Fork on the bicycle. Shock absorber for bicycle

The front fork with shock absorber is one of the most important components of modern bicycles. Its main task is the damping of impact loads on the front axle when in contact with irregularities on the road.

The action of the shock absorber is designed for rapid compression of the fork when the obstacle hits and a relatively unhindered decompression. This principle of functioning of the shock-absorber fork allows the cyclist to remain in the saddle primarily with high-speed cross-country driving.

Naturally, in time, even the most expensive, reliable front fork of a bicycle becomes useless. At the same time, constantly using the services of masters, when it is necessary to maintain and repair it, not everyone can afford it. Therefore it is very useful to understand the device of the plug, the peculiarities of its disassembly, assembly, maintenance, replacement of components.

Types of plugs

Based on the design and depreciation features, the following types of bicycle forks can be distinguished:

• Hard;
• Spring;
• Air-oil;
• Air;
• Spring-oil;
• Spring-elastomeric.

A rigid fork on the bike makes it possible to move at higher speeds while driving on an even, asphalt surface due to the absence of vibrations of the shock absorbers.

If we talk about spring-elastomeric and air-type forks, they are designed primarily to mitigate contact with large irregularities, for example, to facilitate moving across curbs or springboards. At the same time, such plugs do not cope with blows when driving on small stones.

With regard to air-oil and spring-oil forks, these mechanisms are able to effectively absorb and maximally soften almost any shock, even with the impact on minor cracks in the asphalt surface.

Bicycle fork assembly

The basic components of the amortization forks are:

1. Stock is an axis that is statically connected to the crown. It acts as a connecting link to the bicycle frame.
2. Crown is a transition element on which the rod and fork legs are attached.
3. The leg is a component that is movably connected to the forks of the fork. The inside of the legs, which contains a fork on the bicycle, is filled with springs, regulators and shock absorbers.
4. Pants consist of two glasses, connected by a rigid bracket. They act as holders for the legs of the shock absorber.

Internal structure

The shock-absorbing fork on a bicycle differs in a special internal structure in comparison with standard, rigid models, which are relatively simple constructions. The main internal components of the amortization forks are:

1. Oil seals - parts that prevent the inside of the plug from getting wet and dirty, thus maintaining a stable level of lubrication mechanism.
2. Guides, which are presented in the form of thin-walled plastic bushes, placed inside the fork pants.
3. The stiffness regulators are bolts that are a continuation of the outer nut on the crown of the fork. Compress the fork springs springs under load on the structure.
4. Springs are installed in the legs of the fork to absorb the impact energy by deforming the metal. The front bicycle fork of air and oil-air type does not contain springs. This function is performed by compressed air.

Adjusting the bicycle fork

By selecting a suitable for the style of riding and the features of the structure of the bicycle frame, the shock-absorbing fork, the owner of a two-wheeled horse can adjust it. To properly configure the bicycle fork, you need to understand what individual settings are responsible for and in what direction they should be adjusted. At the same time, it should be noted that the real adjustment can only be said with the presence of air, oil-air and spring type plugs.

Rigidity

Each fork on the bike initially has a certain level of rigidity. This characteristic is also called a negative trend. Ideally, the stiffness index should not be more than ten percent of the total capacity of the shock absorber.

Adjust the shock absorber for the bike is recommended, based on the weight of the bicyclist. Usually, the parameter is adjusted once after the purchase of the bicycle and is adjusted only if the driving style changes, for example, in case of a transition from high-speed skiing down the plains to downhill.

Rebound

Setting the rebound of the shock absorber is important when changing the nature of the coating. To achieve the maximum speed during cycling, a minimum rebound of the fork is required when contacting irregularities. Only in this case the energy of pedaling is not expended to overcome obstacles. For cross-country skiing, the rebound level is adjusted, setting its increased rate.

There is a sufficient number of innovative systems in which the bike shock absorber independently adjusts the rebound level when the nature of the coating changes. The principle of operation of such plugs is based on the increased sensitivity of internal components to fluctuations.

Compression

Setting a certain compression level of the bicycle fork makes it possible to reduce or increase the speed of compression of the mechanism. This setting is the opposite of the previous one. Unfortunately, only a few specialists can correctly adjust the level of compression in practice.

Lockout

The setting assumes that the suspension plug is locked in one static position. It is useful for athletes who use mountain bike models to ride on a level surface for long distances.

Disassembly fork

How to disassemble a fork of a bicycle? It is recommended to disassemble the damper in the following sequence:

• With the help of hexagons the lower fixing bolts are unscrewed;
• A bolt is twisted, which is responsible for adjusting the spring's damping properties;
• The elastomer is designed to limit the stroke of the spring;
• Neatly removed pants fork; In this case, it is necessary to monitor the leaky oil, contamination and water;
• Seals and bushing are extracted.

Having understood how to disassemble a fork of a bicycle in practice, it is possible to perform its assembly, carrying out the same actions, but only in the reverse order. The main thing is to stay attentive and follow the instructions exactly.

Care and maintenance

Timely care, maintenance and repair of the bicycle forks are the key to its "health". It is recommended not to lubricate the plug more than once per season. However, with frequent driving or intensive operation of mechanisms, this procedure will have to be resorted to more often. In general, the process of lubrication consists only in pouring oil under the dust cover with a syringe. Further, the forks are developed by pressing the mechanism, and the residual grease is removed with a damp sponge.

It is extremely important that the fork on the bike remains clean. Therefore, after each skiing it is strongly recommended to wipe your feet in the anther area. This will avoid clogging the internal mechanism, contaminating the oil with dust, which can lead to inadequate behavior of the mechanism.

As for the repair of the shock absorber, then, without sufficient experience, it is better not to risk once again, placing this task on the shoulders of specialists. To acquire the necessary skills, it is necessary to take advantage of the experience of experienced cyclists, having performed several times disassembly and assembly under the control of a knowledgeable person. Over time, even such a seemingly difficult task as replacing the parts of the shock absorber and adjusting its mechanism can turn into a fairly simple procedure.