Why Your Fox float X2 went bad

[@markcosens1]

Bought the x2 in 2016 when it first came out. Put me in hospital for a week when the rebound failed. Wrong o-rings apparently. It seems 8 years later they are still manufacturing expensive unreliable junk. The marketing budget is bigger than their r&d budget I reckon.

[@ntallocatevirtualmemory8488]

Yeah the fox fart x2 series it's a nightmare, they claim from 2018 every years "we solved problems ecc..." just bulls**t

[@OtterMTBtech]

That’s how you run a company. Good products are 2nd. 😆

[@Manetty6]

4:09 note the new one has 2 o-rings inside the old has 1 large, white.

[@OtterMTBtech]

Roger thanks.

[@lukastosovsky7720]

Hey, great video and awesome comparison. If you have problem with cavitaion, it’s due to low pressure in IFP chamber, it’s essentially the same valve as it is on filling up positive chamber and will leak a little bit of air in long term. This will lead to sucking noise when the shock is returning and can be easily fixed by filling IFP back to 125 psi. Other problem is air geting into damper, this is because of lack of maintenance, not necesarilly bad design. X2s, even older (rvs) generations have double bushings inside of the main sealhead with originally single o-ring for sealing. Most shocks on market have only one bushing and o-ring. This results in higher stiffness in side to side forces and less room for shaft bending, therefore leaking air. 2024 X2 has 2 o-rings, which they promise would solve the issue, but will not due to their size. Take a look on CCDB air/kitsuma, essentially same shock with similar insides, but they have a lot thicker o-rings, resulting in better sealing and less problems. IMHO the only intereting upgrade is the main piston and it’s redesign. Also the black rubber ring is negative chamber spacer. Hope something could help, Lukas

[@OtterMTBtech]

Thanks for sure helped. My x2’s would blow in 20 miles from or last all year. I realized when I put the shock back together that foam ring is a negative token and that’s why the new ‘24 feels like a SuperDeluxe. What do you think? Small neg makes more reliable? Like Rockshox. I was disappointed how the ‘24 rode.

[@tmottone]

@@OtterMTBtech This negative spacer is not a new thing for 2024 model - older models have that as well - depending on spec. One thing bringing the cost up for service is vacuum bleeding machine since for a reliable bleeding of these twin chamber shocks you need a vacuum bleeding machine. Of course, you don't need to buy a 4000€ Andreani for the job but you can do it yourself. One main difference which you did not spot is the size of main piston - it is smaller in diameter as new main chamber wall is thicker (this is one of the big reasons for the upgrade since old chambers cracked on trunnion mounts if yoke caused torque to shock). Also - that new bearing housing has 2 "regular" o-rings instead of thick PU o-ring on the old one.

[@TheLeesto]

oh my. what a sophisticated bowl you have for your oil. love your narration btw.

[@SlimJ87D]

You did it! You made the video! Thank you for going through with it! We all learned a lot. I've been searching for someone to do this all over online.

[@OtterMTBtech]

Thanks for idea. I was curious too.

[@netposerx]

I'm upset with the way Fox is handling this 'recall' or 'warranty'. I was under the assumption I would ship the shock to Fox in Asheville, NC and get a repaired or new shock in a few days. I called and chatted with the repair center in Asheville (super professional and nice people) and they told me they are waiting on inventory so they can't replace my shock with the newer version. Now I have a bike I can't ride and have no idea when I will get my shock. The old one worked but would lose PSI during a ride. It still works but you have to check the air often. I don't understand how they can ask you to send in your old shock and eventually we will get your new one shipped instead of allowing me to keep my old one until the new one is available. I'm stuck in limbo and can't leave for a trip until I have conformation on delivery. I'm frustrated as this was easily avoidable.

[@OtterMTBtech]

Don’t forget you have to pay shipping back 😉

[@netposerx]

@@OtterMTBtech Yeah, they pay the return shipping cost.

[@netposerx]

@@OtterMTBtech Called Fox today and chatted about when the 2024 Float X2 shipment would arrive. Luckily the did some investigating and let me know a shipment might arrive at the end of January. 🤞🤞

[@Ganiscol]

Its interesting how they lowered the pressure in the piggy year after year. I run 150psi in my 2019 and that pretty much stopped air bubbles randomly forming between the yearly full service. If the piggy IFP doesnt push the oil back fast enough while the main spring extends the shock, gas that may be dissolved in the oil will form bubbles, much like in a vacuum, due to underpressure. The only other way to mitigate this issue is to extract all gas from the oil with a vacuum and fill the damper under a vacuum. Which of course doesnt happen in a DIY service environment. This is of course only one possible cause, if the sealhead or the IFP seals goes bad, the pressure in either of these airspring will push air into the damper. But the piggy pressure is something I regularly check not only on Fox shocks but also other brands because they are all affected by this potential issue and they all slowly leak air through the valve. Its after all a very small air volume under pretty high pressure when the shock is fully compressed.

[@OtterMTBtech]

Interesting. Do you service it at home?

[@lukasvrana6388]

I broke the 19-22 version (Trunnion), now updated to 2024 version (need some parts replaced) - there is different top piece, no visible seams now, different position of bleed port. There are some another changes, but this was the main one.

[@OtterMTBtech]

😎 do you like the new one?

[@lukasvrana6388]

@@OtterMTBtech feeling is the same, just the changes should solve the problem with cracks propagation :)

[@roman.4110]

what was the size of trunnion version? negative chamber rubber spacers came on some select sizes before. would be strange if they started putting it into all sizes in 2024.

[@alfman7630]

I just ordered a new bike (2023 Fuel EX Gen 6) that has the Fox Performance Float X, 2-position damper. This will be my first time with this shock. From these comments (and seeing in other forums as well), am I going to need to get it replaced/repaired right away?

[@OtterMTBtech]

That bike has a X not a problem

[@MrMuggsly]

I always tell people that when someone works on something you are paying for their experience. Why do they charge $200 because they have experience and will (should) do it right and that is what you pay for.

[@OtterMTBtech]

😎

[@johnbravo7542]

You should mix all those parts then rebuild them,to see what happens,you know....for science😁 But thank's for the upload,this is like those IQ test pictures,can you spot the difference,and of course we get frustrated because we can't,until someone points it out.

[@OtterMTBtech]

I mixed the main piston up, and had to start over 😆

[@soupbums]

Higher end aluminum 😂 mtb manufacturers are scammers 👎👎👎👎👎

[@OtterMTBtech]

Beer cans aren’t cheap! What makes you think that?

[@RideTheAlps]

They just replaced my 2022 X2 with teh new 2024 during service. I think it is becvause the complete sealings didn’t worked as planned.

[@OtterMTBtech]

Did you like the way the new one rides

[@peterlang5047]

That was a great video. Thanks for sharing!

[@OtterMTBtech]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@csidriss4948]

I hesitate to own a X2, but I won't. What air shock more reliable do you recommend ?

[@OtterMTBtech]

You are well founded with this one , they are poor performer or poor reliability. Vivid if you’re under 200 lbs, coil if your over

[@peterschneiderhan2353]

I send my X2 to Service to Fox. I became a brandnew X2 2024......Fox change all X2 to a new 2024 Model

[@OtterMTBtech]

😎 do you like it?

[@Bonky-wonky]

What’s your opinion on the new vivid? I love my x2’s performance but it’s a nightmare in terms of maintenance and reliability.. if the new RS damper performs close to a Fox but is as easy to service as the SD they should be onto a winner.

[@OtterMTBtech]

FOX VS ROCKSHOX kzbin.info/www/bejne/a57TiaKIaNanbqs Its to new to know if its reliable. It’s not bad, but nothing to write home about with the vivid. EXT coil is the next level of performance

[@rcdaryl507]

That's a nice bowl...

[@OtterMTBtech]

Always gotta stare at it

[@TeamCykelhold]

nice, fun walktrough. I wonder what made the 19/20 version not crap and the 21/22/23 so unreliable. Did the 24 version just go back to being a 19/20 version? I saw some fox marketing and they claimed it was totally totally different on the inside but it seems it's pretty much exactly the same except for some minor (but important) details. Did you air the IFP up with normal air or do you have some nitrogen thingamagic for this?

[@OtterMTBtech]

I pumped the piggy back up with a normal shock pump. I added extra pressure because I guess according to a lot of these mechanics who actually service them. This helps them last to the next service better. So when I put the thing back together after I finished filming and editing, I realize the foam ring in the 24X2 is acting like a negative space or token. A small chamber will ride like a rock super deluxe sensitivity, but will last indefinitely forever without service. Highly possible this is the real reliability update. A negative spacer. But it lost all its plush and I was disappointed how the 24 X2 rode. Stiff off the top

[@Emtbtoday]

Send the 21/23 x2 into fox theire replacing them with the new 2024 X2 its a recall without being a puplic recall! Check online fourms loads of people have had the replacement and can also be second hand

[@OtterMTBtech]

They changed it. Now it’s $175 to fix their recalled

[@ntallocatevirtualmemory8488]

Fox fart x2 😂

[@OtterMTBtech]

That’s a good one 😝

[@razorree]

no thank you, poor durability, breaking heads (and leaks) etc ....

[@OtterMTBtech]

It’s suppose to be fixed

[@natanaellorenzi5]

Just sell this piece of crap and buy a Vivid...

[@OtterMTBtech]

Nien

[@jasonchristopheruy80]

first again

[@OtterMTBtech]

Sup dude 👋

[@jasonchristopheruy80]

@@OtterMTBtech love your videos dude