FOX Stanchion wear (with pics)

[jugheaddave]

HI Guys

 

FOX F100RL was leaking a little oil, so did a seal change and oil service, and noticed that my stanchion is worn worn. (see pictures) (this is on the air side, rebound side is still perfect)

 

Is this fork now trashed, or can I keep riding it? After the service there is still a little oil on the top of the seal, after about 60k of dirt roads. (see picture)

 

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs272.ash1/19956_278817841075_591936075_4007481_328527_n.jpg

 

 

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs192.snc3/19956_278817846075_591936075_4007482_8178905_n.jpg

 

 

 

 

[jugheaddave]

Perhaps I should consider a Enduro Seals, apparently they are very good.

[Bos]

good news I just got them for my Revelation

[jugheaddave]

is there a supplier in SA?

[Johan Bornman]

It seems as if the stanchions are still OK. Scratch over the grooves with your fingernail. If it is very notchy, the chances are good that the seals will forever leak oil.

 

However, I think you're still OK.  This is a typical didn't-service-my-fork-soon-enough problem. Don't be a bad boy, do it regularly and keep your eyes open for developing wear.

 

The Enduro seals are good, but won't prevent that happening. They'll just last longer and therefore prolong the service period a bit.

 

I have Enduro seals if you want to try.

 

 
Edit: You mention that you serviced it. Did you replace the seals after which the fork still leaks?

Johan Bornman2010-01-28 06:50:02

[jugheaddave]

Hi JB. Thnkas for the feed back.

 

Yes I did replace seal after the service, and the leak was still there, however not as bad.

 

I will contact you soon to get some seal from you. what is the price of a set?

 

[GoLefty!!]

stanchions still look ok but you need to change the oil in your forks more often than never bru...

 

 

[jugheaddave]

 the bike is only 8 mnths old. done about 3500k's

[GoLefty!!]

ya and the point is....??

 

oil change every 40hrs or less dude.

 

You moan about excesssive wear if you don't adhere to the service interval. Its in your manual.

[jugheaddave]

why you being such a chop about this??

[dirtrider]

Jughead does this affect the handling , performance of your bike or does the oil just bother you ? My Rock Shock SL is 5years 7 months old , has NEVER been opened or serviced , it is still working like the day I got it . Keep you stanctions clean at all times and you will not have problems !!

[Ken.s]

Hi JD

 

Your  wear would normally start on the airside, as there is only 30mm of fox fluid in that slider. Your stantion is picking up on the top brass bush inside the left slider. If it is only 8 months old, I would send it to fox for either a factory warranty claim, or a complete rebush of the sliders. The damper slider has 160mm of fox fluid, and therefore there is lots of lubrication around the right stantion. Your shocks should be serviced every 100 hrs, stand to be corrected.

If the standard fox dust wiper seals are fitted correctly they work fine. Remember there is a foam O ring under the dust wiper seal that is soaked in fox fluid before being installed, so when the stantion returns from compression there is bound to a slight oil film on the stantion. Hense the dust.

Good Luck

[Bos]

ya and the point is....??

 

oil change every 40hrs or less dude.

 

You moan about excesssive wear if you don't adhere to the service interval. Its in your manual.

 

Lefty, Do you really service your fork every month? cmon..

 

Im not saying neglect is fine, but he didnt moan, was asking advice, I serviced my Rock shox after 8 months (through winter) ok I do look after it, I took it in and the guys at the shop said the oil is still crystal and why did I bring it in?

I didnt do 3500km on it, that is a lot in 8 monts sure, and Yes probably the reason it is worn, but 40 hours is like the "no jumping, or extreme riding" sticker I once peeled of my Manitou sherman- it was a jump/ xtreme riding fork!. Its to cover their arses more than anything If you ask me.

 

anyway, dont want to stirr here, just making that point

[GoLefty!!]

cos I see this type of thing all the time. Okes ask whats the problem, this is &%!! it should last so long cos it cost me so much and its only so old.

 

fact if you drive your car 100km a day you will need to take it for a service more regularly than if you drive it 20km a day.

 

take care of your bike and it will take care of you.

 

I was asked to serviced a blokes fork a week ago. It was horrid inside. I asked him when last was it serviced. He answered after every ride.

Confused I looked at him and said, washing it is not a service. All he said was "oh". So you'll have it fixed in an hour!.

Turns out in the 18months he owned the thing he never had it serviced!!

And then he wanted to negotiate my hourly rate too.

 

I put it back together for him and threw him out my front door.

I was kind enough to give him a list of parts of to buy to get the fork working again.

 

the note read: Buy a new fork, this one is F%$$ed.

 

Lovely RS Reba Team, seals trashed, oil black, damping oil was brown with parts of shim floating around in it.

 

I wasn't interested in his problems.

 

I sent him to the agents to get it repaired.

 

 

Don't turn out like that [:w*nker:] Dave. Youhave time to save yourself from a lifetime of suffereing from cheapshytalitis

[Mackie]

cos I see this type of thing all the time. Okes ask whats the problem' date=' this is &%!! it should last so long cos it cost me so much and its only so old.

 

fact if you drive your car 100km a day you will need to take it for a service more regularly than if you drive it 20km a day.

 

take care of your bike and it will take care of you.

 

I was asked to serviced a blokes fork a week ago. It was horrid inside. I asked him when last was it serviced. He answered after every ride.

Confused I looked at him and said, washing it is not a service. All he said was "oh". So you'll have it fixed in an hour!.

Turns out in the 18months he owned the thing he never had it serviced!!

And then he wanted to negotiate my hourly rate too.

 

I put it back together for him and threw him out my front door.

I was kind enough to give him a list of parts of to buy to get the fork working again.

 

the note read: Buy a new fork, this one is F%$$ed.

 

Lovely RS Reba Team, seals trashed, oil black, damping oil was brown with parts of shim floating around in it.

 

I wasn't interested in his problems.

 

I sent him to the agents to get it repaired.

 

 

Don't turn out like that [:w*nker:'] Dave. Youhave time to save yourself from a lifetime of suffereing from cheapshytalitis

Remind me not to come to you for anything! Someone is asking for advice, no need to be an ahole about it. Get a grip, and if you cannot or will not add value stay away. Chill.

[GoLefty!!]

ya and the point is....??

 

oil change every 40hrs or less dude.

 

You moan about excesssive wear if you don't adhere to the service interval. Its in your manual.

 

Lefty' date=' Do you really service your fork every month? cmon..

 

Im not saying neglect is fine, but he didnt moan, was asking advice, I serviced my Rock shox after 8 months (through winter) ok I do look after it, I took it in and the guys at the shop said the oil is still crystal and why did I bring it in?

I didnt do 3500km on it, that is a lot in 8 monts sure, and Yes probably the reason it is worn, but 40 hours is like the "no jumping, or extreme riding" sticker I once peeled of my Manitou sherman- it was a jump/ xtreme riding fork!. Its to cover their arses more than anything If you ask me.

 

anyway, dont want to stirr here, just making that point

[/quote']

 

 

Point is taken and yes, OEM's are consevative when it comes to use of their product. However they are not conservative when it comes to service intervals.

 

Forks have two oil systems. the lube and the damping fluid. Damping fluid is 120hrs service interval, lube is 40hrs. Same with my Lefty and its a doddle to service; life the boot squirt oil in, cycle up and down wipe off excess and refit boot.

For other forks its a 30min job to change the lube oil. Foxes take an hour because lube oil is the damping fluid and because of this you have to be more vigilant with Fox kit.

 

Yes I do service my Lefty every 40ish hours. sometimes its a bit earlier sometimes its a bit later.

 

Dave's fork is still ok but itcould get a lot worse very quickly now that the anti friction coating is worn off. it got to that state because of a lack of care which is easy to rectify.

 

Right so now the arguement is why do Icare its his money blah blah blah.

 

I care because I take these things apart not for a career but because I enjoy it. Its frikkin heart breaking to see the poor state of kit that some people ride. it's like not respecting yourself man. Sure the bike can be dirty but for gods sakes just look after the suspension. A wipe down after every ride ( no hose pipes), change the lube oil, make sure the seals are moist, just a little bit of care is all it takes. Clean chains, clean suspension. its not hard