From:
andrew cooke <andrew@...>
Date:
Sat, 2 Sep 2017 10:44:17 -0300
[Note: this is based on my experience with a Rockshox 2016 SID RCT3,
so some details may not apply to other models or makes.]
Instructions
Rockshox provide detailed instructions that depend on the model year.
See https://www.sram.com/service/rockshox/all
Youtube also has many videos of people servicing forks, but it's
difficult to be sure of the exact model and year, so while they're
useful to give a general idea, some of the details can be wrong (for
example, there's an official Rockshox video that gives torque figures
that are completely wrong for my fork).
When you have the service manual, read through it several times.
There's a lot of information in there and it's better to understand
what you are doing before you open up the fork.
Parts
For my fork, at least, there are three types of parts kit, for
different types of service:
* A full kit that contains seals, washers, valves - almost everything
in the fork except for the "big" components (stanchions, lower,
damper, rods).
https://www.google.com/search?q=114018018001
* A basic kit that contains the seals and washers needed for a normal
(complete) service.
https://www.google.com/search?q=004315032430
* A dust seal kit that contains only the rings and seals at the top
of the outers (don't have a part number for this).
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H65GFMO
You can also buy multipacks of individual components, like foam rings
and crush washers.
Again: the above is for MY fork. Your fork will require something
different.
Finding exactly which kit works for your fork can be difficult. I
suggest starting on Amazon and then cross-checking part numbers until
you find consistent descriptions across several sites. The Rockshox
parts catalogue may also be useful:
https://www.google.com/search?q=rockshox+parts+catalogue
In addition to the components above you need tools, alcohol (to
clean), oil and grease. I use the Rockshox "butter" grease (even
though it's quite expensive), but generic (typically LiquiMoly) oils
of the correct weights (my fork takes two weights - a lighter oil for
the damper and a heavier one for lubricating the outers).
Types of Service
There are two kinds of service generally discussed:
* You always remove the lowers and replace the foam rings and
lubricating oil. This makes sure the lowers are correctly
lubricated. For this, it may be worth buying packs of foam rings,
crush washers, and the metal parts that go on the washers (these
last two are the washers at the bottom of the lowers which you
should really replace each time you remove the lowers because - as
their name suggests - they deform on use).
* With the lowers removed you can also service each fork leg
separately. However, the basic kit contains parts for both, so
it's generally worth servicing the two sides together. This means
taking each side apart, cleaning, and re-assembling with new seals.
You can also take the forks apart to inspect them if you're trying to
solve some problem. This generally involves removing the lowers first.
Servicing Tips
* Take your time! There's a lot of details to get right. It's
better to do everything slowly and double check than have a fork
that doesn't work.
* Clean your forks before disassembly - you don't want any dirt stuck
around the top caps that ends up dropping into the inners.
* The basic kit contains some seals that are almost-but-not-quite the
same size as others. Compare carefully so that you use exactly the
right size.
* To remove the lowers, after loosening the screws slightly, you need
to hammer the screws to "unstick" the rods (see service manual).
This takes a worrying amount of violence (I don't have a rubber
mallet so use a steel hammer with a piece of wood to soften the
blow). When it does work the lowers come off quite easily.
* Be very careful that the circlips are clicked completely into place
when you re-assemble.
* Getting the damper rod with the glide ring inserted correctly is
particularly tricky. Just keep fiddling and suddenly - eventually
- it will slide in easily.
* The amount of damping oil is specified in two ways in the manual -
the total amount and the depth below the crown. The easiest way to
measure is (with the rod fully extended and the fork held
vertically) to use a screwdriver as a "dipstick". Rest the end of
the handle of the screwdriver on the crown so that the blade is
inside the fork, extending down to the oil level. Then remove and
measure the distance between handle and oil.
* If you do the above, check for consistency by first filling with
the correct volume. It's not completely clear to me exactly where
on the crown to measure from, so having a second measurement to
check gives more certainty.
* To remove a little damping oil you can use a (clean!) drinks straw
- insert the straw into the oil then place your finger over the end
and remove.
* While the manual rebuilds one leg at a time I find it easier to
completely disassemble the fork (both legs) and then rebuild. But
you need to be careful that you still follow all the instructions.
* The screw that holds the LSC knob in place can come loose (and you
lose knob and screw). You can buy a replacement, but consider
using locktite or placing a small patch of tape over the knob and
screw (weirdly it's difficult to bug locktite in Chile...)
* Not really a fork service tip, but black electrical tape is a much
simpler and more reliable way to hold the brake hose in place than
the fiddly clamp on the fork.
* When replacing the lowers you add lubricating oil through the screw
holes at the bottom. Before doing this, make sure that the rods
that connect to the screws are not blocking the holes! In other
words, before replacing the lowers press the two rods into the
uppers (the damper rod won't go so far, but it's enough).
* If you've pushed in the air rod (see above) when replacing the
lowers, add a little air to push it back out before trying to
connect the screws.
* As far as I can tell the basic kit contains a couple of items you
don't need / use. I assume these are for other models.
* If you do get seal sizes mixed up then next service you can't just
match seals with what you used before (because they were wrong!).
One solution is to buy the full service kit - at least the one I
have has the seals divided by type, so it's clearer which one goes
where.
Known Problems
These are mistakes I have made:
* If a circlip is not correctly in place it may come undone when the
fork is loaded. On the air spring side this means that there is no
negative spring - when unloaded the fork goes to full extension and
does a hard stop.
* If the damper rod is not fully extended when you replace the damper
then (as far as I can tell - I have not seen this documented
anywhere) the damper will have a partial vacuum when fully extended
which reduces rebound. The end result is that your fork has too
much sag / not enough travel.
* If you pressurise the damper without the nut on (at the top,
holding the settings dial in place) then a shaft (and oil) can come
flying out. The shaft connects the LSC knob to the bottom of the
damper and is easy to replace. However, at the top it has a
drilled hole that should contain two ball bearings separated by a
spring. Without these you don't get "clicks" when rotating the LSC
knob.
* If you use the wrong size (slightly) seal on the air piston then it
starts to leak air after a few uses.
* If the screw holes are blocked and you squirt lubricating oil in
anyway (see tips above) the oil ends up in the "outside" ends of
the lowers, and you'll see it dripping on the floor when you have
the fork back on the bike.
I hope this is useful to someone and saves them from learning by (so
many!) mistakes,
Andrew
Removing Lowers
From:
andrew cooke <andrewcooke@...>
Date:
Thu, 16 Nov 2017 08:58:50 -0300
Just gave my lowers a quick service (should have done so earlier -
very dry and dirty seals).
I found that this made removing the lowers easier than before:
* Place the fork upside down in the stand, with the grip around the
lower (if you have a stand - I bought one recently, and it does
help).
* When loosening and then hammering the retaining screw (the most
worrying part of the whole process IMHO), if you're careful you can
see when it moves - the screw drops several mm, which is clearly
visible if you're careful to compare something (eg a mark on the
allen key) with the top of the lower.
Andrew
Solo Air Equalization
From:
andrew cooke <andrew@...>
Date:
Mon, 11 Dec 2017 15:55:48 -0300
A common problem I forgot to mention above (credit to MTBSPEC on
reddit) is Solo Air equalization. This can be a problem at any time -
not just when servicing.
Background
In addition to the "positive spring" that resists compression of the
fork, forks have a "negative spring" that resists extension. This is
partly so that when the fork extends (say, when you front wheel leaves
the ground) it comes to a soft stop (against the negative spring).
On Solo Air forks this negative spring is a separate air chamber below
the air piston. The air pressure in this chamber is set automatically
by a very simple mechanism: there's a small notch on the inside of the
stanchion (you can see it when you have everything disassembled and
clean), and when the air piston passes this notch pressure in the
positive and negative spring chambers can equalize.
This is why, when you adjust the pressure in your fork, you need to
cycle the fork a few times - to let the air enter or leave the
negative chamber. As a general rule, I find it's best to make a small
change to pressure, bounce the fork to equalize, and then change some
more.
The Problem
Anyway, unfortunately this notch can get blocked with grease, which
stops the pressure from equalizing correctly. If the pressure is too
high then the fork doesn't extend as much as it should. If it is too
low then the fork can not compress / sag correctly. The only solution
I know to this problem (apart from a full service) is to bounce the
fork (or even pull it), perhaps also playing around with air pressure.
With enough jiggling, it tends to fix itself (sometimes you can hear
the air hiss through).
Andrew