Headshok vs. all others- maintenance

tyler_derden

I have a Cannondale Super V1000 that I acquired in trade. The headshok seems to be at the end of its life. It compresses almost completely when I sit on the bike even though I weigh only about 165 lbs (75 kg). It also makes quite a bit of noise when it is moved throughout its operating range. Finally, it seems to act more like a spring than a shock at this point.

Looking at the manual, the recommended service interval for the shock (DD50) is 20 hours of riding. I can't believe they ever sold anything that required maintenance every 20 hours when the thing is not rider maintainable. Is this typical of all shocks or is Cannondale "special"?

Is my bike typical- do people generally just neglect the maintenance on these shocks and then get rid of the bike when they have worn them out, or does anyone out there actually take the bike to their local dealer for the recommended service? For that matter, does anyone actually maintain any shock, or do they all suffer from neglect?

The newer headshoks seem to have longer maintenance intervals. Is that due to improvements in the designs or did the marketing department figure out they might sell more bikes if they reduce their maintenance recommendation?

I am considering replacing the headshok with a newer one (replacing the bike is out of the question, besides, I like it!). Does anyone out there who has ridden both headshoks and others have any sage words about whether the headshoks are worth the trouble/expense? Or should I buy a reducing headset and get one of the other shocks? Is there a quality XC fork out there for about $200 or so?

TIA
TD

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tyler_derden

I located a pdf manual for Cannondale shocks (why don't they make that stuff easier to find on their web pages?) and found out there is a preload adjustment screw under the shock control knob. I gave it a twist (actually, several turns) and got the thing to sit up in its proper position! I wonder how many people don't know that it's there.

The girl I got the bike from weighs more than I do, so she was riding the thing with the preload set way too low for how many years?

Such are the hazards of used equipment...

I still don't know if the damping is right, or if the noise is any concern.

TD

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"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

moparchris

im pretty sure the maintenance interval for SIDs is 20hrs riding time, i do and know alot of people who service their own shocks, most of those people have SID's... but i think theyre pretty easy to maintain, no idea about the headshocks though

and yeah i know alot of fools who dont look after their bikes, particularly their shocks, they stop working propperly then they complain about it most of the people i know who DO maintain their shocks do it themselves, usually costs quite a bit to get shocks serviced so often

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uldis

I sympathise with you... I have a F700 (i think) that I bought new in 2001. I love riding it but HATE the Magura brakes that are on it and am dumbfounded about the service intervals on the shock. Would love to get hold of the maintenance manual for the Headshock, because they cost an arm and a leg to get serviced. Whereabouts did you find it? Was it on their site or elsewhere?

tyler_derden

The manuals at Cannondales web site are not full-blown maintenance manuals. Just owner's manuals that give you specs and maintenance intervals. There is no link (that I could find) that takes you directly to the headshok manuals. You have to do a search for your headshok by name, then find the manual from there.

TD

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"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

jbresle

Do happen to recall or remember the URL to the PDF manual?

markski

I Have F700, my headshock blew out and I had to have it replaced. Cost £150. The thing is the new one loks compressed with me just sitting on it, does anyone know if the headshock can be adjusted. I weigh 80kgs at the moment.

rek

Depending on what model headshok you have, it can be adjusted either by using a shock pump (for air/oil cartridges) or by changing the spring inside it (for spring cartridges).

If it's compressing that much I'd be thinking you have an air/oil cartridge with little to no air pressure in it..

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Peter
Cannondale Synapse Carbon Scalpel Cyclocross Ultra

tyler_derden

I don't know which headshok you have now but if it is an oil/air type, you need to pressurize it using a shock pump that you attach to the valve located at the bottom of the steering tube (between the fork legs). If it is an elastomer type, in addition to having the correct spring installed for your weight range (and the standard spring is probably OK for your weight), there is a preload screw that you need to adjust. The preload screw is located under the screw that holds the lockout knob on the top of the steerer tube. You need to remove the knob screw completely, then insert an Allen wrench (3mm if I recall correctly) into the now apparently empty screw hole. Tightening the hidden screw increases the preload and will keep the shock from compressing more than a few mm just from sitting on the bike. Check the manual that came with the bike or search Cannondale's web site for the info specific to your shock.

TD

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"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

tomdalmatian

My F600 has been ridden pretty hard and the headshok has gradually collapsed.
I was going to have a go at repairing it but I can't even get it out of the frame.
I took the stem off and expected it to drop out but there's something more, any ideas?

tyler_derden

Is it an air shock or elastomer type?

If it's an air shock, you may just need to pump it up. You may need to replace some seals (i.e. have your local bike shop send it to cannondale and pay them to fix it).

If it's elastomer, it may need a new cartridge, in which case you need to have you local bike shop send it to cannondale for repair.

Good luck!

TD

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"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

Meek One

I picked up a 98(?) F2000. It's the one that's usually brown-sometimes purple when the light hits it. When I pump up the shock it rides well and I am 210-225ish. Anyone know which shock it is? It only says Fatty on it. How many PSI can I pump into it? Does it still require the 20hr servicing if I ride it locked out most of the time (I love rigid bikes)? Thanks.

rek

The '98 F2000 has a Fatty SL from the factory, according to Google's cache of old web sites.

There'll be a PDF manual on the tech section of the C'dale web site with all the pressure details and such.

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Peter
Cannondale Synapse Carbon Scalpel Cyclocross Ultra

roguedubb

I have an F800, which I've been riding at least 3 times a week for a year now. So far, I haven't had the headshok serviced at all. Mainly because I haven't had any problems with it.

I'm not always out there thrashing it on trails, I usually ride it a few times a week to/from work instead of my track bike, then out on trails maybe every second or third weekend.

I guess the service level just depends on the history of the fork, how often you ride and most importantly how you ride the bike.