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Fork seal thingamajig advice; for mechanically challenged!
Topic Started: Oct 24 2012, 08:27 PM (329 Views)
Nero
Mud Lover
Whilst dusting off the geared bike tonight I noticed this on my Reba fork. The grey seal type thingy! seems to have come out from the top of the fork lower, not all of it, just about half.

My initial thought was to hamfistedly attempt to force it back in, but for once I ignored my head as it usually ends in extra expense being incurred!

Advice please, I have no clue if this a major problem or if can it be fixed easily/cheaply (any offers to sort it greatfully received, I am mechanically challenged). Fork is probably (long) overdue a service, but with the Quantocks trip around the corner not sure I now have time to send it away.

Posted Image

Thanks in advance.
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Chadders
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Mud Connoisseur
Sounds like your dust seal has popped out. This is a pretty simple job to refit but it does require removing the uppers. If you can get me the fork off the bike sometime this weekend then I'm happy to take a look and sort out the problem.

If you can get some 5wt, and 15wt motorbike suspension oil and a service kit I can do the whole lot. I have some oil left but not sure if I have enough.

Are they air spring?
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guy
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Mudking
well, you may be able to (gently) press the seal back in. Dont use a hammer, screwdriver etc. though.

You may actually have time to get the fork serviced in the next two weeks, give TF Tuned a call and they may have a service slot available (their website says the earliest workshop slot is tues 30th October, costs about £80-90). I got my Rebas done with them last year and they were away for only 4 days so I didnt loose any riding time, they came back fully rebuilt and actually worked better than when they were new as they retuned them to my weight! Just remember that you may need to sort out a courier/parcel company for the shipping to the service centre as Royal Snail Mail wont take this sort of parcel (I used myhermes who were very good and there are a lot of other web based couriers available as well)


If you dont want to do that it may be an idea to get you LBS to have a look at them but a dedicated company like TF will have all the spare parts in stock and the technical know how to really fettle your forks.
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Nero
Mud Lover
Thanks both for the advice, Chris PM on it's way.
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Rob13380
Slightly Splattered
That will just push back down and be fine - aslong as bike has been the right way up all the time nothing should have leaked out, as guy says £90-100 with TF for service or Chadders seems like a good local source of mechanical wizardry!!

Good luck though but id ease it back in with screw driver!!
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Chadders
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Mud Connoisseur
Reba's have an inherent problem. The seal on the negative chamber tends to wear out and start to leak air into the lowers under compression. This air is then forced up around the outside of the stanchion and pops the seal.

Pushing it back in will work but it may not be a permanent fix. It will most likely pop again.

I completely disagree with Rock Shox servicing schedule. My Pikes have been running for 6 years and have never had a seal changed. Smooth as you like and working perfectly. They’ve only had a full strip and oil once! I also refuse to pay someone life TF £100 to do something which takes an hour and only costs them £20.
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EddyDave
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Bog Monster
I did a an oil change and seal clean on my RS Sektors. Easy as hell.

They run such tiny amounts of oil tho. But did it in about 20 mins and cost me a bottle of oil. By the way, you can happily put 15wt in both sides.. Or at least its fine on coil forks!
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Chadders
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Mud Connoisseur
The 5wt is for the compression damper. The 15wt goes in. Both lowers.
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Ollie
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Mudthing
I'll echo the above and say the Reba's/Rev's are easy to do a basic service on, I also changed the damper side seals and that wasn't to testing either.

I do however use TFTuned for repairs to my shock when it gets mushy as this normally needs a nitrogen recharge for the damper.
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EddyDave
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Bog Monster
Chadders,Oct 26 2012
10:01 PM
The 5wt is for the compression damper. The 15wt goes in. Both lowers.

My bad...


Yeah I doubt any of you can service this....

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/8037878/

My Fox DYAD RT2 rear shock....
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