Without trying, I seem to have accumulated 4 of these, specifically this kind that rather than threading into the seat mount, have a grooved stud that is secured by two jam bolts. Given how much more difficult it is to disassemble and reassemble this model completely, I'm settling for not separating the upper and lower tubes. One can get in reasonably well with a rag and then isopropyl alcohol washes, so that once lubed, the sliding parts work pretty well again.
They don't make that cartridge anymore from what I could see in my search. All the ones available for Giant have threaded ends. With the help of this video though I was able to get mine working well enough to get by and now understand how they are built and work.
Hello, to be honest I've not looked for spares for this dropper. The wiper seal though, I think I'd try a a standard silicone 'o' ring. Use a set of Vernier calipers to measure the internal diameter required and and the cross sectional diameter of the existing seal. You're sure to find what you need from some where online. In the UK I've used simplybearings.co.uk and www.bearingboys.co.uk If memory serves me, that wiper seal had a square profile, though I'm not sure if that was just it's deformed profile from being pressed in by the collet. Let me know how you get on.
I did the service myself and had a hard time getting the big silver bushing which you show at around 6:15 back into the tube. Did you use and special tools to get it back in?
Hello, if you mean the collet which goes around the upper seat post tube and inserts down into the neck of the lower tube, holding the ring seal in place, I used an adjustable spanner/wrench, set to the diameter of the upper tube, which whilst pressed down onto the collet, I carefully hammered down upon to drive the collect down into neck of the lower tube. I trust that makes sense.
I'll second this, sorry to raise a 2yr old comment thread back from the dead, but @fixitfallows how did you get the collet out in the first place? Long punch and a hammer from the inside of the seat post? Can't think how else...
Hello. Firstly you'll have to forgive me as the video was shot over two years ago and a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since, as they say. From memory this is how I recall it......the collet is simply a pressure fit item, so pressure in the opposite direction will unseat it. The upper tube (narrower one) can be used as a slide hammer to pop out the collet. Assuming you have unscrewed the black threaded retaining collar, the silver collet can be removed by sliding the upper tube upwards with sufficient force. Depending on how firmly seated the collet is, you may be able to achieve its unseating by grabbing each of the tubes in each hand and forcibly sliding apart, or you may have to vice grip the saddle clamp assembly at the end of the upper tube so as to create more force when sliding the lower tube downwards (away from the upper tube). I hope this helps.
Hello Robert. It's been two years since I shot that video and I haven't had to service the post since, fortunately ! 🤣 If memory serves me, putting those nylon bushings back in was tricky. I'm sure I was finding that they seemed to be too long/wide to seat correctly, an end would always be to proud. I cheated and shaved a small piece of the nylon away with a craft knife so that it sat in its position neatly. It hasn't had any bad consequences from what I can tell. I hope this helps and good luck.
Hello, sorry to hear you're having troubles. I see that you can get replacement cartridges online for circa £35. in the UK. These are labelled up as 2018 and seem to come in three length option's. Might be worth a look...... take some measurements of your one (ie main body diameter, shaft diameter, lengths and try to compare the the retaining protrussions at either ends. Good luck.
Without trying, I seem to have accumulated 4 of these, specifically this kind that rather than threading into the seat mount, have a grooved stud that is secured by two jam bolts. Given how much more difficult it is to disassemble and reassemble this model completely, I'm settling for not separating the upper and lower tubes. One can get in reasonably well with a rag and then isopropyl alcohol washes, so that once lubed, the sliding parts work pretty well again.
They don't make that cartridge anymore from what I could see in my search. All the ones available for Giant have threaded ends. With the help of this video though I was able to get mine working well enough to get by and now understand how they are built and work.
I had rounded off bolt at the bottom and managed to get it out with t8 torx.
How did you separate the two tubes?
do you know anyplace to get service parts for the contact sl dropper? I need the wiper seal and have not found one.
Hello, to be honest I've not looked for spares for this dropper.
The wiper seal though, I think I'd try a a standard silicone 'o' ring. Use a set of Vernier calipers to measure the internal diameter required and and the cross sectional diameter of the existing seal. You're sure to find what you need from some where online.
In the UK I've used simplybearings.co.uk and www.bearingboys.co.uk
If memory serves me, that wiper seal had a square profile, though I'm not sure if that was just it's deformed profile from being pressed in by the collet.
Let me know how you get on.
I did the service myself and had a hard time getting the big silver bushing which you show at around 6:15 back into the tube. Did you use and special tools to get it back in?
Hello, if you mean the collet which goes around the upper seat post tube and inserts down into the neck of the lower tube, holding the ring seal in place, I used an adjustable spanner/wrench, set to the diameter of the upper tube, which whilst pressed down onto the collet, I carefully hammered down upon to drive the collect down into neck of the lower tube. I trust that makes sense.
@@fixitfallows how did you get the collet out?
I'll second this, sorry to raise a 2yr old comment thread back from the dead, but @fixitfallows how did you get the collet out in the first place? Long punch and a hammer from the inside of the seat post? Can't think how else...
Hello. Firstly you'll have to forgive me as the video was shot over two years ago and a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since, as they say.
From memory this is how I recall it......the collet is simply a pressure fit item, so pressure in the opposite direction will unseat it. The upper tube (narrower one) can be used as a slide hammer to pop out the collet.
Assuming you have unscrewed the black threaded retaining collar, the silver collet can be removed by sliding the upper tube upwards with sufficient force.
Depending on how firmly seated the collet is, you may be able to achieve its unseating by grabbing each of the tubes in each hand and forcibly sliding apart, or you may have to vice grip the saddle clamp assembly at the end of the upper tube so as to create more force when sliding the lower tube downwards (away from the upper tube).
I hope this helps.
@@fixitfallows Fantastic, thanks very much for replying! Glad to hear I just need to apply a little more brute force - didn't want to break anything!
How did you get the nylon bushings to stay in place when putting the tube back in?
Hello Robert. It's been two years since I shot that video and I haven't had to service the post since, fortunately ! 🤣
If memory serves me, putting those nylon bushings back in was tricky. I'm sure I was finding that they seemed to be too long/wide to seat correctly, an end would always be to proud. I cheated and shaved a small piece of the nylon away with a craft knife so that it sat in its position neatly. It hasn't had any bad consequences from what I can tell.
I hope this helps and good luck.
Thats the whole point of the video and its not included ....fml
@user-cb3br8gs4r I realise this is months later, but I just uploaded a video of how I managed it.
I have this model second gen and the cartridge just died. Can't find this any where. I think Giant doesn't make tem any more :(
Hello, sorry to hear you're having troubles. I see that you can get replacement cartridges online for circa £35. in the UK. These are labelled up as 2018 and seem to come in three length option's.
Might be worth a look...... take some measurements of your one (ie main body diameter, shaft diameter, lengths and try to compare the the retaining protrussions at either ends.
Good luck.