Whyte T130 Shock damage (again)

Probably worth getting a shock with rose-joint eyelets like DT R535 if the frame alignment is that poor.

video link doesn't work...

Bikester have a few in currently

What about this one?

https://1drv.ms/v/s!Ai1MND50GmRyhuQLSLxByULTzOBlCg

1st link worked for me.

Is it a Monarch or Monarch plus ?

Have you checked your pivot bearings are all good  and spacing washers are in place ?

I eventually sold my T-130 because of eating shocks, managed to get the first one under warranty the 2nd one came from CRC - I couldn't ride it knowing every time I went over the bike the shock was being destroyed.

Monarch Debonair RT I think.

Have a word with Phil at Indie Cycle works. He will know the problems & how to get around them:

(Just up the road from me & Knows His Stuff.)

Thread's a few years old but is also a T130 owner having issues:

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/most-durable-rear-shocks-216-x-63/

I found that while figuring out what to do with the shock on my Geometron, also a 216x63. I ended up going for a Cane Creek DB Coil IL on the advice of TF Tuned - unlike most other shocks its got a steel shaft (rather than alu) so durability should be better. Obviously only useful if you'd be happy with a coil shock. I'm very impressed with mine so far.

Edit - it's actually @mjsmke's tjhread who's just posted below...

I had this on my 2015 T130. The standard shock bushings were so tight, there was no lateral movement at all. Replaced the shock with a Cane Creek DB air and fit cheap plastic bushings which did alow the shock to flex a little laterally. 4 years later, the shocks still fine.

I stuck a Monarch plus on mine 4 years ago and it was fine when last serviced. But, I do keep on top of the pivot bearings.

that worked, thanks.
I have a T130, I will have to take mine apart and recheck mine....

@phil5556 I have a Marzocchi Bomber coil in that size if you're interested?

Cheers, a common issue it seems.

A rose joined one seems like an option (assuming can find one) or some shimming. Or lay the frame on its side and jump on the rear triangle 🤣

At this stage I don’t fancy spending out £400 if I’m just going to kill anything I put on it.

Not sure the Bomber coil would fit.

I’ll wait for Whyte to reply.

@mjsmke interesting about the bushes, did you use this type from your thread?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/323091014735

So it’s got a cane creek in it just to look at the alignment…

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Have you had the pivot bearings checked ? Any play ? Are they seated properly?

That alignment has to be sorted out first 🙁

Yeah bearings are all good. The first time it killed a shock it was on original bearings and the shop checked them all over - no issues. (It had new chainstays shortly before then for another issue, I’m not sure if they replaced or swapped any bearings over).

The bearings have been replaced since then, probably about a year after the first shock was swapped.

No rattles or play at all at the moment.

@mjsmke interesting about the bushes, did you use this type from your thread?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/323091014735

Yes. With those, the shock could be rotated side to side, but with no play. I filed the first ones down a bit to allow more movement. They're plastic/nylon I think so soft and cheap. I'd never use metal bushings again.

My buddy had a T130 for a year or so and it killed itself one day with the shock going from being parallel with the toptube to the rear of the shock dropping and the shock being paralell with the downtube instead and the rear wheel then went around the seat tube a good couple of inches almost like a folding brompton.

This was a couple of years ago and I dont think this issue was well known, he was not well looked after by Whyte or the LBS IMO...

I've had 3 T-130s, a mate also had one. His shock died 5 years from purchase, mine were all OK.

He bought an RC3+ from Germany.... but then it was stolen.

I'm 99% sure the Coil won't fit it due to clearance issues.

checking over the bearings in a shop probably wont look at an alignment issue like that.

The main issue on these is the lack of any real bracing on the seat stays. The whole rear triangle flexes a lot and this all gets transmitted to the shock. The small little rocker link isn't adequate to prevent it all flexing.

Try loosening the rear wheel and see if the shock alignment becomes better.

@phil5556 OT but is that Chris you've sent it to?

Try loosening the rear wheel and see if the shock alignment becomes better.

I'd try this and also loosen all the pivot bolts off and see if you can re align it as you tighten everything back up.
Something is majorly out of line for the shock to be that far out.
Anything you refit to that without sorting the alignment will get killed PDQ.

Does the centre of the rear wheel line up with the centre of the seat tube when the shock is removed and the bike compressed?

Try loosening the rear wheel and see if the shock alignment becomes better.

Will do but... I can't ride it like that so what does it show?

@phil5556 OT but is that Chris you’ve sent it to?

@squirrelking Yep. Is there a location showing on the photo? I thought I'd hidden it. Or do you recognise his feet in the video?

I’d try this and also loosen all the pivot bolts off and see if you can re align it as you tighten everything back up.
Something is majorly out of line for the shock to be that far out.
Anything you refit to that without sorting the alignment will get killed PDQ.

Does the centre of the rear wheel line up with the centre of the seat tube when the shock is removed and the bike compressed?

Don't know, will give this all a try soon.

It’s 216 x 63 which appears to be an uncommon size

Very common pre-metric size, lots of used bargains about. Generous amount of stroke for a 130mm bike though, I have that size on a 170mm frame.

Alignment issue looks horrendous, on the face of it. Have you sought advice from Whyte at all?

@squirrelking Yep. Is there a location showing on the photo? I thought I’d hidden it. Or do you recognise his feet in the video?

No, just figured there can't be many folk doing servicing out their shed and he's in the area. Keep forgetting he does shocks despite the name 🙄

Yeah it’s pretty useful having him just around the corner 🙂 I use him quite a lot now.

Sorry to hijack the thread  but what other shocks would people recommend instead of the monarch?

Ive a T130 and having read about this issue before I wanted to be prepared in case I need to replace it.

My Wife has a Monarch Plus RC3 Debonair which seems to have done better than mine.

Which may be because her frame is good or because it’s a better shock 🤷

Anything other than a Monarch. They are probably the worst shocks for tolerating sideloading and one of the most unreliable basic monoshocks from the big brands.

Looking at the misalignment, not much is going to handle that in the long run. I'm always a bit wary of those shuttle link type bikes, if the stays aren't cross braced or the shuttle/linkage isn't a beefy forged piece.

Can the misalignment be easily sorted, a rear triangle assembly error/missing spacer for example?

Have a word with Phil at Indie Cycle works. He will know the problems & how to get around them:

(Just up the road from me & Knows His Stuff.)

Just spotted this. Do you mean he’s sorted this specifically on a T130? I’ll drop him a message.

That isn't right. I have a cheap Boardman FS Pro 2016 (silver) and each time I strip it down, pivot and bearings, it is all 100% aligned, nothing moves off as I remove a pivot, shock, or bearing to re-grease it. If anything, it's too good as it's hard work geting a few of the 'washers' back in.

Got to ask, as an old fart, are you getting dust and shit with it, i.e., introducing loads of side load ?

My son ****s his car with track days all the time.. broked again.

If you are getting air/jumping etc, you've got to be on the maintenance. Skids mean fixing...

OP the frame is bent !

Just spotted this. Do you mean he’s sorted this specifically on a T130? I’ll drop him a message.

He will undoubtedly have seen something similar, but your mis-alignment photos came after my message - I think you're found your problem now.

OP the frame is bent !

Yup. Thing is I’m not convinced I bent it. And if I did it was at least 2.5yrs ago.

Got to ask, as an old fart, are you getting dust and shit with it, i.e., introducing loads of side load ?

My son **** his car with track days all the time.. broked again.

If you are getting air/jumping etc, you’ve got to be on the maintenance. Skids mean fixing…

I don’t think I do anything I shouldn’t to it, I can’t really jump, I’m not that heavy and I don’t crash much. All within the design limits of the bike I think.

And it is looked after 🙂

He will undoubtedly have seen something similar, but your mis-alignment photos came after my message – I think you’re found your problem now.

Ah I see cheers. I was hoping you were going to say he’s a Whyte straightening god.

My S120C has a trunnion shock to guarantee all side loads are faithfully transmitted to the shock.

It would cost pennies to fit plastic rose joints but no, let's bolt it in with even less tolerance.

[ Googles sloppy bushes, gets surprise ]

Well I took the shock to my local Whyte dealer and they are sending it to SRAM.

I don’t expect them to warranty it, it’s over 2 years old. They might tell Whyte that it’s their bike that has damaged it though - who knows 🤷🏻‍♂️

I’ll update when I hear back.

Did you not take the bike to show them the alignment problem?

Not yet… That’s my next plan when I go to pick it up.

I’m playing the game and doing what I’m told by Whyte, at this point the shops only involvement is using them for a postal service.

Mate has a T-130 CRS. Same issue. Was advised by TFTuned to get a Fox shock. He managed to find one (Yeti use same size) and it has been great. Problem with the design of the frame and having too much flex.

TFTuned said that in his case the repair to the RS shock would have been straight forward but SRAM/RS won't supply parts. If the Fox bites the dust there are parts are available. New shock has probably been on a few years now.

I had this on my 2018 t130s, frame was out of alignment the same as your pictures. Whyte dealer sorted a 2019 model under warranty as Whyte didn't have any frames left

Whyte dealer sorted a 2019 model under warranty as Whyte didn’t have any frames left

I reckon I missed that boat when the (different) shop had it 2.5 years ago and I asked them to check the alignment. Apparently it was fine then, I have my doubts.

Whyte are sending a courier to pick up the frame 🤔🤷🏻‍♂️

That sounds very promising.

It does. I won’t get excited just yet but I’ll be well impressed if they have a decent solution (whatever that looks like).

If they agree it’s not straight I’ll also be slightly miffed that I asked for it to be checked over 2 years ago (when still in warranty) and wasn’t sorted then.

And if they refuse it’s NBD a bit earlier than planned.

Whyte are sending a courier to pick up the frame

Hope it gets sorted.

Let us all know how it turns out!

Will do, it landed at Whyte HQ (ATB St Leonard’s) this afternoon so I’m hoping they’ll get back to me pretty quickly.

Just had a call from Whyte, they agree it’s not aligned correctly, apparently caused by the chainstays not being quite level with each other.

They’re replacing the chainstays & shock (possibly with a Suntour DuAir?) and sending it back to me.

Would have been nice for the shop to have spotted this originally when I asked them to but can’t fault Whyte for sorting it for me now, a year after the warranty expired.

Good to hear about great service !

That's great from whyte

Result.

It’s right ruined my plan to get a new bike though 🤣☹️

Just sell it then now it's all sorted. 😁

Nice one the right result.

Just sell it then now it’s all sorted

TBH I would be inclined to boot it on, if the backends are susceptible to twisting. Especially if it hasn't happened due to a crash or doing tricks badly on big jumps!

Soo a little update…

Knock on the door at 9:30 this morning and a nice man hands me a big box with my frame in it with new chainstays attached and a new shock 🙂

So A Star to Whyte to getting it sorted, D Minus for the time it took them 😂

And I don’t have any parts to build it back up with now as they’re all on my new bike 😁

eBay it is then.

And I don’t have any parts to build it back up with now as they’re all on my new bike 😁

eBay it is then.

This is where your thinking needs honing . You now need to aquire some bargain parts to build it back up again 🙂 start with the bargain SRAM RE PSA....