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My forks are being odd and it's more than likely my fault.
Earlier in the summer I serviced my old style Rock Shox Pikes, they were leaking oil and I thought it was about time I topped them up and gave them a clean. Half way through the process the family came home and started doing things and getting in the way and generally messing up my zen-like mentality, which is required for servicing forks. I chucked them back together as fast as possible, everything seemed ok.
Now, however, they're pissing me off. They leak much more than ever before. There's a constant film of oil down the damper side of the crown. Also, I think I might have missed a part out of the air spring (dual air u-turn) side as, no matter how much air I put in, I can't get full travel. They sit at about 125mm unloaded. Because I'm an oaf, I managed to snap the c-clip that retains the u-turn nob, so figured that it would be fine without the nob (I never use it) but now I find that the valve is spinning when I attach a pump and sometimes disappearing inside the top of the fork. I suspect the nob is for more than being twiddled? Maybe I've missed out a spacer or something?
Advice please
If you can't full travel it most likely that too oil was put into the damper side. Forks are sensitive to how much oil is put into the oil damper. Download the Rockshox service manuals and use a syringe to measure the oil.
On the u-turn side the adjustment know may have a rubber o-ring under the knob and held down by the circlips. The older Rockshox fork used piss oil out of these areas. No rubber o-ring will make this worse. You will probably need to get a replacement part or buy a knackered pair off eBay and cannibalise.
If they leaked before and all you did was clean and new oil.....then of course they will leak after.....
The seals are burst.
Nah, I changed the seals too. I figured there must just be one that's missing. Anyone solved the pissing oil issue?
No, when I say I can't get full travel, I mean they won't extend beyond 125mm, not that they won't compress all the way. Sorry, should have made myself clear. That's why I'd ruled out a hydrolock sort of situation.
Strip, Clean and Rebuild based on the instructions/tech manual.
They you will know