Who services their own shocks?

mar_k

Just wondering as I would like to try and service my own when the time comes.

I have rockshox reba dual air. I found complete service kits on Ebay for £20-£28 and thought it would be great if its
possible to DIY.

supersonic

Yeah, and fairly simple too! Download the service guide, make sure you have the right oils, and away you go!

You will need circlip pliers.

mar_k

Cheers supersonic, Tools wont be a problem as I have a huge amount of decent tools I use on cars.

supersonic

I have a lot of 15wt fluid - which you need for the lube in the fork. PM me your address and I'll send you a small pot.

mar_k

supersonic wrote:

I have a lot of 15wt fluid - which you need for the lube in the fork. PM me your address and I'll send you a small pot.

Wow! thats a mighty kind offer, Ill pm you my address.
If you want me to cover postage let me know how much and ill send it over

mar_k

supersonic wrote:

I have a lot of 15wt fluid - which you need for the lube in the fork. PM me your address and I'll send you a small pot.

Would just like to say a HUGE Thanks for posting that pot of oil to me.
I must say I was very confused when I see the package. I couldn't think what I had bought.

Thanks once again,

bennett_346

I service my own shocks. Although today my triad blew up from the damper and that isn't user serviceable

supersonic

mar_k wrote:

supersonic wrote:

I have a lot of 15wt fluid - which you need for the lube in the fork. PM me your address and I'll send you a small pot.

Would just like to say a HUGE Thanks for posting that pot of oil to me.
I must say I was very confused when I see the package. I couldn't think what I had bought.

Thanks once again,

No probs! As soon as I posted it I realised that I'd included no info!

mar_k

thats fine, just post what I need to know on this thread if thats ok.

ryanincontrol

I did a service on my Rockshox SID a few months ago.
Apart from downloading the service manual I found SRAM's video tutorial on youtube very helpful.

mar_k

Cheers guys, They are not due for service for a while yet but Ill be giving it ago.
Ill take pictures as I go so I can post them on here and also as a reference point at dismantling and build up

Neal_

Servicing a Reba is a piece of cake if you take your time and follow the instructions. If you're going to take the damper apart you'll need 110ml (amount may vary depending on model and year) of RockShox 5W fork oil but after some research I found you can get better suspension fluids of which Red Line seems to be the best. The viscosity needs to be close to 15.9cSt @40C so I just used Red Line Lightweight which at 18.4cSt is close enough although you can mix fluids to get an exact viscosity. Also I used the £8.75 O-ring kit from ebay which was spot on and has been used succesfully by other members.

Johnny Napalm

Although I've learnt to do most things myself, this is something I've always backed away from as I'm terrified of ruining something so expensive. That said, my Vanillas need a service so it would be an ideal time. I assume I will just need the right tools and a service kit?

1mancity2

Johnny Napalm wrote:

Although I've learnt to do most things myself, this is something I've always backed away from as I'm terrified of ruining something so expensive. That said, my Vanillas need a service so it would be an ideal time. I assume I will just need the right tools and a service kit?

As long as you follow the instructions and take your time its a very easy and worthwhile doing it yourself, not only is it cheaper but you learn more about how your fork works.

Donload the service instruction and you can't go wrong (well you can)

sanchez89

i would be ok doing the forks once i had all the correct oils and info/instructions.

does anyone know if you can service the Monarch shocks at home?

i did have a look on net but it says you need a special adapter for releasing/replacing the pressure in the damper, which is nitrogen, but you cant buy the adapter.

bennett_346

sanchez89 wrote:

i would be ok doing the forks once i had all the correct oils and info/instructions.

does anyone know if you can service the Monarch shocks at home?

i did have a look on net but it says you need a special adapter for releasing/replacing the pressure in the damper, which is nitrogen, but you cant buy the adapter.

You can service the air sleeve but not the damper. The IFP chamber is nitrogen charged and although doable, it is almost impossible to recharge it without knowing a LOT about what you are doing.

Air sleeve and seals can be done at home easily though.

cloudynights

sanchez89 wrote:

i would be ok doing the forks once i had all the correct oils and info/instructions.

does anyone know if you can service the Monarch shocks at home?

i did have a look on net but it says you need a special adapter for releasing/replacing the pressure in the damper, which is nitrogen, but you cant buy the adapter.

it can be filled with air, have just done a monarch rt3 rear shock air can seal and damper seal with a oil change its really very easy and saves having to send it away like you have to do with a fox rear shock at £ 100ish a throw

bennett_346

cloudynights wrote:

sanchez89 wrote:

i would be ok doing the forks once i had all the correct oils and info/instructions.

does anyone know if you can service the Monarch shocks at home?

i did have a look on net but it says you need a special adapter for releasing/replacing the pressure in the damper, which is nitrogen, but you cant buy the adapter.

it can be filled with air, have just done a monarch rt3 rear shock air can seal and damper seal with a oil change its really very easy and saves having to send it away like you have to do with a fox rear shock at £ 100ish a throw

Gotta know the right pressure and IFP chamber length though.

cloudynights

bennett_346 wrote:

cloudynights wrote:

sanchez89 wrote:

i would be ok doing the forks once i had all the correct oils and info/instructions.

does anyone know if you can service the Monarch shocks at home?

i did have a look on net but it says you need a special adapter for releasing/replacing the pressure in the damper, which is nitrogen, but you cant buy the adapter.

it can be filled with air, have just done a monarch rt3 rear shock air can seal and damper seal with a oil change its really very easy and saves having to send it away like you have to do with a fox rear shock at £ 100ish a throw

Gotta know the right pressure and IFP chamber length though.

the ifp body valve depth can be found on rockshox service instruction online, the ifp pressure is simply to keep the body valve in place while its being compressed by the damper piston, rockshox state pump ifp valve up to 250 psi but once you remove the valve you lose about half of that

bennett_346

cloudynights wrote:

bennett_346 wrote:

cloudynights wrote:

sanchez89 wrote:

i would be ok doing the forks once i had all the correct oils and info/instructions.

does anyone know if you can service the Monarch shocks at home?

i did have a look on net but it says you need a special adapter for releasing/replacing the pressure in the damper, which is nitrogen, but you cant buy the adapter.

it can be filled with air, have just done a monarch rt3 rear shock air can seal and damper seal with a oil change its really very easy and saves having to send it away like you have to do with a fox rear shock at £ 100ish a throw

Gotta know the right pressure and IFP chamber length though.

the ifp body valve depth can be found on rockshox service instruction online, the ifp pressure is simply to keep the body valve in place while its being compressed by the damper piston, rockshox state pump ifp valve up to 250 psi but once you remove the valve you lose about half of that

That's good. To get the values for Fox shox you have to pretty much hack your way into area 51.

cloudynights

thats one reason why i hate fox shocks, great shocks but not being able to do a full service by the user is not acceptable

sanchez89

cloudynights wrote:

sanchez89 wrote:

i would be ok doing the forks once i had all the correct oils and info/instructions.

does anyone know if you can service the Monarch shocks at home?

i did have a look on net but it says you need a special adapter for releasing/replacing the pressure in the damper, which is nitrogen, but you cant buy the adapter.

it can be filled with air, have just done a monarch rt3 rear shock air can seal and damper seal with a oil change its really very easy and saves having to send it away like you have to do with a fox rear shock at £ 100ish a throw

did you just release the air from the valve on top of the shock then unscrew the air can??

though you had to release pressure from the valve at the base of the shock aswell otherwise the can will fire of the end like a cannon? (that was the impression i got from reading the SRAM website)