robertbreyer Posted October 30, 2020 Share So I have an almost-new Specialized Turbo Levo. 3 months old, maybe 20 rides. The rear shock is showing some worrying oil seepage. Is this normal or is the seal gone? - Robert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quagga Posted October 30, 2020 Share That is normal for new or freshly serviced What you see there is grease not oil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeisLife Posted October 30, 2020 Share Wipe and continue to use. Quagga 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilipV Posted October 30, 2020 Share If you've never cleaned it in the 20 rides you've done, then that would be understandable. But that shouldn't be normal, negligent maybe. If it has been wiped and looks like that after a ride or two, then you have an issue. But 20 rides is relative. It could be 20 hrs (in which case it should not look like that,) or it could be 100 hrs of riding, in which case it needs a service anyway. That is a dirty mix of oil and dust, and it is forming a grinding paste. Highly damaging grinding paste. It also looks like you are not using all your travel. If you are only riding road or gravel, then that seems right, if you have been riding trails and only using 30% of your travel, ask the shop to help you with suspension setup. Edited October 30, 2020 by PhilipV DieselnDust 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quagga Posted October 30, 2020 Share If you've never cleaned it in the 20 rides you've done, then that would be understandable. But that shouldn't be normal, negligent maybe. If it has been wiped and looks like that after a ride or two, then you have an issue. But 20 rides is relative. It could be 20 hrs (in which case it should not look like that,) or it could be 100 hrs of riding, in which case it needs a service anyway. That is a dirty mix of oil and dust, and it is forming a grinding paste. Highly damaging grinding paste. It also looks like you are not using all your travel. If you are only riding road or gravel, then that seems right, if you have been riding trails and only using 30% of your travel, ask the shop to help you with suspension setup.Where in a shock is the oil?That is grease. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hello Ruan Posted October 30, 2020 Share Jip as mentioned, normal for a new or serviced shock. Quagga 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alouette3 Posted October 30, 2020 Share Where in a shock is the oil?That is grease.Rockshox tend to use SRAM butter grease on the seals with about 2ml. Approx 1ml below the air piston and another 1ml on top of the piston. Edited October 30, 2020 by Alouette3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilipV Posted October 30, 2020 Share Where in a shock is the oil?That is grease.Air can has oil as lubricant. Damper uses oil.if any of the seals are damaged or installed incorrectly it will leak out. If the OP has never cleaned his shock then that may be grease from the initial build, but if it has been cleaned regularly and looks like that, the shock is leaking. Dusty 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostSixFour Posted October 30, 2020 Share No one gonna mention that OP seems to only use 30% of travel? dasilvarsa 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alouette3 Posted October 30, 2020 Share No one gonna mention that OP seems to only use 30% of travel? It also looks like you are not using all your travel. If you are only riding road or gravel, then that seems right, if you have been riding trails and only using 30% of your travel, ask the shop to help you with suspension setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasilvarsa Posted October 30, 2020 Share That Looks So Wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quagga Posted October 30, 2020 Share Air can has oil as lubricant. Damper uses oil.if any of the seals are damaged or installed incorrectly it will leak out. If the OP has never cleaned his shock then that may be grease from the initial build, but if it has been cleaned regularly and looks like that, the shock is leaking.It uses SRAM butter. No oil there Even if you service it then only 1-2ml as Lubrication not a big amount. What you there is grease no oil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertbreyer Posted October 31, 2020 Share Shock has been wiped clean before.So this is not all grease or oil from day 0.And yes my the rider wasn't used all the travel. Person riding it the last few times is much lighter. Thanks for pointing that I out but I don't quite see the relevance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alouette3 Posted October 31, 2020 Share Wipe it clean after ever ride and monitor. If its leaving that much residue after every ride I would look at maybe getting an air can service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaGearA Posted October 31, 2020 Share The aircan should typically have 5ml or less of oil inside for lubrication, this oil will leak out if the seals are still fine but extremely slowly Not that much as in the picture even after a few rides My best guess would be that whoever did the last service put in way too much lube oil Another option is that it's damper oil thats alot thinner than the lube If you know how to properly test the damper do it and then you should know which above situation you might be in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DieselnDust Posted October 31, 2020 Share Wipe clean with hand sanitiser. Go for a ride and post a pic here after please.can't tell if it's normal or not without a proper reference as Phillip suggests Pieter1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now