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June 2022 orig.
Any damage or issues resulting from improper service will not be covered by warranty. If you have a fork still in its original warranty period and do not wish to void your warranty, please contact an authorized Cane Creek service center.
These service instructions cover the basic service procedures using standard service kits. If your suspension requires parts beyond standard replacement parts – CSU, compression rods, etc. – please consult your authorized Cane Creek service center or contact us at our Cane Creek Support Center.
These instructions cover just the damper leg of a complete 100 hour service. Combine these instructions with the appropriate spring side – air or coil; original or MKII – and 50 hour lower service to get a complete 100 hour fork service.
Additionally, follow these instructions for damper removal and reinstall if sending the damper off for a service with an authorized Cane Creek service center.
BAG0714 – HELM Damper Rebuilt Kit
BAG0405 – Compression Retaining Nut Socket – Thin Walled 11mm socket
AAG0086 – HELM Cartridge Fill Tool
AAG0367 – HELM Oil Seal Head Bullet
AAG0406 – HELM Compression Outer Sleeve Spanner
Allen wrenches – 4mm
Torx wrenches – T10
Sockets – 10mm & chamfer-less 30mm
Crowfoot wrenches – 10 & 18mm
Open Ended Box wrenches – 10 & 18mm
10mm Shaft Clamp
Torque wrenches
Knipex pliers
Pick
Suspension Grease
PolyLube Grease
Motorex 2.5wt Racing Fork Oil
Vacuum Oil Fill Machine
Torque & Loctite Chart
| Part | Torque Spec | Loctite Spec |
| Rebound Piston Assembly | 3 Nm | 263 (Red) |
| Rebound Piston Install | 5 Nm | 243 (Blue) |
| Rebound Adjuster | 5 Nm | 243 (Blue) |
| Damper Top Cap to Gold Coupling | 9 Nm | None |
| Oil Seal Head to Damper Tube | 13 Nm | None |
| Damper Install | 36 Nm | 243 (Blue) |
| Compression Nut | Hand Tight | 243 (Blue) |
| LSC Knob Screw | 1.6 Nm | 243 (Blue) |
Oil Chart
| Oil Location | Oil Type | Oil Amount |
| Damper Fill | Motorex 2.5wt Racing Fork Oil | Fill to 2 Bars |
Prior to beginning damper service, remove the lower assembly per the 50 hour service instructions.
***Do not clamp damper tube. It will collapse.***
Using 4mm Allen, thread in (clockwise) Low Speed Compression needle to expose retaining circlip. If necessary, use pick to remove circlip and discard. (Circlip may not be present and will not be replaced.) Using Knipex or vise, secure damper on gold damper coupling. Use 18mm open end wrench (or crowsfoot) to loosen oil seal head. Remove oil seal head and rebound circuit using a circular motion. Discard damper oil in appropriate container.
***Use caution when removing Low Speed needle. Ensure damper shaft is not compressed and top of damper is pointing away from harm in case oil and/or needle have pressure.***
Remove Low Speed needle from top of damper using 4mm Allen. Clamp damper coupling in vise. Using 30mm socket on top cap while simultaneously holding bladder with hand, loosen entire assembly above damper coupling. Remove bladder assembly, compression check spring and compression piston assembly.
TBS029 – Check Spring Change
Using Compression Outer Sleeve Spanner (AAG0406) and 30mm socket, unthread top cap from compression outer sleeve. Remove top cap, helix and claw from outer sleeve. Take care as detent balls will fall out upon disassembly. Remove and discard bladder from outer sleeve.
TSB017 – Change to Rebound Range
Thoroughly clean rebound assembly. Using 10mm shaft clamp, clamp damper shaft between seal head and rebound adjuster. Using 10mm open ended wrench, remove adjuster. Pinch & remove and discard o-ring from rebound adjuster. Remove rebound shuttle rod. Remove and discard oil seal head.
Always use extreme caution when using a pick in this step or others to avoid scratching metal parts. Failure to do this can create scratches in the o-ring glands which cause leak paths for oil or air. When possible, pinch and remove o-rings rather than using a pick.
TSB017 – Change to Rebound Range
Reclamp damper shaft with piston facing up. Using 10mm open ended wrench, remove piston assembly from damper shaft. Remove low speed return spring Take care to not remove low speed rebound needle and return spring. Remove and discard piston band from rebound piston.
TSB015 – Rebound Piston Flip
TBS029 – Check Spring Change
Using two 10mm open ended wrenches, remove jam nut. Take care as it is spring loaded. Remove spacer, shim stack (noting order), piston, bottom shim and check spring or wave washer. (Check spring and waver washer we re both used in production and are interchangeable.)
If necessary, install check spring or wave washer on piston seat with concave side up, bottom shim, piston with small ports facing up, shim stack, and spacer. Shim stack goes in order from largest to smallest. Apply red (263) Loctite to jam nut and install. Check that bottom shim is not pinched on piston seat and is centered. Using two 10mm sockets, torque to 3 Nm.
TSB015 – Rebound Piston Flip
TBS029 – Check Spring Change
Install new piston band (AAG0212) on rebound piston. Apply blue Loctite (243) to rebound piston assembly threads and install into damper shaft. Reinstall low speed needle spring if removed. Clamp damper shaft with 10mm shaft clamp with piston end up. Torque piston assembly to 5.0 Nm with 10mm crowsfoot.
Insert rebound shuttle rod into damper shaft. Apply blue Loctite (243) to rebound adjuster threads. Install rebound adjuster into damper shaft. Clamp damper shaft with 10mm shaft clamp. Torque adjuster to 5.0 Nm with 10mm crowsfoot. Grease and install rebound adjuster o-ring (AAD1060).
Apply suspension grease through the helix into the detent channel on the claw. Set the detent balls into the channel. Line up detent balls with channels on the outer sleeve and slide the helix & claw assembly into outer sleeve. Ensure claw moves up and down when rotating helix.
Fill vacuum to (3) mbar. Equalize pressure. Pressurize damper to (2) bars while extending damper shaft.
***Do not overfill. Can cause bladder to rupture.***
Fill vacuum to (3) mbar allowing damper shaft to return to compressed. Equalize pressure. Pressurize damper to (2) bars while extending damper shaft.
Upon completion of the damper install and any spring side service, install lower assembly per the 50 hour service instructions.
