New (to me) bike - Leaking oil?

Moominman2

Hi guys,

I picked up a 5 year old Trek 6300 today. The guy I bought it off has had it regularly maintained and serviced and he had several other bikes so I did trust that he kept it in good working order.

However, when I took the bike out of my car, I noticed oil leaking from somewhere. After having a spin on it around the block, the indicators on the brake levers went from both being in the middle, to the left lever moving to the left and the right one to the right after a 5 minute blast. I have little knowledge of mountain bikes as I'm a roadie, but what does this mean? The brake levers seemed a little slow to move back to their normal position after applying pressure on them if this means much? However, they felt fine before the bike was turned upside down to put in the car.

Everything was working fine...

I haven't had the chance to check it out properly yet as I'm not at home now.

Any advice or info to put my mind at ease?

Many thanks,
Luke

cooldad

No idea what indicators on the brake levers are?

But if it was upside down, assuming hydraulic brakes, any air in the system could have worked it's way to the calipers. Leave it right way up, use it of pump the brakes, and it should come right.

But specifics help.

Moominman2

Thanks for the reply. Sorry about my poor knowledge!

On both brake levers, there is an indicator there for something? Don't know if I'm talking rubbish...

Yep hydraulic brakes with a RockShox Recon Silver TK Solo Air fork.

Thanks for the advise. It's upright at home so I'll pump it when I'm back.

Is this normal then?

Thanks,
Luke

cooldad

Details of the brakes are more useful than details of the fork if you are having problems with the brakes.

You adjust air pressure in the fork to set the correct sag. Don't just pump it up.

Or are you talking about the brakes again?

Moominman2

Good point- no idea why I mentioned the fork now I look back...I meant I'll work the brakes

Is this normal then? Do I need it looked at To replace fluids as it's leaked? I'm new to hydraulic discs...they seem high maintenance?

JBA

Are you talking about the gear indicators?
Little orange lines under clear plastic covers?

If so, they are just a visual indicator of which gear you are in.

Where has the oil leaked from? You could have a leaking seal on caliper or brake lever, a loose hydraulic connection or a loose cover on the brake reservoir or loose bleed port screw on a caliper.

Bear in mind that if the leak is from a caliper you will probably now have a contaminated disc and pads, which is not good.

Could you post some photos of the problem area?

The Rookie

Hydraulic brakes are lower maintenance than cable, it's just (apart from chainring pads) it's harder to do when needed.

The brakes shouldn't leak, if they do there is a problem.

The oil can also come from the forks, either th lower leg lubrication or the damper (which contains a lot of oil).

How much fluid? The brakes contain a tiny amount, less than 10ml, the fork lowers not much more but the damper contains more than ten times that.

Moominman2

Thanks for the replies both. Let's forget about the gear indicators that I was describing. Incredibly embarrassing, ha ha.

I'll inspect the bike tomorrow and work out where the oil is coming from.

It was quite a lot though and there does look like oil residue on the fork, where the lock is located. But equally, the brake levers have oil residue on them too, so I can't be sure.

I just want to know whether it's safe to use without getting it looked at? I plan on getting it serviced, but not for a few weeks. Is this wise?

Appreciate the help all,

Luke

rockmonkeysc

Leave it a day or two and then squeeze the brakes. If they pull right back to the bars and the pump up youve lost brake fluid and need to bleed them. If the brakes are good you've lost for oil and it needs a service.

Moominman2

Nice one, thanks.

Is this normal though? Have I bought a dud, or is this just normal wear and tear?

The Rookie

Not normal, no, almost certainly easily fixed, may even just be a loose cap on the forks needs screwing down.

Moominman2

Ok, thanks for your reply.

Would I be taking a risk in damaging anything further if I rode it and left it a few weeks until I had it serviced?

FishFish

In answer - I would prefer to have the service first or at least talk to the people who are going to service the bike before continuing to ride if I was not sure of the root cause of the residue. Could be failed seals or it could be that the bike has been inverted and oiled - leaving oil all over the place. But in your position I would clean the thing up and keep biking and see if there is a new residue before getting worried. Your description suggests it may be the brakes. Chances of it being brakes and forks at the same time are unlikely unless the previous owner has put fubar parts on the frame. :evil:

Your bike service might not include brake hydraulics and forks - the latter is a specialised job and the former can be hit and miss - (my lbs words not mine).

The Rookie

Any bike shop that considers basic servicing of hydraulic brakes and forks as 'specialist' shouldn't be working on (or selling) MTB's at all, they really aren't specialist jobs at all. I do both in the utility at home (although any spilt fork oil leaves the floor with about the same grip level as a wet bar of soap on a pain of glass!). In fact the next fork service will leave the lowers, air spring shaft and rebound damper as the only original parts.

Moominman2

Nice one, I'll do that then before I get worried.

The guy appeared genuine- I went to his house to pick it up and I saw that he had several high end bikes so this assured me that he'd have taken care of the one I bought. He even gave me a lift home with it, instead of making me ride down a busy dual carriageway in the dark!

Thinking about it, he did give me a bleed kit for the brakes which may shed some light on the issue?

Thanks again,
Luke

lpretro1

Don't make the mistake of believing because someone has a lot of bikes they know about maintaining them properly. I know oodles of folk with posh bikes who haven't got a clue -or worse think they have a clue when they don't!!

Moominman2

Yeah, fair point!

Just an update- I took it out last night just for some light riding, to see how it was, and everything appeared to be fine. Everything works and I'm very happy with it.

I'll give it a service next month, but I think I was worrying for nothing. Hopefully the oil I saw drip out is just a simple fix.

Thanks for the advice everyone,
Luke