Hanging Bikes!

Richard-Dublin
Richard-Dublin Posts: 99
edited October 2009 in MTB workshop & tech
I've started hanging my bikes vertically on the wall of the garage using hook fittings I bought from CRC. Am I best hanging them from the front wheel or the back - thinking about the oil in the forks? Does it matter at all?

Comments

  • Barteos
    Barteos Posts: 657
    The best way is to hang it from the front wheel, so the oil can gather around the seals and bushings. Your fork will appreciate that.
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    it does not mater.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • daniel_owen_uk
    daniel_owen_uk Posts: 192
    What about hydraulic brakes?
  • DevUK
    DevUK Posts: 299
    daniel_owen_uk wrote:
    What about hydraulic brakes?

    There shouldn't be any air in hydraulic brakes, so it wouldn't matter would it?
    FCN Daily commute = 11
    FCN Fixie commute = 5
  • x-isle
    x-isle Posts: 794
    Everything with fluid....

    Forks
    Shocks
    Brakes

    Are all pressurised, so it shouldn't matter if they are upside down, on their side or right way up.
    Craig Rogers
  • Great Ayton
    Great Ayton Posts: 337
    It is fine but there are a few things you should know.

    With brakes you will next to never get every last bit of air out of them. Some systems inherently hold more than others. Air will normally make its way to the oil reservoir in normally riding conditions so this small amount of air is not a problem. However turning the bike upside down can introduce it back in to the brake lines with some brake systems. Again this is generally not a problem and simply putting the bike the right way up and pulling the brake a few times will sort things out. So before you set off its worth having a pull on them and if they feel a bit soft just pull them a few times. Last thing you want is to be hurtling down a hill only to work out your brakes are not quite as good as you recall them being lol.

    Many forks use a some what open oil system in thems. That is not to say open to the outside but open to the air or nitrogen inside. In so turning them upside down can end up with the oil in places its not intended. That is not to say it will damage anything but it will often take a little time for them to settle back down again. Some forks such as some FOX models will have problems such as the lockout will not work until the oil goes back to where its intended. Other forks may go soft and some get erratic damping until the oil makes its way back home.

    Rear shocks are generally fine as they normally use a bladder or floating piston to separate the oil from the air. Some forks use the same system as well and again are fine if you flip them over.

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