardo6669]

Thx for the video. I wish there would be one just showing the recharge on the pressure

[@mds0piotr333]

excelent manual. very good job - thanks a lot for you.

[@ButterSuspension]

Thanks for watching!

[@ferlopez5410]

Hi! I lost my 2mm ball bearing and now i cant unthread the bottom cap for service, any sugestion to avoid spining the shaft lug to free spin to unthread the bottom cap?

[@ButterSuspension]

Oof, that's a tricky one. If you have a seatpost shaft clamp set, maybe you can clamp the bottom of the outer tube enough to squeeze down on the inner part?

[@ferlopez5410]

@@ButterSuspension ok, i´ll try, thanks!

[@ferlopez5410]

@@ButterSuspension finally i did it, clamping the bottom and carefully he came out, but now i have other problem, i bought new 2mm ball bearing and i can´t mount in the seatpost, seems too big, sure it is a 2mm ball bearing?

[@ButterSuspension]

@@ferlopez5410 yup, it states 2mm on the parts diagram. Is there any corrosion AT ALL in the hole that houses the ball bearing? Or is there any corrosion inside the outer tube grooves that the ball would slot into? Any corrosion will change the tolerance enough to cause an issue.

[@ferlopez5410]

@@ButterSuspension no corrosion inside, dropper is less than 1 year old , simply opened to grease parts. all its fine, but the ball doesn´t fit properly.should i try small one?

[@florihupf]

Great vid. Now I know where to send my transfer for service. :)

[@tytanjan]

That white bushing in the seal kit is used in external routing transfers

[@ButterSuspension]

Thank you! I've only rebuilt internally routed Transfers...

[@rolfrimott9785]

What a PIA most difficult dropper to service. One up V2 no expensive tools required

[@ButterSuspension]

Correct. But Fox has never been about user serviceability on any of their products.

[@BJFanshel]

Thanks for all the great tutorials Greg! You’re one of the best resources out there. Keep posting these awesome videos! Question: Do you think it’s worth just popping the bottom off the transfer and maybe trying to access some bushings to wipe away any dirt and trying to get some grease on some fittings without doing a full rebuild as a light at home service to prolong life and performance in between rebuilds? My dropper is functioning perfectly still, maybe a little sticky at times and I lube the stanchion regularly with WSL to help keep friction low, but not sure if I should just send it to you for a service or if a “light service” at home is worth doing. Thanks again!

[@ButterSuspension]

Hey Brian- yeah, I do "clean and lubes" on these often since they don't really have grease inside. It's hard to get to the bushings without the big threaded tool though... Thanks for watching!

[@haydenlemke73]

My actuator broke. Can I just buy the replacement and screw the new one on?

[@ButterSuspension]

Yup. I keep them in stock, the first generation actuators were super thin.

[@konecnydevin]

I started machining my own set of tools for this job and realized the dont actually say anywhere what the IFP depth actually is so little hard to machine a tool for it before I take the post apart. Any chance you could send me some measurements of the 150mm ifp tool?

[@ButterSuspension]

They call out the depths on the parts page for transfers, I almost made my own as well...

[@konecnydevin]

@@ButterSuspension Yep just saw it tucked in the corner of the sheet. Thanks!

[@1982paulotorres]

Do you find de IFP height for 150mm? I can't find

[@Enduroracesuspension]

@@konecnydevin did you find the IFP measurement

[@ksi689]

Can you service my post?and how much would it be?

[@ButterSuspension]

Usually around $110 plus tax and shipping.

[@TrailtoTrailTom]

Great video Nice details. What causes the stiction? My post gets stuck down when its left down for long time. Also doesn't always come to the top completely. As BJFansehl mentioned popping the bottom off and adding grease, would that help with stiction?

[@ButterSuspension]

Thanks! "Stiction" is a short word for "static friction" and that refers to the post sticking after sitting static for a while. That does happen with these but it also happens with every fork, shock and dropper. These posts suffer from a lack of grease from the factory (yes, you can add some but "popping off the cover" requires some specific tools to avoid damage) and low PSI. The slow posts I've found are usually WAY low, like under 100psi, so I don't think adding 5 or 10 will help if yours really is at the correct pressure. One other thing to check is your seat post clamp torque and if you're using friction paste; too tight if a clamp will cause them to not work properly.

[@TrailtoTrailTom]

@@ButterSuspension Ok thanks. I have carbon friction paste and down to 2.5 nm torque as I learned to tight can cause it to get stuck or not move. From what I saw in your video I do have the tools to pop the bottom off. I wonder if my post has always had low PSI as it has not really come up consistently from the beginning. Always have to push it back down to get it to pop to the top or pull it up last 1/2in or so. Again thanks for the video and replying to my questions. Great detail.

[@sophisticatedphilistine]

Bruh... 360p? I need a prescription for glasses after watching this...

[@okatbikes4917]

I enjoyed it, and I learned some cool stuff. Liked, commented and already subscribed :) You are the coolest person in suspension!

[@ButterSuspension]

Thank you!

[@tolitsmagdugo9674]

Thank you for this video my friends asking me to service there fox transfer post but I say no because I don't have the right tools for it because it's to expensive 😅

[@Calincillo]

Awesome video, thanks!

[@ButterSuspension]

Thanks for watching!

[@aleksarajkovic3471]

Okay, so reverb isn't that bad any more, or just stick to the crankbrothers or even pnw with some weight penalty🙃

[@ButterSuspension]

You weigh your droppers? 🤣

[@aleksarajkovic3471]

@@ButterSuspension yea, on xc bikes every gram matters, like a drug addict lol

[@ButterSuspension]

You weigh bikes? 🤣 At 220lbs all I care about anymore is reliability. It's not like I'm gonna NOT ride a bike cuz it weighs a little more...

[@aleksarajkovic3471]

@@ButterSuspension yea , I ride about 7000km a year on my mtb (scott spark 910 atm.) + road bike when weather is sh*t or something like that, I am not the type to buy 1000$ sram groupset for 100g difference but I like to save everywhere that is not too expensive, light wheels are a must for me. Probably will get some enduro bike next year for fun, but that's gonna be something that just works like ALU frame, deore group set etc. :) P.S. I am 70kg, that's about 145 150lbs if not mistaken XD

[@jamesmarchant5837]

Becomes such a pain. Not only because you have to invest in all these special tools to maintain your bike. It’s the down time if you do have to take parts to the shop and wait for them to repair them. My bike would literally never be working if I didn’t spanner 90% of it myself

[@ButterSuspension]

Downtime is why I do everything by appointment. Bring it in the scheduled date, it's back in 1-3 days.

[@mgiaros]

Why so low res?

[@ButterSuspension]

I was testing my live video setup after the program got updated; didn't realize the settings were changed to low-res when I made the video.

[@lightpes4956]

Ty very much appreciate it 👏😘

[@ButterSuspension]

You're welcome!

[@zachp4457]

Who sweats so much that their sweat drips down the dropper post?

[@ButterSuspension]

So many people! I've worked on bikes that had titanium stems seized onto steel forks (which then killed a Chris King headset) all from corrosive sweat. I have a customer with paint flaking off his Pike fork crown because his sweat got under the top caps. Go look up "road bike handlebar tape corrosion", so gross.

[@marcvargas3947]

thanks for your videos!!!!!!

[@ButterSuspension]

You're welcome, thanks for watching!

[@ka81alex]

360p ??..

[@ButterSuspension]

Working on it!

[@ka81alex]

@@ButterSuspension No HD ? )

[@ButterSuspension]

@@ka81alex can't go back and fix it, sorry. Everything moving forward is better quality.

[@florihupf]

Didn’t even know Schmutz is an English word. :)

[@illla]

Just buy a reliable service free dropper, like XLC

[@ButterSuspension]

I can't think of any moving bike parts that won't eventually need service or replacement. 🤷

[@YevhenPedchenko]

it needs so many special tools to service it. the person who designed it is definitely a pervert.

[@enrico8655]

I would Like to Support you by donating via PayPal! Because you already helped me with my dhx2, so next Job is doing a Service on my Transfer.

[@ButterSuspension]

Not gonna say no to that! paypal is [e-mail] Thanks!