your regular fork maintenance

[devinci]

Hi weenies

I have noticed my rockshox RL 29er fork is very different then my fox rlc fit was. My RS seems to be a bit sticky at the stanchion/dust seal area. For example, if I stand up on a hill, it doesnt plunge right away and seem to stick a little. I ride a lot on the roads right now cause the trails are not ready yet. This behavior really contrast my fox fork which was very soft and buttery smooth.

Maybe I have some accumulated dust arround the dust seals?

My main questions:

What are you guys doing on a daily/weekly basis as maintenance on your fork? Do you put a bit of oil on your stanchions/dust seal to remove dust?

Do you wash your stanchions to remove dust after each ride with a dry cloth?

thanks weenies
Anything I should do more regularly?

[Asymptotic]

Have a 29er SID and find that stanchion gets a bit sticky if I dont use a needle to pry out the dirt that gets imbedded in the dust seals. I do this at least once a week. Fox dont really have this problem as they are designed to release oil through the seals to lube the stanchion which equals plusher feel but a lot more maintenance than RS.

[sstefanov]

Put the bike upside down so that the splash oil can lube the bushings and seals. Leave it inversed for a few minutes. You will be amazed by the difference it makes on a RockShox fork.

Besides the above, I usually just wipe the stanchions clean.

Stefan

[Avexo]

clean them after each ride and use a silicone based lubricant like juice lubes fork juice, makes rock shock feel amazingly plush.

[02GF74]

Do you wash your stanchions to remove dust after each ride with a dry cloth?

that's about it, wash then dry with cloth. occassionaly use a toothbrush to shift any dust around the seal and stanchion.

[Getter]

Wipe and lube the stanchion.

Do you have alot of miles on the fork? Maybe it needs a rebuild?

[devinci]

No its a brand new bike!

What type of lube can I use? I guess chain lube wont do it eh?

[tonytourist]

Look at the service intervals for your fork, you likely need to change the oil and seals.

[mattr]

No its a brand new bike!

Literally brand new or a few months old?
Either way it might behave a bit funny. Some forks need bedding in. Some come from the factory with barely any oil in them (have heard of some with no lubricating oil from the factory.) Or if its 3 months old (and well used), it might need the lowers dropping off and a bit of a clean up.