Author Topic: Smart Shock (Read 5250 times)

alistair · « **on:** November 05, 2006, 08:57:52 pm »

Hi, new here hopefully someone can point me in the right direction.

I have a 5500c with smart shocks, they generally work great ( when I remember to charge the batteries) but I am finding that the rebound occasionally comes back very fast, normally on medium pace bumps.

The units have not been touched for years so I was wondering are the units still serviceable ?, or has everyone ditched them for more modern shocks.

shovelon · « **Reply #1 on:** November 06, 2006, 02:19:13 am »

Have you increased the rebound via the knob at the lower mount? If so, have you lost your oil, and also your nitrogen charge?

Most people don't rebuild the smartshock, but you may try Noleen shock service. They are in Hisperia, CA. If you are across the pond, I would not go that route, as if there is any foulup, it would cost you alot for shipping.

I rode on my smartfork yesterday for about 3 hours. The oil is still spewing, and now the smartfunctions don't work. It never really did work very well for me on the front. Always set it in the softest mode, but still the compression was too much. Other than that, I left it off for climbing. Now with the oil on the way out, I have the soft compression I always wanted. I am going to use it untill my Risse shock comes back from revalving.

If you want to contact Noleen shock service, there is a link in the links page.

Terry

proflex252 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 06, 2006, 08:16:40 am »

built in a manitou swinger air 3way 190mm i2i with a adaptor in my 5000.

great performance.
never ever a smart shock again.
I know what I'm talking about.

alistair · « **Reply #3 on:** November 06, 2006, 10:52:18 am »

Thanks for the replies,

Yes wrong side of the pond for Noleen Service for now ( Southern England). Its not so much the distance more the time involved in sending them and getting them back, the bike is my only proper off road bike so would not want to be without it for to long.

I'll probably wait until they are really bad and then send them off. I have been meaning to retire the bike to light duties for over a year as everything is begining to show its age ( most of the bits were off my previous 956LE which was swapped under warrenty) but have yet to find something I prefer.

The smart functions all appear to work, nitrigen charge I think is probably alright, probably has lost some oil, but does not spew, as there is a definate squelch to the action especially after a couple of hours.

I'd sort of forgotton about the rebound knob so will have a fiddle.

Alistair

shovelon · « **Reply #4 on:** November 06, 2006, 11:46:15 am »

Holy smokes, you got a carbon frame in exchange for a 956LE? Wow, great deal. What happened with the 956LE that prompted the warranty?

Your 5500 is getting aged? Look at this;
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-6/1036595/dadbike3.JPG

Terry

alistair · « **Reply #5 on:** November 06, 2006, 10:28:56 pm »

It was not quite a straight swap.

I had a very early frame a fork, there was a delay on producing the framesets as they did not want to ship them until they had the carbon fork blades. After a bit of correspondence with Bob Girvin my LBS stripped down a full 956LE. I got a really good deal on a few of the bits but some of the bits like the Paul brakes and Topline cranks sat in the shop for years. The bike originally came with alloy front blades the carbon ones turned up a few months later (still got the alloy blades if anyone ever wants a set).

The frame just had a brushed finish, after a couple of years it started corroding along with the inserts on the forks and swing arm which also were plain. It was basically cosmetic, UltraSport ( UK importer) asked to have a look they did not even query things and offered me a 957. They did not have my size so I tried a slightly different one which I did not like, there was also something just not quite right about the 957, the finish ( welds etc) compared to the 956LE were defiantly not as good. I was offered a 5000 but was not keen on yellow so asked if I could upgrade to the Carbon which they let me do for a reasonable amount.

Yes that’s what I would like !, but as another bike.

I would be tempted to look at doing something like that if I had a Large frame but have tried a shorter stem on my medium and it just shortens the cockpit too much. I currently run a 135mm stem with some old Onza L-bends on the end which are great for longer rides but a bit slow on single track.

Colin · « **Reply #6 on:** November 07, 2006, 03:26:28 am »

Quote

Your 5500 is getting aged? Look at this;
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-6/1036595/dadbike3.JPG
Terry

Terry,

Wicked Oz !!

What are the forks?

I like it! There's no way you could count that as outdated, it's bang on the mark!

Shovelon,
Rebound Adjustment on an NR-5 Smartshock? I never knew that? I thought it was all automatic and the "computer" adjusted thousands of times per second to the varying terrain........(yeh, right!)

Alistair, I think your NR-5 could be out of gas....!
i.e. the nitrogen has leaked.......imho?

Col

shovelon · « **Reply #7 on:** November 08, 2006, 02:44:09 am »

Quote

Terry,

Wicked Oz !!

What are the forks?

I like it! There's no way you could count that as outdated, it's bang on the mark!

Shovelon,
Rebound Adjustment on an NR-5 Smartshock? I never knew that? I thought it was all automatic and the "computer" adjusted thousands of times per second to the varying terrain........(yeh, right!)

Alistair, I think your NR-5 could be out of gas....!
i.e. the nitrogen has leaked.......imho?

Col

Ha! Thousands of times per second! I too think the nitrogen is gone.

The fork is a Maverick. Simon has one too on his Whyte. Very different kind of ride.

Terry

bmwcarver · « **Reply #8 on:** November 08, 2006, 10:07:33 am »

The "smart" part didn't adjust the rebound damping, just the compression damping. If the thing kicks back you need to adjust the rebound knob just like on the rest of the noleen shocks to adjust the rebound.

jazclrint · « **Reply #9 on:** November 14, 2006, 04:59:22 pm »

Yeah dampening is a funny thing. If it's speeding up only in the middle of the stroke I'd say that there's nothing you can do but it's definately time for service. Counter to what everyone else said you may try backing out a click or a few. But I currently have Fox Floats front and rear and they transformed the bike. The new suspention is far ahead of where it was just a few years ago the complexity is rivaling that of superbike suspension.
Just my 2 cents.

alistair · « **Reply #10 on:** November 20, 2006, 09:02:41 pm »

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have had a play with the shock the last couple of weekends and it does appear to be a lack of gas. The rebound knob does make a huge difference when screwed in but appears to make it more obvious that there is something wrong, hardly moves for the first half of the stroke and flies out for the rest.

As it looks like the best option is to get a new shock your thoughts please.

I’m thinking of getting a new slightly longer travel bike 5-6” ( Whyte, Orange, Foes) so would like to keep the geometry the same or close to what it is at the moment.

Having looked through the forum and old manuals my thoughts so far are.

1 ) Rear shock appears to be 205mm I to I with a 38mm (1.5”) stroke.

2) A Risse would be the default option but at the moment have no UK distribution so it could be hassle if there are problems.

3) Stratos same as Risse.

4) Most manufacturers make a 1.5” stroke shock with a ItoI of 165mm so could just machine up a extension to the right length.

5) Get a 190mm shock with a 2” stroke, extend the ItoI out to 210-215mm and run with a bit more sag, hopefully make the suspension quite plush and a little longer overall

6) Apparently Fox/Mojo can make custom shocks so looking into this at the moment as well.

Colin · « **Reply #11 on:** November 21, 2006, 12:52:47 am »

watch the bottom out on a 2" stroke shock, the swingarm could foul the frame.

I think the minimum safe length that a compressed shock can be on a 5500 is 160mm, so you need to get a minimum 210mm shock if it's got 2" stroke.

I'm planning on fitting a longer than 210mm shock and running more sag.

i.e. a 5th element air or a Swinger 4 way Coil.

Col

Ade · « **Reply #12 on:** November 21, 2006, 09:22:02 am »

Alistair - You say there is no importer for Risse in UK - is CVI not still on go? I looked at their website yesterday and all looks good, thought I'd start saving up!

http://www.risseracing.co.uk/welcome.html

cheers
Ade

Matno · « **Reply #13 on:** November 21, 2006, 09:46:48 am »

I rode my Smart shock for 3 months before I realized that it had a rebound knob. Decided I wanted it a little tighter so I twisted it about 4 clicks (felt just right). On the next ride, I blew the shock and lost all damping in any direction. Doh! Got a better shock and haven't looked back. The Stratos that I went to first was beautifully smooth, with very slow rebound (actually a little too slow). Tried a Risse Astro5 on my wife's bike (which is basically the same as mine), and it's been a stalwart for a good long time. Never has needed to be refilled with air in 4 years. I'm on a Manitou Swinger 3-way now, and it's the most "efficient" of the bunch (slight less plush), but I love the ride. Makes the bike feel faster without losing too much smoothness...

orange · « **Reply #14 on:** November 21, 2006, 05:54:00 pm »

CVI's bust. Went under in April of this year.

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Author Topic: Smart Shock (Read 5250 times)