how to clean and lubricate bike forks ?

brad1995
brad1995 Posts: 114
edited January 2009 in MTB workshop & tech
hi ... yesterday my forks started to feel sluggish because they need cleaning and i was woundering how do you clean them and lubricate them (without taking them appart)

Comments

  • Andy B
    Andy B Posts: 8,115
    Just wipe off the muck with a damp clean cloth.

    As for lube, this topic's been covered a lot lately, a forum search should provide the answer you need
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  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    Also what are the forks?
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • andrewjoseph
    andrewjoseph Posts: 2,165
    if you can feel they are sluggish, then I think they need more than just a wipe down. Depending on the forks, take them to a bike shop for a service.

    the 'depending' part of this refers to the cost and age of the forks. if they are old suntour type forks with elastomer 'springs', then taking the mto a bike shop for service probably will be a waste of money. £20 to take them apart, clean and lube and in a few minutes they will feel the same. The cold weather turns elastomer forks in rigid forks.

    if it is a higher priced fork with coil or air springs, then take it to the lbs for a basic service.

    anything else and it will need to be sent o mojo or tftuned and cost £80 plus.

    I recommend not taking them apart yourself as you sound like you are a novice to it all. I'm not a novice but i leave the suspension to people who know what they are doing.
    --
    Burls Ti Tourer for Tarmac, Saracen aluminium full suss for trails
  • omegas
    omegas Posts: 970
    Every 3 to 6 months I lift the dust wipers and underneath is a felt oil soak, wet it again with a few drops of oil and push the wiper back down. Stops any drag from the wipers and protects the fork from damage from trail dust. Fox and Rockshox have instructions of how to do this on there web site and the frequency you should do this.
  • andrewjoseph
    andrewjoseph Posts: 2,165
    omegas wrote:
    Every 3 to 6 months I lift the dust wipers and underneath is a felt oil soak, wet it again with a few drops of oil and push the wiper back down. Stops any drag from the wipers and protects the fork from damage from trail dust. Fox and Rockshox have instructions of how to do this on there web site and the frequency you should do this.

    If you store the bike upside down or vertically, (hanging from the front wheel), the fork oil will settle at the lowest point and do this anyway.
    --
    Burls Ti Tourer for Tarmac, Saracen aluminium full suss for trails
  • omegas
    omegas Posts: 970
    omegas wrote:
    Every 3 to 6 months I lift the dust wipers and underneath is a felt oil soak, wet it again with a few drops of oil and push the wiper back down. Stops any drag from the wipers and protects the fork from damage from trail dust. Fox and Rockshox have instructions of how to do this on there web site and the frequency you should do this.

    If you store the bike upside down or vertically, (hanging from the front wheel), the fork oil will settle at the lowest point and do this anyway.

    Tried this but nothing gets past the fork seals and that’s after leaving my Fox forks hanging for 4 months upsidedown. When I lifted the wipers the soakups were dry. Good thing is they held there air pressure after all that time.