Rock Shox Reba SL not compressing

funky_nomad

Hi all,

I recently returned from Holiday to find that my front suspension forks do not compress at all. They were working fine before I left and I was only gone for 2 weeks...

A possibility is that the handicapped son of the lady that lives in the flat below me could have tampered with my bike (it wouldn't be the first time) but I couldn't see any evidence of it...

The forks are fully extended and when I ride the bike, the forks refuse to compress at all..when I push down hard I sometimes get a slight knocking sound.

I'm desperate to use my bike but I fear that i'll damage my forks if I try using it - even with my lockout turned..

Now I'm pretty inexperienced where bike repairs are concerned, mainly because I have no tools...the guide on here to service the forks seemed pretty straight forward but I'd much rather just take it along to an experenced bike mechanic.

I live in West central london and have not been able to find a 'proper' bike shop with 'proper' mechanics..if anyone can recommend a store or person I'd much appreciate it..someone that knows what they are doing, are honest, don't charge the earth and can do it on site rather then send it off someone else.

The Spiderman

Aswell as the lockout there is a threshold "floodgate" adjuster .Check that this hasn`t been wound fully on,which would mean that the fork would need a very heavy impact to activate the lock out.On an SL you will need to prise off the litte gold coloured cap and insert a 2.5mm allen key to adjust it.

Have a good read on the RS website,and look at the online Reba manual.

If you are in West central London,have you tried a branch of Cycle Surgery?

Also worth calling TF Tuned for advice.They are incredibly helpful in my experience.I have phoned them before when I serviced my own Reba SL.

BorisSpencer

Have you checked the pressures?
That sounds like my fork when the seals went on the negative chamber.

The Spiderman

Also read:http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12652233

nicklouse

how was the bike stored?

but go through resetting the pressures and see how it be haves.

funky_nomad

BorisSpencer wrote:

Have you checked the pressures?
That sounds like my fork when the seals went on the negative chamber.

i've not been able to check the pressure because i don't have one of those shock pumps and apparently the start from around 25 squid which could be a waste given that i may not use it again and given that i may end up needing even more tools to fix the forks. By the way...how can i tell which is the negative chamber?

funky_nomad

nicklouse wrote:

how was the bike stored?

but go through resetting the pressures and see how it be haves.

it was stored in my shared hallway upright with nothing making any contact with the bike for only 2 weeks. Do you know how i can reset the air pressue? I'll give that a go

supersonic

A shock pump is a must with a air fork - you cannot set it up without one! You can get them from £15.

The RS manual shows precisely where all the valves and knobs are located.

It is possible that the oil may have leaked as mentioned above. Or...

If the fork has been upside dow the oil will have been displaced. Unlock the fork and compress the sus 20 times are so to pump it back to where it should be.

funky_nomad

BorisSpencer wrote:

Have you checked the pressures?
That sounds like my fork when the seals went on the negative chamber.

hi spiderman...given that an allen key would be needed to adjust the floodgate thingy...do you reckon i can discount that possibility as the only boy that could have tampered with my bike would not have had the tool...know how or patience? I've not contacted cycle surgery yet because i've assumed they would be like the other big again stores which in my experience hasn't been to great...lots of guys that either know nothing or know lots and are condescending with inexperienced customers. I'll certainly give then and the others you recommended a try

funky_nomad

supersonic wrote:

A shock pump is a must with a air fork - you cannot set it up without one! You can get them from £15.

The RS manual shows precisely where all the valves and knobs are located.

It is possible that the oil may have leaked as mentioned above. Or...

If the fork has been upside dow the oil will have been displaced. Unlock the fork and compress the sus 20 times are so to pump it back to where it should be.

Cheers dude if thats the case and you can get them for 15 squid then I better invest in one

The Spiderman

Funky Nomad,you`re right someone would have to know about the floodgate adjustment,really.But try this to discount it:How hard have you tried to compress them.If the threshold had been altered a big,short sharp compression should still get them moving.
If we can rule this one out then,it maybe a leaky neg air seal as above.Any signs of leakage on the fork lowers?
Anyone you can borrow a shock pump from?
Where in West London are you?

funky_nomad

The Spiderman wrote:

Funky Nomad,you`re right someone would have to know about the floodgate adjustment,really.But try this to discount it:How hard have you tried to compress them.If the threshold had been altered a big,short sharp compression should still get them moving.
If we can rule this one out then,it maybe a leaky neg air seal as above.Any signs of leakage on the fork lowers?
Anyone you can borrow a shock pump from?
Where in West London are you?

I have tried a sharp and forceful thrust on the front forks but all i get at best is a few mm of movement and a slight knocking sound...

There has been a bit of oil/grease at the bottom of the forks (can't remember which side if not both) just assumed that was normal as it wasn't excessive..and it could be that they weren't cleaned up properly previous time they were adjusted.

I jet between Paddington and Acton..and no one I know has a shock pump

stumpyjon

Does sound like the damping oil has migrated to the lower legs. Odd for it to completely lock out the forks though. Didn't know think there was enough oil in there to do that.

You do need a shock pump. Even well maintained forks can lose pressure over time and it's unlikely the forks were perfectly set up for you when you bought the bike.

How old is the bike? If it's less than a year then the forks should still be under warranty so get it back to where you bought it. If they are older than a year they probably need servicing anyway.

If they need repairing I'd recommend TFTuned, it's going to cost but you'll get a full service and they'll fix the problem. Excellent personal service despite it being on line and fast turn around, 3 days for me including fixing a major fault on my Fox forks.

Hope you're sitting down as it'll cost £ 110 including postage each way. You've got to bear in mind though that to buy the seal kits needed for a full service will set you back £ 40 and then you've got to buy the oil and do the service yourself (which will need tools like circlip pliers as well as a shock pump).

funky_nomad

stumpyjon wrote:

Does sound like the damping oil has migrated to the lower legs. Odd for it to completely lock out the forks though. Didn't know think there was enough oil in there to do that.

You do need a shock pump. Even well maintained forks can lose pressure over time and it's unlikely the forks were perfectly set up for you when you bought the bike.

How old is the bike? If it's less than a year then the forks should still be under warranty so get it back to where you bought it. If they are older than a year they probably need servicing anyway.

If they need repairing I'd recommend TFTuned, it's going to cost but you'll get a full service and they'll fix the problem. Excellent personal service despite it being on line and fast turn around, 3 days for me including fixing a major fault on my Fox forks.

Hope you're sitting down as it'll cost £ 110 including postage each way. You've got to bear in mind though that to buy the seal kits needed for a full service will set you back £ 40 and then you've got to buy the oil and do the service yourself (which will need tools like circlip pliers as well as a shock pump).

£110! the whole bloody bike cost me £450! I reckon it's about time I invest in some tools and learn myself

Cheers dude

stumpyjon

You're looking at £250 on Merlin for a set of replacement SLs, RRP for the forks is £ 470.

Fraid modern mountain bikes can be costly to service. It's taken me a long time to realise how much and it's only recently that I've been prepared to stump up that sort of money for repairs. My missus is still getting to grips with the whole thing. Makes me long for the days when I thought the only things that need replacement were brake blocks, tyre and tubes :roll: .

jsussex

funky_nomad wrote:

stumpyjon wrote:

Does sound like the damping oil has migrated to the lower legs. Odd for it to completely lock out the forks though. Didn't know think there was enough oil in there to do that.

You do need a shock pump. Even well maintained forks can lose pressure over time and it's unlikely the forks were perfectly set up for you when you bought the bike.

How old is the bike? If it's less than a year then the forks should still be under warranty so get it back to where you bought it. If they are older than a year they probably need servicing anyway.

If they need repairing I'd recommend TFTuned, it's going to cost but you'll get a full service and they'll fix the problem. Excellent personal service despite it being on line and fast turn around, 3 days for me including fixing a major fault on my Fox forks.

Hope you're sitting down as it'll cost £ 110 including postage each way. You've got to bear in mind though that to buy the seal kits needed for a full service will set you back £ 40 and then you've got to buy the oil and do the service yourself (which will need tools like circlip pliers as well as a shock pump).

£110! the whole bloody bike cost me £450! I reckon it's about time I invest in some tools and learn myself

Cheers dude

sounds like you bought a bike 2nd hand? those forks are not top of the range but not cheap- if they need a service it might explain the price. The valve on the bottom of the left leg is -ve air and the top is +air. the negative should be the same or 5 psi less than the +ive, i think!

i carry a shock pump all the time, its an essential piece of kit imho.

funky_nomad

jsussex wrote:

funky_nomad wrote:

stumpyjon wrote:

Does sound like the damping oil has migrated to the lower legs. Odd for it to completely lock out the forks though. Didn't know think there was enough oil in there to do that.

You do need a shock pump. Even well maintained forks can lose pressure over time and it's unlikely the forks were perfectly set up for you when you bought the bike.

How old is the bike? If it's less than a year then the forks should still be under warranty so get it back to where you bought it. If they are older than a year they probably need servicing anyway.

If they need repairing I'd recommend TFTuned, it's going to cost but you'll get a full service and they'll fix the problem. Excellent personal service despite it being on line and fast turn around, 3 days for me including fixing a major fault on my Fox forks.

Hope you're sitting down as it'll cost £ 110 including postage each way. You've got to bear in mind though that to buy the seal kits needed for a full service will set you back £ 40 and then you've got to buy the oil and do the service yourself (which will need tools like circlip pliers as well as a shock pump).

£110! the whole bloody bike cost me £450! I reckon it's about time I invest in some tools and learn myself

Cheers dude

sounds like you bought a bike 2nd hand? those forks are not top of the range but not cheap- if they need a service it might explain the price. The valve on the bottom of the left leg is -ve air and the top is +air. the negative should be the same or 5 psi less than the +ive, i think!

i carry a shock pump all the time, its an essential piece of kit imho.

Bang on..I bought the bike 6 months old - was a hardly used 200 spec rockhopper pro...more then enough for my needs but I think from what your all telling me..it's well worth investing in a shock pump so I some point this week I reckon I'll buy one..recommendations appreciated guys?

So what your saying about the air is that it is only in one leg? and thats the left one as you look straight on from the front of the bike? Forgive my ignorance but where does the oil and grease go and what is in the other leg?

nicklouse

try reading the manual and then the service info. all can be found on the Srams webby.

Oil goes in both legs top and bottom.

grease not really. spring left leg, damping right leg.

funky_nomad

nicklouse wrote:

try reading the manual and then the service info. all can be found on the Srams webby.

Oil goes in both legs top and bottom.

grease not really. spring left leg, damping right leg.

I supposed it had to happen at some point..I'm going to invest in some tools and start learning to get the repairs and servicing done myself..in the long run it will be far cheaper and much much more rewarding..

Would have loved to have been able to get my forks sorted on the quick for a reasonable price, which at almost 50% of the cost of the forks (quoting someone lses quote above), is far from reasonable..

stumpyjon

Full servicing instructions can be found here. You'll need the service kits and spares which can be a pain to get hold of. Fisher's are the UK importer (fisheroutdoor.co.uk) and list all the parts online but annoying they don't sell direct over the tinterweb. You'll need a friendly local bike shop to order bits for you or contact TFTuned as they do sell bits over the internet.