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should suspension fork stanchions be oiled?

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should suspension fork stanchions be oiled?

Old 09-14-09, 09:39 AM
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should suspension fork stanchions be oiled?

i've got a RockShox Dart 3 fork on my bike at the moment, i've done 300 miles with them, and haven't done any maintenance work on them yet.. i dont get much travel out of them as i'm about 120 lbs, they never move more than a few centermetres.

should i put some finish line oil on the stanchions every so often as a general maintenence procedure?

and if this isnt necessary for performance or reliability.. would it still be a good idea because of my weight.. helping me to get more travel out of them?

cheers.

Last edited by enfilade; 09-14-09 at 12:52 PM.
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Old 09-14-09, 05:35 PM
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It shouldn't affect the travel.

Did they come with a user manual? Searched the web for one?
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Old 09-14-09, 07:39 PM
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It will attract dust. Maybe use a wax based dry lube just to see what will happen.

I don't think the stiction is holding you back. It won't be a significant change. I got a different spring for my Answer forks. See if Rock Shox has a lighter spring kit.
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Old 09-14-09, 08:16 PM
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The manual for my '01 Marzocchi fork says to use silicone lube on the stanchions. FWIW.

Silicone lube is good for conditioning the rubber seals as well.
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Old 09-15-09, 07:56 AM
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I spray my fork stanchions every week or so with a silicon lube. I try to pull back the dirt wiper seals and squirt it in there. Then I cycle the fork up and down a few times and get it worked into the seals. There is a Wiper seal below the dirt wiper seals that likes to be lubed and wet to function properly.
BEFORE I go ride I wipe all the excess lube OFF the stanchions - this is all extra dirt attracting lube that will do nothing but get your forks messy.
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Old 09-15-09, 08:02 AM
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You should take your bike to a shop so they can help you set up your PRE-LOAD on the shock. This will set the SAG. You probably want 25% sag. So If your fork has 4" of travel you want it to sit at 1" of sag when you get on the bike and put your weight on the fork in a nornmal riding style.
This allows the fork to be plush and move when you ride over bumps.
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