Bare minimum fork maintenance

neil_sheehan2000

Hi all,

I've had the same set of forks for about 3 years now. I don't have the money to get them properly serviced, and at the minute I don't have the time or inclination to try and do it myself.

They're still running fine anyway, but a recent ride in appalling muddy/snowy conditions got me thinking: what is the bare minimum maintenance I should/could do for my forks? Is it worth, for example, putting some grease around the tops of the seals (not dismantling anything though), or is this liable to do more harm than good?

Cheers.

sloppycowpat

the manufacturers guide is mad its just stupid like 200 miles or so

if they work fine and there are no scratches on the stantions, seals are ok- not weeping and are working fine then they do last well if the seals are good, most forks are simply to service and it is worth doing it would take somewhere from 30 mins to 2 hours depending how technical competent you are and what instructions you need

oil is about 10 quid and seals which you may need can be purchased off tf tuned for not that much

I personally change the oil every 6 months to a year and seals if they need it

although my old toras were fine for 3 years with no service but the oil was manky when i changed it and they felt soooo much better

1mancity2

What forks are they?

don't put grease on the seals as this will attract dirt and cause more problems, get some fork juice and spray the stantions after every ride, avoid getting it near the braking surfaces.

Spray, pump the forks, wipe off, respray, pump, wipe, done.

neil_sheehan2000

So the bare minimum maintenance is practically nothing!? Excellent. Thanks for the fork juice tip- I never knew it existed before now.

386ka

Well, for 3 years of use, I would be inclined to at least change the oil and grease the bushings...

Sadoldsamurai

1mancity2 wrote:

What forks are they?

don't put grease on the seals as this will attract dirt and cause more problems, get some fork juice and spray the stantions after every ride, avoid getting it near the braking surfaces.

Spray, pump the forks, wipe off, respray, pump, wipe, done.

I've been using silicon spay on prior to going out for a ride, and storing the bike upside down..but then I'm riding with second hand (at least) indestructible coil PIKES...