Forum menu
Ive got some 2019 Reba RL's solo air 120mm on my hardtail. I noticed they weren't as plush as they were and had quite a lot of stiction so I've done a lower leg service. Oil that drained out was spotless and no signs of any wear. Put them back together and they are the same if not worse!!!. I've sat them upside for a while to lube the foam seals, tried the cable tie down the side of the seal trick but no better. They take some moving to get going even with quite a low pressure in and feel notchy thru the travel once they are moving. I know solo air aren't the best and the motion control damper the same but I have some SID's about same age which are buttery smooth. I've been servicing my own forks etc for years but I'm after some advice on this one. Thanks
edit: I have noticed a schrader valve tucked away in bottom of the air spring under the lower leg bolt but it doesn't get a mention in any service doc's
If I were you I'd do a complete oil service (not just lowers), change the foam seals and maybe the rubber too. It doesn't cost much more to do and isn't that difficult. Cleaning, removing old lube and applying fresh stuff in the top legs and air cartridge will help no end. I did my old Rebas recently and they felt like new again.
Having everything apart will also allow you to check that nothing is worn or damaged.
Which oil did you use?
Fox gold oil, the really sticky stuff, made big difference to mine.
Can you get the wipers out? You could try and cycle the fork without them if so to eliminate them as a cause.
There was a thread recently about RockShox bushings being too tight but I'm not sure that's it given you say it's got worse.
If you've found a schrader valve in the bottom of the lower leg then you've almost certainly got an older dual air fork not a 2019 solo air (unless someone has retrofitted a dual air spring in a 2019 fork). This will definitely feel wooden if there's nothing in the negative air spring. Try inflating to the same pressure as the upper and see how it feels then.
You don't have reba solo airs. You have dual air forks.
Put some air in the neg chamber you ninny.
Nope. Definitely 2019 and definitely solo air. I have the box they came in. The valve in the bottom is hidden under the lower leg bolt. You have to remove the bolt. So I did and pressed it and it lets out all the pressure from air chamber ie positive and negative, so I’m not a ninny!!.
Eh? If there's a schraeder valve on the bottom, they must be dual air. Are you sure it's a valve?
The air shaft does have a valve in it, beyond the bolt threads, it's just not used for anything, aside from emergency air release if seals get goosed
Stendec grease on the shafts and the lip seals, bit of 15wt soaking the foam rings and the correct amount of lubricating 15wt in the lowers and it should be fine.
If not, skf low friction seals are really good.
I presume you greased the seals? If not dry rubber if very sticky.
You can isolate the cause, cycle the damper shaft by istelf, cycle the air spring with no/low pressure, fit the bar csu in the lowers etc.
I would just do a full service personally, check everything over. Dry air seals can give a lot of friction.
I stand corrected and educated!