Checking Air Pressure on Hilo Posts - X

Checking Air Pressure on Hilo Posts
Your Hilo post functions by transferring oil between the upper and lower tubes
(the activator valve separates the two chambers), and uses an air spring to return
the post to the full height position. There may be the case where you may need
to check the air pressure in your post, but a specific process must be followed to
avoid creating issues with your posts.
Here are the steps:
1. Remove the Hilo post from the frame and remove Schrader valve cover. Use a
shallow socket to avoid removing the post base plate below the Schrader
valve cover.
2. Turn the Hilo post upside down so the saddle is facing the ground.
3. With the lever depressed, cycle the post up and down (still with the saddle on
the ground) about ten times. This is forcing the oil in the bigger outside
tube away from the air valve and into the smaller inner tube. Doing this
eliminates the possibility of forcing oil into the pump when you attach it to
the Schrader valve. The post should now go up and down without the
lever depressed (feels like a pogo stick).
4. Attach the rear shock pump, depress the activator lever to equalize the
pressure in both tubes, and get your pressure reading.
Recommended Pressures
Hilo SL: 18 psi
Hilo 125: 25 psi
Hilo 100: 28 psi
If pressure is needed, add via the shock pump and depress the activator lever to
equalize the two chambers each time to get an accurate reading.
5. Reinstall valve cap and reinstall into frame.
FAQ
Q: My pump loses pressure when I remove it
A: This is air pressure in the pump hose and gauge, not in the seat post, so no
pressure is lost by removing the pump. When you reinstall the pump though, the
pump hose and air gauge are inflated by the pressure in the seat post, which is
why it "seems" like there is pressure loss.
Q: My saddle has some squish at the very top of the travel.
A: The Hilo post functions by transferring oil between the upper and lower tubes,
and sometimes it take a few pushes on the activator lever to move all of the oil
from the smaller tube to the bigger tube. Try holding the lever open, or cycling the
post up and down a few times, to help the oil move down into the bigger tube. If
there is still a small amount of movement at the top, it's likely the post has low oil
fill.
Q: There is oil leaking out of the seal between the two tubes.
A: Call X-Fusion. The wiper seal will need to be replaced.
Q: I want to increase the return speed of the post.
A: Unfortunately, there is no way to do this. Raising air pressure higher than the
recommended pressures will only cause seal failure and damage your post.