K2 4500 build (round 1)

[giantbikeboy]

Hi all

I purchased a 4500 frame a while back and finally put it together enough to get a test ride on it. It did not go very well. I have installed a few front derailleurs on K2 single pivot frames before but boy did I mess this one up. I could only use a handfull of gears in the middle and granny rings. The stock rear shock is a miserable po-go stick pile. I have no clue how to adjust it. It seems the adjusters do nothing. I had not intended on using the shock anyway. I have a FOX SHOX on the way I will adapt the frame to accept. I have pictures but can not figure out how to insert them. I tried the HELP screen but it appears to have been HACKED.

The build is a mix of LX and XT parts with a rear XTR brake. Avid BB5 disk on the front. Manitou Black Platinum fork with C,R,LO and Travel adjustments. Sun Rhyno-lite rims and IRC Mythos tires. Pig headset. It came out fairly heavy. Somewhere between XC and FR.

Help me get pics loaded and then tell me what you think I should do next. I'm trying to get some XTR levers off ebay but it's slow going. Need a new seat and post and there are still a few loose ends here and there.

I want it to turn out as a do all trail bike. It will not be my primary bike. I leave that duty to my Superlight. I have two EVO frames in various states of assembly as well. Two SS bikes a hard tail.....man I'm spending too much time in the shop and not enough time on the trails. Sorry for blabbering so long!

Thanks in advance all!  Bruce

[giantbikeboy]

A try at putfile.com

[giantbikeboy]

  The link seems to work. Just keep clicking on the images. There six in all. Let me have it!

[shovelon]

Your noleen probably lost alll it's oil.

What i2i is you shock? At most you may have to shave the swingarm mount to allow the shock spring and cap to clear. My Manitou coil swinger did the same, but instead I grooved the cap and beveled the spring to clear.

My Oz which is the same as your 4500, now has an air swinger, 7 7/8" i2i that I made an adapter for to get it to 8.5 i2i. No mods except I put a small flat on the back of the shock at the top to clear the backbone seam.

Good luck on the shifting. I don't know enough.

Terry

[Matno]

What front derailleur are you using? If you have any mix of 8 and 9 speed components (like a 9 speed front mech and an 8 speed chain), your gearing will be quite limited. (Although the other way around works okay - not great).

Also, check to make sure the post that the front derailleur mounts to isn't loose. They're notorious for that on the carbon frames.

Other possibilities are sticky cables (unlikely on a new build), worn shifters (if they're used), and most likely... the limit screws probably aren't adjusted right. I've found that adjusting those screws on these frames is a pain in the rear unless you have a screw driver with a 90 deg bend near the tip. (Sometimes I just use a large nail with a wide flat head).

[giantbikeboy]

Thanks for the replies guys.
The front derailleur seems to be a two person job. The wife helped out and that problem is gone. It seems that it has to be set up while in the middle ring position.  ;DI don't like hearing that the derailleur post comes loose! All of the drive train parts are 2004 or newer. The front derailleur is an LX. It's all mega9 stuff.

The new shock (that showed up today, thanks USPS)  is a FOX TALAS RL. I will have to make some brackets to fit it on the frame and have all the features work.

Updates to come!  

Does the picture link work for you?   Bruce

[shovelon]

Fox Talas,

I think I remember that Old Proflexer had mounted one on his 4500 prior to the 5th element.

I saw a pic that indicated that it fit right on.

Man you are giong to love that ride.

Terry

[Carbon_Angus]

the front der. posts are kinda fragile and not too stable on those carbon bikes, yet do the job, if not abused.

Don't fret if it's "not solid", though

sometimes bending a nail and using that as an adusting tool is a good sub. for an angled screwdriver.

wives can be a good second pair of hands...."just hold this like that and don't move, honey"....