Rockshox Fork Problem

[MrJacques]

I have an old 26" Reba / Recon (not dual air, guessing it's a +-2008) which has some issues. It's not currently installed on my bike and I can compress it fairly easily just by putting some weight on it just like when it has no air in, except it's inflated to about 100 psi. It keeps air pressure, so those seals seem to be ok?

 

It's leaking a bit of oil at the top seal at the side where the air valve is when compressing it. It had a basic service with some new seals installed a while back (early last year sometime), but never got around to using it (it's a spare), so it's a bit late to take it back to the workshop. Any ideas of what could be wrong? Internal dampers kaput?

[droo]

It's the negative spring valve. Most likely the wave spring that closes the valve is cracked, which unfortunately means a new air spring because that spring's not available as a separate part.

 

A service may sort it out, but you'll only know for sure once it's in pieces.

[BaGearA]

Damper does not have anything to do with the air chamber.

 

The o-ring that sits under the air cap may be junk , its pretty easy to replace you just need A non- chamfered 24mm socket.

 

 

 

Make SURE its non-chamfered otherwise you'll ruin the top cap.

 

Other thing to do is go to A tiger wheel and tyre and ask them for a valve core. And then replace the one in your fork.

 

Good luck sir. 

[MrJacques]

Thx for the replies I've removed the lowers and was quite surprised that there was no oil in the top air side section (damper side seems fine) and no oil in the lowers! It's just been standing for about a year, so something must be leaking, or they did a very poor service.

 

I'll put some oil in and assemble it and see if it works and report back

[MrJacques]

Separate issue, but while I have your attention: The fork currently on my bike is a Reba dual air with the spacer removed, so travel is at +-120mm. The problem is that it's currently down to 80mm, which is why I wanted to put the other one on the bike while this one gets serviced.

 

I've let out all the air and inflated the + and - to the desired pressures with the + about 5 psi more than the neg for small bump sensitivity. When inflating it the travel is at the +- 120mm mark, but after cycling the fork a few times it goes back to 80mm. Oil change, seals and damper service required?

[PhilipV]

Separate issue, but while I have your attention: The fork currently on my bike is a Reba dual air with the spacer removed, so travel is at +-120mm. The problem is that it's currently down to 80mm, which is why I wanted to put the other one on the bike while this one gets serviced.

 

I've let out all the air and inflated the + and - to the desired pressures with the + about 5 psi more than the neg for small bump sensitivity. When inflating it the travel is at the +- 120mm mark, but after cycling the fork a few times it goes back to 80mm. Oil change, seals and damper service required?

It seems that sir is leaking from the positive into the negative chamber.

Deflate negative chamber. Inflate positive to desired pressure, and then inflate negative.

Always inflate positive first, and then negative.

If this keeps on happening, then you gave air creep.

[MrJacques]

It seems that sir is leaking from the positive into the negative chamber.

Deflate negative chamber. Inflate positive to desired pressure, and then inflate negative.

Always inflate positive first, and then negative.

If this keeps on happening, then you gave air creep.

 

Thanks, I've done that a few times and it that order, so it seems like its air creep. Due to a faulty seal? Guess I'll have to service it / have it serviced.

[MrJacques]

So I did the oil change and took out a spacer while I was at it and it's fixed

 

One issue remains - it seems to be leaking a tiny bit of oil from the compression adjuster knob. It was doing this before my diy service as well. Also, the adjuster doesn't seem to affect the performance at all. I have to admit, I didn't have the correct weight oil, so I put 15wt in everywhere and I'll have to do another oil change sometime.