How often should a fork be serviced

[Mackie]

I have a Rock Shox Reba SL. Done about 2000 kays, 10 months old. I am an overweight, weight weenie, so the fork has to put up with my 100kilo's.

How often should it be serviced?

What do services cost ballpark?

Who are the best shock servicers in KZN?

 

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Giant]

I believe Greg Minaar cycles are the people you should be talking to.

Apparently Greg's old man is the shock Guru in KZN (was a while ago anyway)

[TNT1]

ask that dude that takes his chain off after every ride...I'm sure he will know.

 

 

[Mackie]

What, and start a debate with soemone else in the thread that has got nothing to do with the question at hand

ask that dude that takes his chain off after every ride...I'm sure he will know.

 

[AndreZA]

I doubt your weight and distance can affect the performance of a shock. How bad/good were the conditions you are riding in? If you ride in mud and rain the whole time it needs to be serviced every weekend, otherwise, every 50-70 hrs for a minor service. You must do JB's fork service class. you can then do it yourself infornt of the TV while the Sharks loose on tv.

[TNT1]

 

What' date=' and start a debate with soemone else in the thread that has got nothing to do with the question at hand

ask that dude that takes his chain off after every ride...I'm sure he will know.

 

 

OMG... how inconsiderate. I'd never suggest that, much less do that...

 

[TNT1]

oh, and the correct answer is go to the rockshox website, get the .pdf manual, and not only will it tell you service intervals based on various riding criteria, but tell you how to do it yourself.

[GoLefty!!]

Recommended service intervals are every 20hrs for the stanchion lube oil and every 40-50hrs for the damper cartridge.

 

2000km is too long.

[Mackie]

That will mean a trip to the big smoke, will rather cough up the money to get it done locally. Luckilly or unluckily I am a Lions supporter living in KZN. So well used to watching my team lose

I doubt your weight and distance can affect the performance of a shock. How bad/good were the conditions you are riding in? If you ride in mud and rain the whole time it needs to be serviced every weekend' date=' otherwise, every 50-70 hrs for a minor service. You must do JB's fork service class. you can then do it yourself infornt of the TV while the Sharks loose on tv.[/quote']

[TNT1]

 

Recommended service intervals are every 20hrs for the stanchion lube oil and every 40-50hrs for the damper cartridge.

 

2000km is too long.

 

Unless you ride really really fast...

 

[Cassie]

Aaaah....I was waiting for just a post like this....

 

I've just completed Johan Bornman's famous fork service workshop....here in Cape town...

 

Let me begin to say it's worth the cost...it's basically the price of one service from a LBS (who in most instances send it on to an agent) and the course was paid for!!

 

Although everything that happened at the workshops is TOP SECRET...I've managed to "smuggle" out a couple of pictures just to illustrate my point:

 

This is what a "clean" shock's oil looks like: Basically Clear

 

Below is what is shouldn't look like: dirty & cloudy

 

 

Some shocks did not even have any oil in them....  shocking surprize!!

 

The problem is - you don't really know what's happening inside your shock untill you open it up....this one dude was blissfully thinking he had enough oil in his shock until it was opened up...then shocking surprize...no oil!

 

Since I've done this course, servicing a shock is as easy as performing a oil change on a car. I can now do it every six months or so, depending on km travelled and how dusty /muddy my cycles were.

 

Getting back to your question - it depends - 2000km??? I would go for a service. You have to protect your investment - shocks are expensive!

The best thing about self servicing is that you do not necessarily have to replace the seals if they are not leaking...something that the agents will probabaly do in any event (why replace something that aint broken?)

A replacement set of seal will set you back R300 - R400. Then there are also "other" seal that you can use at much lower costs (R25 vs R300). They will work equally well.

 

There, see, I already sound like a pro...after only one self service!

 

my 5c worth..

 

 

 

[Christopher Brunsdon]

So want to do that course.

[Daxiet]

I think shock service intervals are too aggressive. 100hrs minimum if used for MTB'ing. If you just using it on tar, 1000's of hours.

 

I do plenty dusty and muddy riding, my shock was serviced at just on 100hrs and IMO could have done a couple more.

 

That said clean the dirt off the dust seals/stanchions after each ride or before the next. Do not HP around these dust seals.

Daxiet2009-05-22 05:48:09

[Brakkies Sport Fotos]

Cassie, Kan ek op jou nommer druk om my shock te service.

 

 

 

Die probleem is dat as jy inneem na 'n workshop, hoe weet jy regtig die machie het regtig sy beste probeer om die ding te service? Jy kan tog nie van buite sien wat hy binne gedoen het?

 

 

 

 

[Jules]

I know I should probably do the course, but even once you've acquired the skill, it still leaves you with a time deficit, dirty hands, the trouble of sourcing seals and the problem of disposing oil in a responsible manner. Yes, I realise I sound like a girl, but I'd rather just take the fork into a good LBS and let the pros do their thing.

 

 

 

Or.... there is always the option of going rigid

[GoLefty!!]

I think shock service intervals are too aggressive. 100hrs minimum if used for MTB'ing. If you just using it on tar' date=' 1000's of hours.

 

I do plenty dusty and muddy riding, my shock was serviced at just on 100hrs and IMO could have done a couple more.

 

That said clean the dirt off the dust seals/stanchions after each ride or before the next. Do not HP around these dust seals.

[/quote']

 

 

I disagree. The small amount of oil in your fork works prettyhard. It's gets sheared everytime it passes through a vlave in the dampin circuit. It can look clean but that does not indicate that its' damping characteristic has not changed.

 

the higher the volume of oil, the longer the service interval. For most forks, 40 - 50hrs is about right.

Fork lube oil should be changed more regularly.