[Cave Dweller]

Hi guys,

I have seen 2 pics of totally snapped fox 40 arches, and i personally know at least 1 person who has hairline cracks forming in the rear of the arch in the exact same place as the ones i saw on pinkbike. All these forks are the 05's, anybody know if they have changed the castings for 06? Anybody else having these problems with them??

 

[Rik]

Dirtworks has their lowers on back order, and suprise suprise, Daver from Farkin cracked his too. Stories suggest that it's freak incidents that causes it, and something that a fork should be able to survive.
Hmmm... shame, really. Nice fork otherwise.

 

[ohio]

It's happening to all of them. You should sell yours to me, super cheap, before you break it.

 

[thaflyinfatman]

and suprise suprise, Daver from Farkin cracked his too.

Daver breaking something should never be taken as any kind of evidence against a product. He broke a STEM for christs sake.

 

[Cave Dweller]

So no one is having these issues? These are isolated cases??? 2 pics from pinkbike (differant forks by the way) and a pic of the guy i knows fork, hairline crack in back of arch. They are all in the exact same spot........

 

[nickaziz]

That innovative arch design that saved 1 ounce was sure worth it!

 

[Transcend]

That innovative arch design that saved 1 ounce was sure worth it!

You do realize that that arch design has been used on every single fox fork since their inception right?

 

[kidwoo]

It's happening to all of them. You should sell yours to me, super cheap, before you break it.

Actually it kind of is..........

Get one.

I'll buy the big blue tubes back from you.

 

[toodles]

I've seen two pairs with broken arches. To be fair, one of them broke after a tree collision that would have broken nearly any fork. The other one didn't crack all the way through and the owner just noticed it while cleaning his bike. I've got nothing against the forks though and would love a set myself but for a fork that is stil pretty rare in these parts I've seen more broken this year than any other fork.

*edit* - although seeing/hearing more about a broken Fox 40 could just be due to the "newness" of the fork and the amount of interest in them. Maybe people just don't discuss broken Boxxers anymore?

 

[bballe336]

Daver breaking something should never be taken as any kind of evidence against a product. He broke a STEM for christs sake.

how the hell do you break a stem? anyways i think that 3-4 cases of cracked arches on a first generation downhill fork isn't too bad. i mean keep in mind how many of these forks exist. and i bet fox will replace them or at least discount new lowers.

 

[nickaziz]

You do realize that that arch design has been used on every single fox fork since their inception right?

You do realize that no fox fork has been for dh until now? XC riders are not a good indicator of how strong a fork design is.

 

[Transcend]

You do realize that no fox fork has been for dh until now? XC riders are not a good indicator of how strong a fork design is.

Right, so Dirt Jumpers haven't been using fox forx since they came out? And kids haven't been racing hardtails Dh on them? Including WC float RLCS that are the lightest and most drilled out fork in the inventory? Or the 36/talas/vanilla in all of their flavours.

I know many, MANY Djs who will abuse a fork much much more then dh does. So don't patronize me until you know what you are talking about. I worked at fox when the forx were released and have seen the abuse those riders put them through.

 

[boostindoubles]

well i've had my vanilla125r for 2 years now and have beat the living snot out of it. Granted its a sc fork, on a hardtail. and i've only raced DH on it once. But i've bombed down porcupine rim, and dirtjumped the crap out of it. i have freeridden it and put aftermarket springs to make it stiffer too. The seals were replaced once, and they needed it. But other than that one seal replacement, and stiffer springs for djing, the fork has held well. I dont think i would buy any other brand of fork from hear on out.

 

[snowskilz]

check on mtbr. i know of 2 ppl that have cracked their are. Both of them also knocked the black penis too

 

[blt2ride]

I know a few people who have them, and I have seen a ton of them at the races. Everyone I have spoken to loves them. Personally, I haven't seen or heard of anyone breaking their forks, except on the internet...not too sure if that actually helped.

 

[Cave Dweller]

check on mtbr. i know of 2 ppl that have cracked their are. Both of them also knocked the black penis too

uggg... dam you, i wasted 10 minutes of my life on that site reading utter trash, but i did find this pic. Again, same location, differant fork

 

[Jm_]

Right, so Dirt Jumpers haven't been using fox forx since they came out? And kids haven't been racing hardtails Dh on them? Including WC float RLCS that are the lightest and most drilled out fork in the inventory? Or the 36/talas/vanilla in all of their flavours.

I know many, MANY Djs who will abuse a fork much much more then dh does. So don't patronize me until you know what you are talking about. I worked at fox when the forx were released and have seen the abuse those riders put them through.

You've falling into the internet trap. Just because one fork looks a little similer to another (a 40 vs a vanilla casting) doesn't mean they are the same or that both should work the same. The exact thickness, exact variation of relieved material, exact direction of forces, exact curvature and radius of the arch, distance between legs, etc will make each of them different, and just because one works doesn't mean the other will. Do the vanillas have 40mm stanchions? Didn't think so. Just because fox makes some other great forks doesn't mean that they won't have to beef up or slightly change the casting on the fox 40.

If this is truely a problem, then I'd expect fox to address it, they have a pretty good reputation. People dirt jumping on float 100s and vanillas has absolutely no bearing with the fox 40 and why the arch is breaking. Completely diffent forks, completely different castings...

 

[Transcend]

You've falling into the internet trap. Just because one fork looks a little similer to another (a 40 vs a vanilla casting) doesn't mean they are the same or that both should work the same. The exact thickness, exact variation of relieved material, exact direction of forces, exact curvature and radius of the arch, distance between legs, etc will make each of them different, and just because one works doesn't mean the other will. Do the vanillas have 40mm stanchions? Didn't think so. Just because fox makes some other great forks doesn't mean that they won't have to beef up or slightly change the casting on the fox 40.

If this is truely a problem, then I'd expect fox to address it, they have a pretty good reputation. People dirt jumping on float 100s and vanillas has absolutely no bearing with the fox 40 and why the arch is breaking. Completely diffent forks, completely different castings...

Oh i agree completely, but the "innovative arch design" or however he put it is generally the same idea across all these forks.

Obviously something is wrong if multiple ones are breaking int he same place - probably a stress riser.

 

[buildyourown]

Yeah, cause nobody has ever seen a broken boxxer crown...
I'm sure if this surfaces as a huge issue, Fox will address it.

 

[Cave Dweller]

I'm sure if this surfaces as a huge issue, Fox will address it.

That was my original question, are the 06 castings the same as the 05's??

 

[ohio]

Actually it kind of is..........

Get one.

I'll buy the big blue tubes back from you.

Not a chance. I'm finally getting it sorta dialed. Of course I only use the thing once a year... so I don't know why I even bother.

Is N* still open? I need to ride som'fin fierce. Thread HIIIIII-JACK! wassup.

 

[kidwoo]

Not a chance. I'm finally getting it sorta dialed. Of course I only use the thing once a year... so I don't know why I even bother.

Is N* still open? I need to ride som'fin fierce. Thread HIIIIII-JACK! wassup.

Bummer. It's original owner wants it back after trying for two years to get boxxers to work right.

 

[ohio]

Bummer. It's original owner wants it back after trying for two years to get boxxers to work right.

Huh? You're on a 888...

The owner before you?

 

[bomberboy11]

I broke a stem once before. It was an Azonic Shorty stem. The body of it between the bars and the steerer just kind of sheared off all in one smooth motion when I was pedaling out of this small gully and pulling on the bars hard. Not a good feeling at all. It kind of surprised me how thin the walls really were on that particular stem and that it is mostly hollow. Everything has a breaking point and will break if used enough, even products advertised as "indestructible".

 

[kidwoo]

Huh? You're on a 888...

The owner before you?

Yeah, I bought it used.

You're number 3.

Number one cracked his TLD helmet a few weeks ago at northstar because his fork was spiking........again........after about 6 trips to rock shox.

 

[oly]

Did everyone forget already how many people were having problems last year with cracking lowers, or mysterious mid leg oil leaks on the 888? Or how about all the Super T arches that have snapped? I know a couple rides who had superT's go early.. mine even had cracks in my arch, but the guy who bought it didnt care....

As much development you can do to a new product in test labs and with "on hill" testing, you cant really duplicate what the end user will do to it. Maybe the casting design, or process has weaknesses, or maybe they forgot to put the value in the FEA program for "wheel between the knees side load parking lot test".

Freaking Weaksauce 40! thats the only good thing to come from that MTBR thread.....

 

[Cave Dweller]

Did everyone forget already how many people were having problems last year with cracking lowers, or mysterious mid leg oil leaks on the 888? Or how about all the Super T arches that have snapped? I know a couple rides who had superT's go early.. mine even had cracks in my arch, but the guy who bought it didnt care....

As much development you can do to a new product in test labs and with "on hill" testing, you cant really duplicate what the end user will do to it. Maybe the casting design, or process has weaknesses, or maybe they forgot to put the value in the FEA program for "wheel between the knees side load parking lot test".

Freaking Weaksauce 40! thats the only good thing to come from that MTBR thread.....

Nothing good ever comes from mtbr.com.........

I remember all that, but it got fixxed up in the next revision of the fork (to my knowledge anyway), haven't heard or seen any 888's leaking or breaking at the thru axle lately.

What i want to know is if fox have beefed it up in that area for 06 as it looks like it ***may*** be a potential weak spot.

 

[JTVW]

That was my original question, are the 06 castings the same as the 05's??

who cares...

funny how easily we forget the topic of the threads we post in...

 

[vitox]

well ive been watchin that issue unfold on the various boards the broken forks get posted on and i think its been established quite clear that thats the weak spot of the design of the lowers.

but that just means that thats where the fork will fail first, not that it will fail prematurely or not, which is the really interesting question, i mean, if it takes an impact that would have bent any lowers or cracked any other fork lowers in random places, then i suppose its ok, anyway, i think that the whole idea behind a dramatically oversized structure might not be such a good on if the fork is so rigid that it snaps instead of twisting, but thats just me.

 

[Daver]

Daver breaking something should never be taken as any kind of evidence against a product. He broke a STEM for christs sake.

Ah, thanks guys, i love you too.

Dirtworks has their lowers on back order, and suprise suprise, Daver from Farkin cracked his too. Stories suggest that it's freak incidents that causes it, and something that a fork should be able to survive.
Hmmm... shame, really. Nice fork otherwise.

DW aren't sure about whether its a warranty case, Calimari is going to try and get something happening, but i'll be at the next State round for sure.

how the hell do you break a stem?

With ease. The clamping area on my titec flared after 2 years of abuse.

AND, just FYI, another mate (U17s) played 6th on a set that were cracked the under the arch on both sides. He only realised they were cracked after i showed him where mine were, but he decided to get some points anyway. After his run "yeah, i heard another crack and didn't want to look down in case they'd cracked straight through". As it turns out, they hadn't cracked the whole way through, but the hairline was now wider and had moved past the second web.

So thats 2 sets in the same weekend, by one rider who's a fast hack, and the other whos a slow heavy hack.

Oh, and here's my pic.

 

[Cooper]

ha calimari... i new it would start to catch, not a bad code name 4 a squid ay dave!
bummber about the forks, i caunt c any reason why it should not be a warantee

 

[Kntr]

Im starting to think forks are getting so light that it is compromising strength. Ill stick with my 888 or get an Avy in the future.

 

[oly]

Im starting to think forks are getting so light that it is compromising strength. Ill stick with my 888 or get an Avy in the future.

People keep thinking the 40 is so light because they made it so thin, but after one rebuild where you only ad in 3 tablespoons of oil per leg you come to realize where they saved alot of weight. Also the Stock Ti spring is a good way of marketing a high end product with less weight, even though most people have to change out to the heavier spring.

 

[atb]

it's kind of sad to see the arches snaping. thay looked like a solid racing fork. fox should step up for next year with some new lowers.

 

[trailhacker]

A friend was getting some service/setup advice at Sweitzer and they replaced his lowers for no apparent reason? Hmmmm........

 

[vitox]

People keep thinking the 40 is so light because they made it so thin, but after one rebuild where you only ad in 3 tablespoons of oil per leg you come to realize where they saved alot of weight. Also the Stock Ti spring is a good way of marketing a high end product with less weight, even though most people have to change out to the heavier spring.

same is the case with a WB 2.0 or dh3 but it still weighs over one extra pound. theres a lot more oil iside the damper you know.

ive been inside a 40 and the stanchions are thin wall, nothing risky, but thin wall none the less and being that they are so large its a risk they took.
the lowers are also very very thin and lightened out.
anyway, i would (pure e-speculation here, as usual) the problem isnt that its so thin, its that its brittle.

 

[Jm_]

People keep thinking the 40 is so light because they made it so thin, but after one rebuild where you only ad in 3 tablespoons of oil per leg you come to realize where they saved alot of weight. Also the Stock Ti spring is a good way of marketing a high end product with less weight, even though most people have to change out to the heavier spring.

True, but that could be a big problem too. Very small oil volume and small diameter pistons relative to the size of the fork. This means that it might work great for a season, but then take a huge dive.

I think that vitox has some good points too.

I'm going to e-speculate a little here. The best fork for hucking always has been, and still is, the Monster T. Other companies simply have never produced a fork of this type for riding as abusive as this. We get lots of companies releasing their new DH racing forks, and you immediatly see (sponsored) people doing huge hucks on these forks, a lot of decent riders go out and buy them too and use them for big launches. If you are going to be doing big drops regularly, the Monster T is still going to hold up way better than a fox 40, boxxer, dorado, etc... It seems that 95% of people doing these "big drops" should really be using the Monster, but due to advertising and product placement, you rarely see it anymore. The fox 40 was originally billed as a racing type fork, and it doesn't have an adjustable oil level controlling bottom out like a Monster T, so when you start getting big air on it, you may be overstressing it. You don't have to bottom something to overstress it, just ride it outside of it's intended usage.

It seems like everybody flocks to buy the latest "DH racing" fork, when what they need for the type of riding they are doing is a Monster. The 40 is no monster, it doesn't have the wall thickness, the solid metal reinforcement, the crowns, the oil volume, the piston diameter, the adjustable progression, etc....

 

[Cave Dweller]

same is the case with a WB 2.0 or dh3 but it still weighs over one extra pound. theres a lot more oil iside the damper you know.

ive been inside a 40 and the stanchions are thin wall, nothing risky, but thin wall none the less and being that they are so large its a risk they took.
the lowers are also very very thin and lightened out.
anyway, i would (pure e-speculation here, as usual) the problem isnt that its so thin, its that its brittle.

Did you happen to measure it?

The stanchion thickness of a 02 monster is 2mm, and the lowers are around the same thickness of cast/cnc'd aluminum.

 

[Shmoe]

Its really hard to take an opinion from a sponsered racer of a company very seriously.

 

[bballe336]

Did you happen to measure it?

The stanchion thickness of a 02 monster is 2mm, and the lowers are around the same thickness of cast/cnc'd aluminum.

i would bet that it is significantly thinner. the fox weighs 6.** pounds and the monster weighs 12.5 without stickers right? so the fox might be somewhere around 1.25mm wall thickness and lighter internals. just an estiamte but i bet its not too much thinner than that.