NSMB 2023 Full-Suspension Thread

Ha ha yeah been there before...

I always think to myself "I'm going to want to do this way less in the future so I should just do it now" and end up elbow deep in bearings or something ha ha

Lol yup exactly -the downward spiral. 

Unfortunately I was caught without bearings and without a 15mm blind bearing puller (maybe not a critical tool but certainly seems it will allow a less... Ham-fisted approach.) So I'll have to attack it again shortly but at least this time it will be on purpose.

Posted by: fartymarty

Posted by: Kenny

On the subject of bearings I ended up tearing down the linkage on my crossworx the other night, chasing down a creak. 

I didn't mean to, but it was like a frog in a frying pan, I'm sure you all know the sequence:

I know exactly how it goes - you get to the point where you say "Fuck It" I may as well do this thing properly and an hour later the bike is in a thousand pieces.  

Hence I have two bikes as least my sanity doesn't have to suffer while one bike is in pieces.

This is the way.

Another lean on a pillbox.

Leaning on a shrub...

Posted by: Kenny

On the subject of bearings I ended up tearing down the linkage on my crossworx the other night, chasing down a creak. 

I didn't mean to, but it was like a frog in a frying pan, I'm sure you all know the sequence:

-check then bolts are tight. Hm. All ok

-pull the shock off. Nothing obvious.

-then one pivot comes apart at a time until you're surrounded by a pile of pivot bolts and spacers that you vaguely remember where they go. 

Found the bearings in one of the pivots could barely be spun even grabbing the inner race with a pair of pliers. 

I bought the frame used so I don't really know the history, they're a couple years old though I imagine. Still I was actually kinda surprised as everything is very beefy and we'll sealed. 

It's a wierd linkage so it took me some time to process - I feel like I need to understand exactly how each pivot works in this situation. 

But, except for the big main pivot bearings, which can be hammered out from the backside and new ones pressed in with a headset press, easy peasy, the actual linkage unbolts with two bolts and contains the other 6 bearings, so you can just change them on the bench and bolt the links back up. 

I cleaned and lubed them and creak is gone, and ordered bearings. They'll be good for a week or two until the bearings arrive. 

Kindof a pain but I'm glad to have stripped things down and have a handle on what is involved in maintaining it. 

Still loving the bike so far and hoping it's a cure to my serial frame swaps of the last couple years. Haha.

Out of curiosity, which one of the bearings was it that was worn out/damaged?

It was the very front pivot, the one that connects the linkage to the frame. 

I also noticed a couple parts had grooves machined in them for o-rings to aid in sealing but had no o rings, previous owner maybe lost/damaged them, so I'll be adding o rings as needed as well. I'm not sure if there were any for this particular pivot but I'll be checking closely. 

The bearing kit from crossworx is also surprisingly cheap compared to buying loose bearings from Enduro. 

Not sure if that means Enduro is a rip-off (probably) or maybe they're better quality. 

I had to pay shipping on the puller from Enduro anyways so I bought two bearings from them, and then a complete kit from crossworx. 

The crossworx stuff has to make it across the pond so I'll put the two Enduro bearings in first and see how things go. 

Also, I had added shock pressure to get BB height up but have now actually gone back down. I have to pay attention to the pedals more but I think it feels more "right" . I went from 16mm/26.6% sag back down to 18mm/30%. Bike is super good.

Posted by: Kenny

The bearing kit from crossworx is also surprisingly cheap compared to buying loose bearings from Enduro.

Not sure if that means Enduro is a rip-off (probably) or maybe they're better quality.

In my experience, Enduro Max bearings do hold up better in a frame that is not perfectly aligned, has flex in the linkages, or bearing press fits too tight or too loose. My old Reign 27.5 had a really flexy two-piece upper link and some minor misalignment. Standard no-name bearings wouldn't last a season in there while Enduro Max would last multiple seasons. The Enduro Max were also a godsend in those terrible 1st gen SC VPP frames.

However my current Reign 29 has much better alignment and a much stiffer one-piece carbon upper link. The stock bearings are mostly still good 3 years in. I replaced two that felt a little rough but once out they felt fine. I suspect the bearing diameter was slightly out of spec (too large) so it got squeezed when pressed in. The Enduro replacement fit snug and is smooth pressed in so probably closer to spec.

--

While I'm here I might as well post a pic of the new '23 Reign tester casually leaning against a log at a Forbidden clearcut. First look article coming in the next few weeks.

Posted by: [email protected]

However my current Reign 29 has much better alignment and a much stiffer one-piece carbon upper link. The stock bearings are mostly still good 3 years in. I replaced two that felt a little rough but once out they felt fine. I suspect the bearing diameter was slightly out of spec (too large) so it got squeezed when pressed in. The Enduro replacement fit snug and is smooth pressed in so probably closer to spec.

I've learned from the opinionated Hambini on youtube (also good for a laugh) that there are different tolerance specs on bearings. Basically how "tight" of an interference fit for a nominal size. So if you get a hole of a certain spec, and a bearing with a tighter interference fit they will be squeezed more, and probably wear faster would be my layman guess.

Posted by: Heinous

The aim is for this to just be the bike for the foreseeable. It’s a relief to build up something so we’ll made it’ll just do the business.

Win

Yeah, I’m pretty happy so far. It’s surprisingly quiet and very quick.

Not sure the WAO bar shape agrees with me though - I’ll give it a bit longer.

Posted by: Heinous

Yeah, I’m pretty happy so far. It’s surprisingly quiet and very quick.

Not sure the WAO bar shape agrees with me though - I’ll give it a bit longer.

That's good. I'm biased though considering I machined all of the parts on your bike lol. Loving the raw finish.

Thank you - it’s beautifully executed. I had originally ordered one before the intl orders were paused, and the Firebird I got instead didn’t last long before failing. 

It’s so good to be one something so well built.

Posted by: Heinous

Thank you - it’s beautifully executed. I had originally ordered one before the intl orders were paused, and the Firebird I got instead didn’t last long before failing. 

It’s so good to be one something so well built.

That's awesome really glad to hear it!