TFTunedShox

How often should I get my 5th Element Air serviced?

A full service is recommended after 200 hours of riding or annually, whichever comes first. 200 hours is about 5 hours per week so many riders will need an annual service whilst some may need a service after 7 or 8 months. However the air can should be serviced every 40 hours. Note: Your warranty is void if you have a full service performed by anyone other than an authorised Progressive Suspension Service Centre.

What is done during a 5th Element Air Service?

Before any service work is carried out the shock is cleaned & hand dynode to check it's operation. It's then stripped & all air & oil seals/o-rings are removed prior to cleaning the individual parts in a chemical bath. Once cleaned & dried the parts are inspected before fitting new large & small Control Valve O-Rings, Seal Head O-ring, IFP O-ring & Main Piston ring in the damper unit plus all the air can seals. Then we assemble everything in accordance with the factory/TFT procedures (speed-up the low speed rebound to improve the small bump ride - makes shock feel less 'dead'), put oil in the important places & bleed all the air out of the damper. Then we pump her up to match your weight/bike (all settings are noted on the back of the invoice). Next we do a leak test for air before popping it on the hand dyno to check all the adjusters do what they're meant to do. Finally we replace the spherical mount bearings, install the mounting hardware, pop a small TF Tuned sticker on it & send it back.

Where can I get a Quick Start Guide for my bike?

QuickStart guides have not yet been produced for 5th Air shocks. Don't worry, just follow the easy set-up guide & get your pump out.

I'm confused by the owners manual or haven't got one, where can I get help?

If you need a copy of the 5th Air manual PDF version here

5th Element Air Set-up ... made simple      

These tips are to be used in conjunction with Owner's Manual. Remember, what might be your perfect set-up may not be the same for someone else with the same bike and equal weight - we, like our bikes, are individuals!

1

. The main air spring pressure controls the 'sag' of the shock. Sag is the compression of the rear wheel caused by the rider's weight. Correct sag allows the rear wheel to follow the contour of the terrain as you ride and has the biggest effect on how the bike feels. Sag is expressed as a percentage of maximum stroke and is best set at 20-30% for XC (firm) and 25-35% for Enduro (plush). To increase your sag reduce the main air spring pressure. To reduce sag increase the main air spring pressure. For initial settings refer to your bike owners manual set-up

2. Before finalising the main air spring pressure, first inflate the IFP chamber to 80 psi.

3. Sitting on the bike in your riding gear and normal riding position with your elbow against a wall for balance, push up & down allowing the the shock air spring to push your weight back up until it settles. Now reach down & roll the shaft O-ring against the air can wiper seal before gently getting off the bike. When you get off the bike the shock will extend and you can measure the distance in mm between can wiper seal and the O-ring. Check this measurement in the table below to see your % sag. To increase your sag reduce the main air spring pressure. To reduce sag increase the main air spring pressure.

          Shock Size                   Stroke        20%        25%        30%        35%        40%

          6.5x1.5" (165x38)         38mm       8mm       10mm      11mm      13mm      15mm

          7.5x2.0" (190x51)         51mm      10mm      13mm      15mm      18mm      20mm

          7.875x2.0" (190x51)     51mm      10mm      13mm      15mm      18mm      20mm

          8.75 x2.5" (222x63)      63mm      13mm      16mm      19mm      22mm      25mm

4. IFP Air Pressure - Lower pressures (50-90psi) will provide a softer ride & lower blow-off threshold for sharp edge hi-speed bumps (large & small), and are ideal when the going is on the slippery side or you're looking for a smooth ride. Higher pressures (95-125psi) will provide a firmer ride control, firmer pedalling & a higher blow-off threshold for sharp hi-speed bumps (large & small) & work well when it's dry & pedally. If you alter the IFP pressure by more than 20psi you will need to check your sag again & possibly alter the main air chamber pressure.

NOTE - Some people damage the shock pump by screwing it in too far. As soon as the gauge registers pressure, screw ½ turn more and pump to the desired level. Use the black button on the pump to reduce air pressure. By the way, you know that hiss you hear when you unscrew the pump? That's the air from the pump, not the shock! Likewise, when you attach the pump, the opposite happens and air from the shock fills the pump, reducing the pressure around 30-60 psi in the IFP & 10-15 psi in the main air spring. All perfectly normal and no need to change your desired pressure!

5. Rebound is the speed at which the shock returns after being compressed. Gently turn the rebound adjuster clockwise until it stops. This is the slowest rebound setting. Now turn the adjuster anti-clockwise 2 turns. From this point you can fine-tune your shock. If you feel the shock is too fast in rebound turn the adjuster clockwise, if it's too slow - anti-clockwise. Make small ½ turn adjustments and try again. When adjusting the rebound, please note that ‘+’ gives you slower rebound and ‘-‘ makes it faster, i.e. less damping. Do not force past the ‘soft stop’ at both limits of adjustment as this will damage the shock. There are between 3.5 & 4 full turns of rebound adjustment

The rest is experience on the trail. Go to your favorite trail and ride short loops of it where possible - don't forget your pump! Ride various obstacles to experience how your 5th Air shock works. Only change one thing at a time and then determine if this is good or bad. Each time you change a setting make a note of the change. Setting up suspension takes time. Experiment a little and enjoy!

Once you find your perfect air pressures and damping settings, make a note of them for future use.

Copyright © 2003 Tim Flooks

For more advice (or translation of the above!)

... call 01373 826800

When I check my air pressures it always seems to have lost air - what's wrong?

You should expect to see IFP readings some 30-50 psi lower than you put into the shock. This is because air from the reservoir is required to fill the pump connection hose & gauge which increases the volume, decreasing the pressure (Boyle's Law). As the IFP chamber is only around double the volume of your pump it reduces the pressure by almost half. The main air chamber is much larger than the IFP chamber so you should only see a small (3-5psi) drop in pressure when reconnecting the pump. By the way, you know that hiss you hear when you unscrew the pump? That's the air from the pump, not the shock! All perfectly normal and no need to change your desired pressure, what you set on the gauge will be left in your shock as long as your pump's hose connector is in good condition. NOTE: If you don't have any air in the IFP there will be little or no damping, both in compression & rebound.

During use a little oil appears on the shock body - is this a problem?

Sometimes a small residue of 'oil' can appear on the shock body after use, especially during the first 20-30 hour of use. This is the liquid grease used during assembly of the air can. It is nothing to worry about & usually diminishes with time.

The owners manual mentions 'Tuneable negative spring system' - how's it done?

By trapping a certain volume of air behind the air piston during assembly we can alter the sensitivity of the shock. Trapping a large volume will give a very plush feel whilst a small volume will give a harsher feel. The amount of air trapped is currently preset at the factory or by TFT to best match the bike the shock is fitted to. It can only be altered with the use of a special 'air gulp setting tool'. If you feel you want to change your negative air gulp we will happily do this at a nominal charge (£15 including carriage), all we ask is for you to tell us what you want & your bike details.