Bicycle Mechanics - Rockshox Jett sl

I bought a used beater that has a rockshox jett sl on it. The only problem is that I have no clue about suspension forks. I tried the rockshox homepage but I cant find any info on Jett shox. I gather they are pretty much basic shocks, but if anyone can offer insight into adjustion the tension, cleaning, lubing etc., it would be great.

The Jett sl is a pretty basic fork. On the top of each fork leg there should be a way to adjuct the stiffness of the shocks either with an allen wrinch or using the knob.

I have a jett. It's an elastomer fork. The knob on the top left leg is for preload. I took mine apart last year to clean and lube. You can't really break anything, just keep track of the order of things as you pull them out. Clean it and lube it reaaal good and it should be good as new.

I have a jett. It's an elastomer fork. The knob on the top left leg is for preload. I took mine apart last year to clean and lube. You can't really break anything, just keep track of the order of things as you pull them out. Clean it and lube it reaaal good and it should be good as new.

A few questions if you dont mind:
1) What is preload
2) What does the knob on the right do
3) How does one go about taking it apart if required
4) Is there anyway to stiffen/soften the shock
I have been riding with the jett for a week and so far its been good.

Preload is the amount of initial tension on the spring(In this case an elastomer.)
The knob, when turned clockwise, pushes down on the elastomer spring and makes the fork "stiffer"
I haven't done a Jett In about two years, but first remove the top caps and pull the elastomer out, then if there is an allen screw at the base of each leg, you loosen it most of the way, tap it with a hammer to break the internal leg loose, finish unthreading the screw, and slip it apart. If there is no external screw, look down inside the fork, there will be a 5 or 6mm allen down there. Remove it and the legs should slip off with a little persuasion. Wipe everything clean, put some fresh grease on the internal bushings and slip it back together.
This fork is getting hard to get parts for, but there may still be some stiffer spring kits if cranking the preload all the way does not work.

My wife's MTB has a Jett XC on it. I have a copy of the instructions manual in PDF format (http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/cycling/bikes/GT/1999-Ricochet_Anatomica/jett99.pdf). I'm not sure how close the XC and SL are to one another but this might help. BTW, I've found the preload on the Jett XC to make very little difference in how the fork performs.

I have a Jett SL on my beater. It's a COIL fork, not elastomer. The only thing that is adjustable is the preload, explained earlier. I don't think there are any spring kits for it- I tried to get some, and even RockShox didn't have any. No aftermarket companies make any for this fork, to my knowledge. Just give it an oil change, and ride it until it dies. It's an entry-level fork.

BTW- The Jett "XC" and "C" were elastomer forks, but the SL was the only Jett that was a coil fork.