Shocks Maintenance

[Handlebar]

What maintenance is necessary on the front shock? I asked my LBS what they do when servicing the bike and the reply was "nothing, we never open them". What should one use to clean them

[RodTi]

What fork you running?

 

Oh, btw - expect to be corrected soon...

 

The front one is referred to as a "fork", and the back one (on full-suspension bikes) is referred to as the "shock"...

 

Welcome to the Hub!

[Handlebar]

I want to upgrade my bike and the bike I'm looking at has Rock Shox Recon Silver. My current bike has a bottom of the range fork and is the main reason I'm upgrading as it's really stiff.

[vanniri]

I purchased a fox talas 7 years ago, never once been serviced. Ridden very hard (Sani2C in mud twice, 3 seasons of snow in Europe, etc). A year ago it started having no rebound and lockout not working. Send it for a service the other day - ZAR600

 

Treat my lefty with utmost care (expensive and excellent - if maintained) All done by myself

 

Sid´s lockout had a problem (1 year old, very little riding) - ZAR600 and good as new haven´t yet opened the fork, unlikely too - looks finicky

 

Manitou R7 - regular oil changes and lube stanchions after rides (wipe clean with rag). All done by myself

 

In general I keep the stanchions clean by wiping them with a cloth after each ride.

[Handlebar]

So basically keep them clean and forget about them. That's all I thought was needed.

 

I did so searching on the net however and the general advice seems to be that you at least have to clean the seals periodically as well.

 

The rockshox website recommends a full service every 100 hours though.

 

The service does look finicky to a novice like me but I would of thought that it was well within the capabilities of your average bike shop tech.

[dirtrider]

If Johan gets here and see comments like wipe it and forget etc he is going to rip your heads off !!!! But I agree , my Rock Shock is also over 7 years old and still goes up and down without ever been opened .

[Robrider]

I think Fox recomends 50 hours.

 

If its a low end fork, I would not bother. But for a better fork, I would try and take better care of it...

 

The problem is that the dirt gets past the seals and then it starts wearing. But it doesnt wear where you can see it. Normally starts where the bushings are, about 40mm down, so when you start to see the wear above the seals, its way too late. I recently had to replace my stancions because of that, and at the price, rather just service it regularly. Its not that finicky once you've done it once or twice. I went on a course with Johan Bornman, and its actually quite easy. Now a days I dont leave anything to the bike shop techs. I havn't had a rock shox, but I assume its similar.

[nigelhicks]

So basically keep them clean and forget about them. That's all I thought was needed.

 

NOOOOOO!!!! As a bike shop mech heres the proper advise ... dependant on how often, how far and in what conditions you ride defines the amount of time before a fork service is needed. If you ride twice a week and average about 40km and dont ride in teh rain and mud (unless you have to) you only need to service your fork probably once a year. If you ride more than this or in adverse condition you will have to have it serviced more frequently.

 

The reason for servicing is actually quite simple - as your fork is a major moving part on the bike and takes a lot of punishment the internal seals wear down eventually causing the fork to malfunction. The oil that is put into the fork is standard fork oil similar to that that is put into motorbike forks. This like any other form of oil becomes old and grimy and needs to be replaced (think of the siff oil that KFC and Steers and so on use to make your chips - when the oils new the chips taste cool - when its old - they are all siff and shrivelled.

 

By replacing the oil the seals do not wear as much and the oil lubricates the working parts better - also a service allows the mechanic to check the wear on your oil and dust seals and replace these if necessary (the oil seal stops oil from leaking out and causing the fork to not work properly - the dust seal (the one on the top of the outer leg that the inner stantion slides into) is used to stop dirt getting into the fork and destroying the oil seal.

 

If you loose oil or the oil is old the fork will begin to work less and less effieciently with the worst case senario being that it will seize as the internals of the fork are unable to do their job.

 

Like with your car - always have your bike (fork and rear shock serviced by professionals at the recommended intervals - if you ride lots and hard 6 months for a front fork and 1 year for a rear shock - if you a sunday cruiser = 1 year for the fork and 2 years for the rear shock)

 

Also not all bike shops have the tools to service forks and rear shocks - in this instance you can have your bike shop send the fork away to the distributors (Fox, Rock Shox etc) who can do the service for you - this may take a couple of days extra but is often a good idea as you then know the job is getting done with the right tools by guys who know the ins and outs of that specific suspension.

 

Hope this helps

 

Cheers

 

Nige

[Handlebar]

Thanks for the advice.

 

I'm getting disillusioned with bike shops and I'm starting to realize that spending time cycling isn't spending time in the saddle.

 

Forgive my ignorance but who is Johan Bornman?

[Handlebar]

Thanks Nige,

 

You guys have been very helpful. Where are you based?

[AndreZA]

Service every 50 hrs of easy riding or 20 hrs of muddy riding or if it gives problem before set time.

[nigelhicks]

i'm in Durban - used to work at Leighs Cycle Centre as a Mech - if you want you could also just send your fork to Jeff Minnaar at Greg Minnaar Racing in Pietermaritzburg - he does the best services and is an authorised service centre for Rock Shox and Fox

[dirtrider]

Service every 50 hrs of easy riding or 20 hrs of muddy riding or if it gives problem before set time.

 

And when do you actually tide the bike ??

[dirtrider]

Thanks for the advice.

 

I'm getting disillusioned with bike shops and I'm starting to realize that spending time cycling isn't spending time in the saddle.

 

Forgive my ignorance but who is Johan Bornman?

 

Johan will find you , you don't find him . He is the Chuck of bikes !!!

[Just Keep Pedaling]

There is an oil inside the shock and after a while it denatures seperating into water and sticky gunk.

[Li Mu Bai]

Thanks for the advice.

 

I'm getting disillusioned with bike shops and I'm starting to realize that spending time cycling isn't spending time in the saddle.

 

Forgive my ignorance but who is Johan Bornman?

 

Thats like asking "Who is Chuck Norris"