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Thought that might get your attention!
I am talking about my forks of course, which should be lovely and soft and supple and bouncy, however they are not, they have gone almost completely stiff 🙁
I have a pair of 2015 Fox 36 forks with FIT cartridge like these ones
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They recently were a bit dirty on the right hand stanchion as if the seal on the right hand leg had been leaking, it wasn't that much so I didn't think much of it (obviously the wrong decision now). Now the forks have gone almost completely stiff and have a little bit of give in them, maybe 5-10mm which they sort of 'creak' through, although sometimes they will have travel kind of as normal (as in they may compress once or twice then be back to stiff). They've only really been used on road recently because of work.
Anyone any ideas as to the problem and how expensive it might be...?
Thanks a lot in advance!
You've left the lockout on 🙂
Lower leg service. Youtube for a tutorial. It will take about 20mins if your slow. TF Tuned for the service kit.
If you can change a lightbulb you can do this service.
Last service of lowers?
Weeks - if only it were that simple 😉
Matt - in about October of last year I did a lower leg service
Trimix - I've done it once before and it was pretty simple so happy to have a go again!
So if this is the reason they have gone stiff, can anyone explain the mechanics behind that just so I understand why it has happened. As from what I understood when I did the service last year it was simply a clean of the dust wiper seal thingies and an oil change, how does shitty oil/dirty seals cause the problem i'm having?
ta!
Split damper bladder, forks hydro locked?
So if this is the reason they have gone stiff, can anyone explain the mechanics behind that just so I understand why it has happened. As from what I understood when I did the service last year it was simply a clean of the dust wiper seal thingies and an oil change, how does shitty oil/dirty seals cause the problem i'm having?
In all likelihood, it doesn't. Badly needing a lower service just results in a fork just feeling a bit rubbish along with possible issues like stanchion wear. If it feels like the fork can barely move then there's a bigger problem at hand.
Still worth dropping the lowers off. Take the damper out completely. Give everything a good look over and make sure it all moves nicely e.g. let the air out and make sure the spring rod moves as it should, make sure the damper rod moves freely, the adjusters have an effect and there's no oil leaking
If you do all that and they still feel crap when back together then speak to Mojo about getting them to have a look (and any possible warranty claim).
sounds to me like an internal seal has gone letting oil into the lowers and hydro locking them
So if this is the reason they have gone stiff, can anyone explain the mechanics behind that
Mechanical components often need service.. surprised you are surprised!
The seals need oil to lubricate them - for this to happen there's a thin film of oil between the rubber seal and the stanchion. Some of this ends up on the upper stanchion where it stays. Therefore there's less in the fork. Over time enough works its way out for them to get stuff.
Happened to my 'zocchis.