Rock Shox - Oil Problem ?

[Black_Jack]

Hi,

 

I have a brand new 2009 Rock Shox Reba Race. After only 50km, the seals seems to be leaking oil, on both sides. I've attached a pic at the below link (the hub does not allow picture uploads at present).

 

Can anyone tell me if this is normal ? I don't think it is...

 

http://img102.imageshack.us/my.php?image=shockoilmu7.jpg

 

 

[Wyatt Earp]

It looks more excessive than normal.

 

One of two things, the dust wipers could potentially be from a bad batch or alternatively when the steerer tube was assembled to the lowers too much oil was put in.

 

One only needs 15 ml. of 15 weight shock oil in the lowers and the purpose of this is to supply a little lube to the dust wipers.

 

With Rock Shox all the oil sits in the stanchion and all or most of it in the right leg.

 

My advice, wipe clean get rid of all dirt around the wipers and do a few more rides, then see if it is still as excessive.

 

One question, has the bike been standing up side down at all ?

[Black_Jack]

The oil is on both sides - and the same amount as well. The photo only shows the one side - but they look the same. I've wiped it clean yesterday, and did a ride again this morning - same thing...

 

The bike has been standing up-right against a wall.

 

 

 

[Wyatt Earp]

I understand.

 

what I am saying is that there should be no more than 15 ml. of oil in those legs, it could have been over filled (for a lack of better words) or alternatively faulty wipers.

 

My guess is that they have put too much oil in the lowers.

 

My 2009 Reba team did the same thing for round 300 km's.

 

I eventually dropped the lowers and cleaned it all up and then re-assembled with 15 ml's of Fox Float Fluid on either side.

[Black_Jack]

Thanks for the help.

 

What do you suggest - keep at it for a while and see ? I don't want to stuff up the shock or void the warrantee.

 

[Wyatt Earp]

It's not too much to worry about, if it's a bad batch of wipers (which is not very common on RoSho) then it needs to be attended to.

 

I would give it a few rides and if all else fails give Ian at Cape Cycles a call (I see that you are Cape based)

[Black_Jack]

Great - thanks for the info

[Johan Bornman]

For the record.

 

Stanchions are not "lowers".

 

Stanchions are the upper parts of a fork.

 

A steerer tube is what sits inside your head tube and is attached to the bike via a headset. The steerer in turn fits into a crown and the stanchions are fitted to that.

 

The fork's lower legs are called....lower legs or sliders if you want.

 

Edit:  The oil leaking from your fork is the higher viscocity 15wt oil that lives in the sliders.

 

There is a lot of oil on top, about 180mls, depending on the fork and side.

 

From the picture I would say that wiper seals are ruined by bad assembly.

Standing upright against a wall will seep some oil from a damaged wiper seal but new ones shouldn't leak in that position to the point of dripping.

 

Add on: Based on the mileage the OP describes, the forks have a factory fault. No doubt it is an assembly fault and not faulty hardware and can be fixed by a competent mechanic, but the question is what's the balance between trouble of sending it back and having it repaired at a convenient workshop.

 

Johan Bornman2009-01-20 07:11:59

[Black_Jack]

Ah - different story.... so you suggest I take it back ?

[Wyatt Earp]

For the record.

 

?

 

Stanchions are not "lowers".

 

?

 

Stanchions are the upper parts of a fork.

 

?

 

A steerer tube is what sits inside your head tube and is attached to the bike via a headset. The steerer in turn fits into a crown and the stanchions are fitted to that.

 

?

 

The fork's lower legs are called....lower legs or sliders if you want.

 

?

 

The oil leaking from your fork is the lower viscocity 5wt oil that sits on top of the damping pistons. The oil in the sliders is the thicker 15wt variety.

 

?

 

There is a lot of oil on top' date=' about 180mls, depending on the fork and side and it will leak and leak and leak and leak.

 

?

 

From the picture I would say that wiper seals are ruined by bad assembly.

 

Standing upright against a wall will seep some oil from a damaged wiper seal but new ones shouldn't leak in that position to the point of dripping.

 

?

 

?

[/quote']

 

As clever as you try to come across, I think you need to re-read my posts.

 

I never called stanchions lowers, maybe a bit of windowleen for your eyeballs could do the job.

 

Sliders I would rather use as a terminology when I am sitting with a stripped down headshock or lefty.

 

The steerer tube assembly consists of, stanchions, upper crown and steerer tube,1 part from Rock Shox and ordered as 1 assembly.

 

 

 

Now here is a lesson for you professor and sorry if I am stealing your thunder here.

 

The damper oil that gets used is 5 weight and NEVER MORE THAN A 110 ml's in a 100mm travel Rock Shock.This oil sits in the RIGHT HAND stanchion of the steerer tube assembly or the upper crown assembly (let's not get pathetic as to what some might call it)

 

 

 

180 ml's not even in a Fox do we put in more than 150 ml's.

 

 

 

Now if the oil was to leak where you suggest from (the damper or in this case where your motion control gets installed), it would certainly not appear on the stanchions, NO, it would sit on top of the crown and would normally appear around the lockout lever.

 

 

 

The dual air piston gets around a tablespoon's worth of Red Rum or Fox float fluid, this is simply to lube the dual air assembly.

 

 

 

Once the fork has been serviced and I am repeating my self here, then you assemble the fat super light whatever colour you fork is lowers with the goldish coloured ,thinner and smoother legs. (steerer tube or upper assembly)

 

Now I re-iterate, I am guessing that too much oil was pumped into the lowers and looking at the good travel you get (full) it makes sense, once the shock compresses the excess oil has to go somewhere an the only path it knows will be to seep through the dustwipers.

 

 

 

If it really bugs you alot here is Ian's number 021-7613528.

[Johan Bornman]

For the record.

 

Stanchions are not "lowers".

 

Stanchions are the upper parts of a fork.

 

A steerer tube is what sits inside your head tube and is attached to the bike via a headset. The steerer in turn fits into a crown and the stanchions are fitted to that.

 

The fork's lower legs are called....lower legs or sliders if you want.

 

The oil leaking from your fork is the lower viscocity 5wt oil that sits on top of the damping pistons. The oil in the sliders is the thicker 15wt variety.

 

There is a lot of oil on top' date=' about 180mls, depending on the fork and side and it will leak and leak and leak and leak.

 

From the picture I would say that wiper seals are ruined by bad assembly.

Standing upright against a wall will seep some oil from a damaged wiper seal but new ones shouldn't leak in that position to the point of dripping.

 

 

[/quote']
As clever as you try to come across, I think you need to re-read my posts.
I never called stanchions lowers, maybe a bit of windowleen for your eyeballs could do the job.
Sliders I would rather use as a terminology when I am sitting with a stripped down headshock or lefty.
The steerer tube assembly consists of, stanchions, upper crown and steerer tube,1 part from Rock Shox and ordered as 1 assembly.

Now here is a lesson for you professor and sorry if I am stealing your thunder here.
The damper oil that gets used is 5 weight and NEVER MORE THAN A 110 ml's in a 100mm travel Rock Shock.This oil sits in the RIGHT HAND stanchion of the steerer tube assembly or the upper crown assembly (let's not get pathetic as to what some might call it)

180 ml's not even in a Fox do we put in more than 150 ml's.

Now if the oil was to leak where you suggest from (the damper or in this case where your motion control gets installed), it would certainly not appear on the stanchions, NO, it would sit on top of the crown and would normally appear around the lockout lever.

The dual air piston gets around a tablespoon's worth of Red Rum or Fox float fluid, this is simply to lube the dual air assembly.

Once the fork has been serviced and I am repeating my self here, then you assemble the fat super light whatever colour you fork is lowers with the goldish coloured ,thinner and smoother legs. (steerer tube or upper assembly)
Now I re-iterate, I am guessing that too much oil was pumped into the lowers and looking at the good travel you get (full) it makes sense, once the shock compresses the excess oil has to go somewhere an the only path it knows will be to seep through the dustwipers.

If it really bugs you alot here is Ian's number 021-7613528.

 

Anton, you are of course right about where that oil comes from. I was standing on my head when I interpreted your version. For that I apologise and I shall edit my post and preserve the record.

 

However, I think you still had a couple of errors in your comment.

 

 

It looks more excessive than normal.
One of two things' date=' the dust wipers could potentially be from a bad batch or alternatively when the steerer tube was assembled to the lowers too much oil was put in.
One only needs 15 ml. of 15 weight shock oil in the lowers and the purpose of this is to supply a little lube to the dust wipers.
With Rock Shox all the oil sits in the stanchion and all or most of it in the right leg.
My advice, wipe clean get rid of all dirt around the wipers and do a few more rides, then see if it is still as excessive.
One question, has the bike been standing up side down at all ?[/quote']

 

 

 

[Wyatt Earp]

Ok then, let me apologize, I meant steerer tube assembly.

 

As for the oil, yes the 5 w oil sits in the right leg stanchion.

[Black_Jack]

Look - a picture of me - - confused

 

What do I do - keep riding it for a while and see if it stops, or take it in immediately to "Avoid injury or death due to improper operation or setup" (as it reads in the manual )

 

[Johan Bornman]

Look - a picture of me - - confused

What do I do - keep riding it for a while and see if it stops' date=' or take it in immediately to "Avoid injury or death due to improper operation or setup" (as it reads in the manual )
[/quote']

Moenie worry nie.

 

 

I edited my post (see edits in bold) and added a Post Script just for you. Take it back to who sold it to you and tell them to sort it out.

 

It won't kill you but irritate the hell out of you.