I have a set of Pike Air U-turn's that seem to keep 'packing down' no matter how i se the dual-air chambers or the rebound. After a set of bumps or a rocky downhill the forks have settled about 20mm further into their travel than the sag has been set at. It then takes a physical pull/push to bring the full extension back.
In the long term (i.e. when i can afford it) i am going to get them PUSH'd but in the meantime will silicone spray help the forks to extend easier?
Does it have any drawbacks, potential damage to seals etc?
[img] http://www.juicelubes.co.uk/all-products/images/30 [/img]
Very, very good stuff. Like a mini-service in a can.
too much rebound damping causes pack down.
However I did get some silicone spray from lidls and was astounded by the difference it made to stiction
Who's the manufacturer Captain, can't see it from that pic i'm afraid.
Gonna be a lot cheaper than a £200 PUSH makeover...
It's Juice Lubes Fork Juice. Money well spent, IMO
When's the last time you changed the oil? If there's a problem with set-up or with the internals, or degraded oil, then all the silicone spray in the world isn't going to help. It's really only good at keeping stanchions smooth, which does help with small bump stuff, and for cleaning wipers. I suspect that your problem runs a little deeper than that...
Had the forks since The Spring Bank Holiday last year so 11 months. Probably do need a service and toying with the idea of a PUSH upgrade at the same time. That's going to be next month though so in the meantime i was wondering if the spray would help.
TJ - even if i run the rebound wide open and the negative air some 20lbs lower pressure than the positive it still packs down somewhat.
Maybe a lack of oil?
they pack down because the seal inbetween the two air chambers has got dry... happens alot. let the air out of both chambers then drop 5ml of fork oil (15wt) into the top of the left leg, this will lube the seal and stop em packing down, if this doesnt work then drop the lowers and whap some redrum on it. Had this on pikes and recons and both times this was the problem...
silicone lube is good, but if your forks are half as knackered as they sound then getting them stripped is the only sensible answer.
+ when you service them you put 5ml in the top of the left leg...over time it just works past the seal and gets used up...
I'm leaning towards the PUSH upgrade more and more it seems, on all other respects the forks are fine, still do the job etc, just that they pack down around 20mm.
Need to peruse TF's website i think.
told you what it is..cant help some people
Oh don't worry BR, i'm gonna try your solution tommorrow evening 😀 Just wondering which way to go if they are a bit 'tired'.
Never taken forks apart before and i'm a bit wary of doing so TBH - strange cos i'll do a seal change on a shock no problem.
the first time you service them you will wonder why you ever contemplated paying someone to do it..
the first time you service them you will wonder why you ever contemplated paying someone to do it..
Agreed I do my Revs and Maverick forks piece of piss
Any special tools or is it just a big socket and an extension bar?
+1 for the fork juice.
Fork Juice is good- though I think it's exactly the same as the standard silicon lube I bought in Halfords for £2, even the can looks the same. But the Halfords stuff doesn't give me the warm glow from using an Official Bike Product 😉
Basic fork servicing is dead easy, fork tuners are for when yours are actually broken not for when they just need a bit of TLC in my book.
Agree with NW - Fork Juice is just silicone spray with a paper label stuck on the can so they can charge more for it.
I won't be buying another can but maybe I should make a label to put on the can of cheap stuff I get next time so I can replicate that glow 😈
I use 5wt fork oil in a large jam jar with a cut down paint brush inside. Paint on, cycle fork and wipe off after every ride. Cheap and it works.
Right, wiper seals lifted, 5ml of Fox float fluid (all i had) poured into lower leg and seals replaced (what a pig of a job!).
Stanchions and wiper seals given a good shot of 3-in-1 silicone spray.
Fingers crossed it works now...