Fox Float Fork oil leak

konadawg
konadawg Posts: 447
edited January 2010 in MTB workshop & tech
Friend has a Fox Float 32 on a Giant Trance 2008.

All was well until he clicked the rebound adjustment (nothing extreme - couple of clicks forward and back) and now his fork leaks at the stanchion seals.

Not too much but more than he's comfortable with.

I can understand the seals wearing, etc - but is this the reason? What's the connection between using the rebound adjust and the leak? He did not set any extreme rebound setting at all, because I was there, he literally just added two or three clicks, tried it out, and wound at least two of them back.

Need to add that had a similar occurence with someone else's Fox, this time the rebound was jammed but as soon as we got it free, the fork started leaking although IIRC in this case the leak was from the top, the adjuster area.

Any tips?

Warranty does not cover seals as they are considered wear items, but if the rebound and the leak are directly connected then that's something else.

Thanks...
Giant Reign X1

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    i would put the two things together as coincidence.
    dont forget that fox forks use a wet lubed foam ring under the top wider seal and above the lower fork seal.

    this foam ring should be lubed regularly as per the manual. maybe it had been over oiled?
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • konadawg
    konadawg Posts: 447
    The fork has never been opened up, maybe it's time. Never been inside a Fox, was (wildly perhaps) theorising that the pressures of the rebound restriction... well I can't continue as have no idea of the insides of Foxes, but the leak was just SO coincidental (!!!!)

    If it's just a simple stanchion seal thing - what do you recommend?

    Clean up first perhaps? Worthwhile or waste of time, i.e. would you say that the seals definitely need replacing? It's obviously not an old fork, it sees once weekly usage, and not too much mud and crud (we don't get that for most of the year) so I would say that it has had a "mediium duty" life so far. Just to put you in the picture.

    If to purchase the seals, any pointers?

    Thanks...
    Giant Reign X1
  • Thewaylander
    Thewaylander Posts: 8,593
    Fox shocks should be serviced around once a year with new seals.

    as a bike fork they get alot of mud water and crap thrown after them, my rear shocks seals went after 2 years on one bike, now i regularly service my shocks, it keeps performance up and stops seals exploding all over.
  • konadawg
    konadawg Posts: 447
    Nick or anyone else, any help with the other questions much appreciated thanks...
    Giant Reign X1
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    wipe it and see.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • konadawg
    konadawg Posts: 447
    OK. Best place to buy seals, if it comes to that, shop around or any suggestions?
    Giant Reign X1

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