Walipala

Does anyone happen to know what the procedure would be? (I know it's commonly done and that there's an adaptor available... I see them come up for sale on EBAY a lot.) I am wondering if it is something the home mechanic could accomplish. Will the headshok assembly come out as a whole unit, more or less, or would I need to drain oil, catch dozens of roller bearings as they fall, etc.?

Dannihilator

You'll need to get reducer cups.

seely

Well, when I started working at a Cannondale dealership, it was at the time Cannondale told dealerships they are no longer authorized to service the Headshok/Lefty, so I wouldn't know... but I assume that means they are a bit complex.

Walipala

Yeah, that's the adapter I was refering to.

Walipala

That's amazing, and a little discouraging for Cannondale owners. Maybe standard forks WOULD be a sensible swap at some point.

woof

Has anyone priced out a top of the line carbon, terra-logic lefty fork? I like my f800 but would like a fork that doesn't bob as much as the Jake. And I have 2 lefty wheels that I am not about to replace so going the conventional route isn't an option.

jekyllrider

It is very easy to remove the headshok. First take off the lockout lever and stem. Get a large socket that will be larger than the hex nut shaped lockout knob. Place the socket flush against the top of the headshok making sure not to hit the lockout and while someone is helping stabilize the frame, smack the socket with a hammer and the whole headshok will pop out the bottom of the head tube. If it is a socket you like, use a heavy rubber mallet. That's it. Normally the lower bearing will stay with the headshok, the upper will still be in the upper race.

Walipala

Woof, there may be a much cheaper solution. My buddy bought a Jeckyl with the Jake lefty. He did not find it entirely perfect either. He talked to a knowledgable bike mechanic from where he'd purchased the bike. The guy swapped some of the Jake's internal parts. Now my friend is much happier... and he's picky about suspension, being a long-time (25+ years) motocross rider.

I will try to find out what was done, because I know you don't want to spend the money on a new Lefty.... from what I understand, even the cheapest one cost more money than most top-quality forks.

Me, I wish my Scalpel had one of the newer 80mm Headshoks so I could try out Magura's rebound adjustable replacement cartridge. They're supposed to be better than what C'dale designed.

Walipala

Thanks for the info jekylrider! That's what I was hoping to hear. I've seen Headshok forks being sold on ebay, and they look like they must have come out of the headtube just as you say.

BTW, I checked out your Web site. Looks like a great area for riding. San Diego's loosing ground (literally) in that area, between new developments and the god-awful fires we had a couple of years ago... and the flooding we had this year.

Nice old Wagoneer too. Is that yours?

Walipala

Hi Woof. Don't know if you're still following this, but I talked to my friend who has the Jake. He said that the mechanic just swapped in a stiffer spring. My friend said he was bottoming the suspension too easily. As for the bob, you should be able to control that by just cranking up the damping with the red knob. Have you tried that?