COMPRESSION GOLD VALVE INSTALLATION
FMGV 280601 WP 4CS
Dirt 28mm

Welcome to the wonderful world of Gold Valving. To obtain your personal Custom Suspension Settings:

DVS Setup Sheet - If you haven't already, go to DVS Valving Search, insert your Access Code, and rider data and print your DVS Setup Sheet. If you are using a RT Adjustable Compression Base be sure to select YES LSV (Low Speed Valve).

CAUTION: IF YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH REBUILDING AND REVALVING FORKS, STOP!!! DO NOT PROCEED; SEEK OUT A QUALIFIED SUSPENSION TECHNICIAN.

NOTE: All measurements are metric (for inches divide by 25.4). The valving list starts at the piston face and goes towards the Base Plate. Valve specs are listed by (QUANTITY) THICKNESS x DIAMETER. A number in parentheses means quantity. If there is no number in parenthesis the quantity is one. Example: (2).15x30 means quantity two, 15 hundredths of a millimeter thick by 30 millimeters in diameter.

The Left and Right Fork Leg are different. Keep all the components separate.

RT has a Spring Conversion Kit available for this fork that eliminates the Air Spring and replaces it with a Coil Spring. Call for details.

Tools Required

- In-lb torque wrench that accurately measures 0 to 50 in-lbs (0.58 kgf-m) (SnapOn Digital Torque Wrench shown)

- Hi-Strength Loctite (included)

- Metric calipers and micrometer

2013

2014 v1

VC1- This is the Compression Base Valve. As of this printing there are 3 different types of Bottom-out Cups.

2013 and 2014 v1 have valving shims.

2014 v2 has no valving shims.

2016 there is no Bottom-out Cup.

2014 v2

VC2- Unscrew the Bottom-out Cup, in this case, with a large screwdriver. This particular "screwdriver" is made out of a wood chisel.

VC3- Remove the bottom-out cup. There are three different styles of bottoming cups plus none.

Notice that this time the Nut-Post unscrewed from the Compression Base Valve. Sometimes the Bottom-out Cup will unscrew from the Nut-Post. Either way is fine.

If it occurs like this one you can just clean it up and reinstall it during reassembly.

VC4- Remove the compression piston along with the valving stack.

Keep track of the bottom spacing shims. You will likely need them when you build the new compression stack.

VALVING STACK TYPES - SINGLE OR TWO STAGE

VC5- You will either be building a Single Stage or a Two Stage Stack. The difference is the Crossover. The Crossover is a smaller diameter shim between the Lo-Speed and the Hi-Speed Stacks.

Note: The DVS Custom Setup Sheet displays individual shims and does not label Hi-Speed, Crossover, and Lo-Speed. This is for your information only. Also you will not use all the shims provided in the Gold Valve Kit.

• Single Stage - made of:
Lo-Speed Stack
Hi-Speed Stack

There is NO Crossover
(it becomes one stack.)

• Two Stage - made of:
Lo-Speed Stack
Crossover
Hi-Speed Stack

The Crossover Gap is visible

VC6- Two Stage Example
(Single Stage is exactly the same except there is no Crossover)

Put the valving on the shaft in the reverse of the order listed, starting with the last (smallest) shim of the Hi-Speed Stack.

For Two Stage the total valving stack is made up of a:

Lo-Speed Stack

Crossover and a

Hi-Speed Stack

(this is only an example - not your setting)

The Total Valving Stack starting from the Gold Valve piston face:

(4) .15x24 - Lo- Speed Stack

(1) .10x16 - Crossover (notice the smaller diameter)

(1) .10x24 - Hi- Speed Stack

(1) .10x22

(1) .10x20

(1) .10x18

(1) .10x16

(1) .10x15

(1) .10x14

(1) .10x13

(1) .10x12

VC7- COMPRESSION BLEED HOLE

No Compression Bleed Holes are required on 4CS forks.

VC8- SET THE TOTAL VALVING STACK THICKNESS (This is critical!)

Before installing the valving on the shaft build the Valving Stack and measure the total thickness. Make sure it is between 2.7 and 3.1mm thick. If it is not, re-use some of the original .40x18 Spacing Shims to get into this range.

VC9- This conversion eliminates the Compression Adjuster at the top of the Left Fork Leg that doesn't do much anyway. Convert it to a Rebound Adjuster by removing both Check Needles inside the Bottom-out Pistons.

To get external compression adjustment RT has LSV Adjustable Compression Bases (FACB M3010001) available. If you have them use them at this time. Note - select YES LSV (Low Speed Valve) in the DVS.

VC10- Install the compression valving stack starting with the packing shims.

VC11- Install the Gold Valve on the shaft. Then the Check Plate and Check Spring. Put a drop of Loctite on the female thread of the Nut post.

Nut Post

Be sure the Check Plate is free and can move up and down against the spring without binding. This can be done by blowing air into the feed port just above the top shim. A Clip Tool can be used to manually open the valve from the top as well.

VC12- Tighten the Nut Post. CAUTION! The threads can be damaged without extreme care. The Nut-Post must be torqued with a torque wrench to 30 in-lbs (2.5 ft-lbs or 0.35 kgf-m), NO MORE! Do not take this step lightly.

VC13- Install the original Bottom-out Valving Stack (if required). Duplicate the original setup.

As of this printing there are three different Bottom-out Cup designs. Duplicate the original setup. The Bottom-out Cup Assembly screws onto the Nut-Post. Use Loctite on the female thread and torque it to 30 in-lbs.

VC14- Install the Bottom-out Cup (if required).

VC15- Using a large screwdriver, tighten the bottom-out cup to 30 in-lbs (2.5 ft-lbs or 0.35 kgf-m).

VC16- Single Stage

VC16- Two Stage

Notice the gap in the valving stack where the Crossover is. The Crossover Gap should be clearly visible.

VC17- Visually check your work.

Hold the Compression Stack up to the light and look for proper assembly. If there are any problems, disassemble the stack and look for burrs to surface and/or dirt in the valving. Reassemble and check again.

On two-stage stacks make sure the Crossover Gap is clearly visible.

Make sure the o-ring is on the Gold Valve.

VC18- Make sure the shims that go next to the Gold Valve completely cover the ports on both sides of the piston! If the ports are not covered there will not be enough damping.

This could be caused by a number of reasons. Please call Tech Support if this occurs and you can't figure it out.

VC19- Return to the rebuild instructions and continue with Rebound Valving and Assembly.