Tech

Video: Tips to keep your suspension fork running smoothly

· By Press Office · 25 comments

A mountain bike suspension fork requires regular care. Steve Bowman has two simple tips to keep your fork sliding smoothly.

Two tips to keep your suspension fork running smoothly:

  1. It’s recommended to turn your fork upside down for 10 minutes once a week. This will help keep your wiper seals and sponge ring lubricated and the fork running smoothly.
  2. Avoid pressure washers. Pressure washers force water and grime into the fork causing premature wearing. Instead use a bike wash product and a light hose to remove the dirt.

Comments

Christofison

Nov 16, 2016, 11:09 AM

The two main tips in the video have helped keep my FIT4 Float 32 running smooth for the last 12 months. Question though, where can I get a bag full of nylon crush washers locally? That's the only thing keeping me from whipping my lowers off every other month.

Onegear

Nov 16, 2016, 11:29 AM

Funny, i thought silicone spray was not good for the seals ?

JXV

Nov 16, 2016, 12:13 PM

The two main tips in the video have helped keep my FIT4 Float 32 running smooth for the last 12 months. Question though, where can I get a bag full of nylon crush washers locally? That's the only thing keeping me from whipping my lowers off every other month.

If you use a torque wrench and do not overtighten the crush washers they can be re-fitted several times without leaking.

 

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nox1111

Nov 16, 2016, 12:17 PM

upside down tip ftw!

stringbean

Nov 16, 2016, 3:02 PM

Steve you legend.Arguably SA's first pro Mtbiker riding for Orange.

The things he could do on a bike

Bizkit031

Nov 16, 2016, 4:07 PM

Yea sure we all have tons of money to take our bikes to a bike shop to pull the lowers off and have a quick sorting.

rock

Nov 16, 2016, 4:40 PM

Steve you legend.Arguably SA's first pro Mtbiker riding for Orange. The things he could do on a bike

 

glad you said that, I didn't want to give my age away :)

 

wash your own bike people, its part of being a bicyclist. take pride.

Christofison

Nov 16, 2016, 6:40 PM

Yea sure we all have tons of money to take our bikes to a bike shop to pull the lowers off and have a quick sorting.

Do you take your bike to the LBS when you need to take your wheel off? Just take the lowers off yourself, it's so straight forward.

 

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Bonus

Nov 16, 2016, 6:47 PM

glad you said that, I didn't want to give my age away :)

 

wash your own bike people, its part of being a bicyclist. take pride.

 

No choice here! But I enjoy it :-)

Guest

Nov 16, 2016, 7:20 PM

Dude !! Is rad seeing you doing this Steve ;)

Tankman

Nov 17, 2016, 3:47 AM

Yea sure we all have tons of money to take our bikes to a bike shop to pull the lowers off and have a quick sorting.

 

 

Replacing your stanchions because you did not maintain you fork, will cost you way more!

JXV

Nov 17, 2016, 4:56 AM

Yea sure we all have tons of money to take our bikes to a bike shop to pull the lowers off and have a quick sorting.

It really is an easy job but you do need a basic workshop with bike stand or soft jawed vice to hold the fork, a drip tray/bucket to catch the oil, a soft mallet and on some forks a long 10mm socket so as not to damage the damper shaft. 50ml syringe for measuring and inserting oil is useful too.

 

You do not really need the special tools you see in factory manuals and videos for servicing lowers and seating new seals - you can make a plan with ordinary tools and still do the job perfectly.

 

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Skinnyone

Nov 17, 2016, 7:47 AM

I have done a fork service without having to use a stand...so not really essential....the trick is to keep everything clean whilst doing so, a stand prevents you putting the crown assembly down in dirt...

 

I use a kitty litter tray (about R50 at PNP) as a drip tray a syringe is no more than R50 at dischem and basic tooling - multi tool, 10mm socket/spanner most people should have already. The new dust wipers can be fitted using finger pressure and no special tooling...

Lars

Nov 17, 2016, 9:31 AM

Steve you legend.Arguably SA's first pro Mtbiker riding for Orange. The things he could do on a bike

And what i nice guy

Edge_Design

Nov 17, 2016, 10:51 AM

It really is an easy job but you do need a basic workshop with bike stand or soft jawed vice to hold the fork, a drip tray/bucket to catch the oil, a soft mallet and on some forks a long 10mm socket so as not to damage the damper shaft. 50ml syringe for measuring and inserting oil is useful too.

 

You do not really need the special tools you see in factory manuals and videos for servicing lowers and seating new seals - you can make a plan with ordinary tools and still do the job perfectly.

 

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

Anywhere to get a basic crash course in doing it (without damaging the fork)? Always been too scared to give it a go... Fox Kashima CTD 120mm on my bike (2015 I think). 

JXV

Nov 17, 2016, 12:10 PM

Anywhere to get a basic crash course in doing it (without damaging the fork)? Always been too scared to give it a go... Fox Kashima CTD 120mm on my bike (2015 I think).

Lotsa Videos on the web. preferably use the ones on manufacturer's websites...they tend to avoid dodgy shortcuts that some of the private vids show......

 

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udxcob

Nov 18, 2016, 3:17 AM

Yea sure we all have tons of money to take our bikes to a bike shop to pull the lowers off and have a quick sorting.

 

Thats why he said do it yourself

Bizkit031

Nov 18, 2016, 6:18 AM

Thats why he said do it yourself

Yea I did watch the video,but some guys are technically challenged so might be an issue for them.
Skinnyone

Nov 18, 2016, 11:55 AM

Yea I did watch the video,but some guys are technically challenged so might be an issue for them.

So the technically challenged must pay the non-technically challenged to do the job....?

 

Or just ride it till it breaks and then REALLY pay the non-technically challenged....

 

At the end of the day, this is a hobby for a lot of people, you don't have to have the blingest kit around...you could ride a rigid fork and not worry about servicing of suspension forks...

Flemish Lion

Nov 18, 2016, 12:11 PM

What's the advise on servicing a shock?

 

Bike shops will tell you after 80-100 riding hours depending on the shock... but for some that would mean R1k every 6 months.

 

I commute to work so don't strain my shock as hard or is the type of riding irrelevant?

 

Finally which bike shop has good suspension mechanics?

 

And don't tell me to search the forums ;)

Skinnyone

Nov 18, 2016, 12:42 PM

I would say at least once every 6 months is a good interval...the biggest thing is dirt getting into the dust wipers - so commuting shouldn't pick up too much dirt/dust or mud.

 

as for good suspension service guys I know Droo CPT i think?, Roger at Bicycle Service Co. JHB 4Ways, The Sheriff (Anton) at Summit cycles JHB midrand...

 

Otherwise send it to the agents.

Grease_Monkey

Nov 19, 2016, 5:16 PM

Who did the sub-titles for this video? "Towel it down" = "Toilet down" haha. "Give it a light hose" = "give it a light hoes".

maramind

Nov 29, 2016, 9:01 AM

I read somewhere (Shimano?) that turning your bike upside down can lead to air getting into the calipers, requiring a bleed?

maramind

Nov 29, 2016, 9:02 AM

The two main tips in the video have helped keep my FIT4 Float 32 running smooth for the last 12 months. Question though, where can I get a bag full of nylon crush washers locally? That's the only thing keeping me from whipping my lowers off every other month.

Locally, don't know, but it must be easy enough to get them on e-bay?

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