Pace RC40 - Service needed?

[Barneyballbags]

Hiya,

I've just bought a minty pair of Pace RC40s to go on my STS. The seller stated that he had recently serviced them and had fitted new seals.

The forks have been sent over from Poland, and when I opened them I discovered a thin 'film' of fork oil on one of the stanchions and also over one half of the crown.

The forks do not currently perform as they should (they're notchy, and the rebound/travel adjustment/launch control doesn't work properly), but I've had RC40s before and I know that they need a 'bedding in' period when they have been in transit for a while, which these have.

What do you think - should I fit them and take them for a good ride to see if they settle down, or should I pack them off to Fork English for a full stripdown and service, just to be sure?

EDIT - If they do end up having to go for a service, and it turns out that the seller DIDN'T service them before sending them to me, then I will of course take this up with him/eBay/PayPal..

 

[jimplops]

Shouldn't be notchy, my 41xcam's only weeped oil when the air seal started to fail,and if they've been laid flat or upside down the damper only takes a few full strokes yo bleed. The only time I heard of notchy travel was worn bushes.

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

I had the EXACT same fear a week ago Barney!

I left them turned upside down overnight, and it solved the problem: apparantly, the top bushes can dry out? Then, with a few full(ish) compressions you 'bleed' the damper.

I asked Tim at Fork English about servicing and such, top bloke. Suffice to say that unless the stanchions are worn, he reckons he can sort them. I'll send you a PM.

 

[Barneyballbags]

I had the EXACT same fear a week ago Barney!

I left them turned upside down overnight, and it solved the problem: apparantly, the top bushes can dry out? Then, with a few full(ish) compressions you 'bleed' the damper.

I asked Tim at Fork English about servicing and such, top bloke. Suffice to say that unless the stanchions are worn, he reckons he can sort them. I'll send you a PM.

Cool. Thanks for the PM

I'm just off out to the shed to pop the forks upside down now

 

[Barneyballbags]

Right.

Tim PM'd me last night and talked me through how to prime the forks, to get the oil flowing back through all the right places. Unfortunately, they still don't work. There doesn't seem to be any damping and the lockout doesn't work.

I think that the seller didn't re-assemble the forks properly after he serviced them and Tim (Fork English) thinks that there isn't enough oil in them (hence the reason why the damping/lockout isn't working as it should).

So, the executive decision has been made that they're off to see Tim for a full stripdown and service as soon as I can afford it.

 

[dbmtb]

There is a known issue with the seal at the bottom of the right leg on RC40s, which can leak. Mine had this problem.

Pace even sent me an o-ring to put at the base of the damper rod FOC, even though it was a used fork.

Once that went on - and after an oil change, it was sweet.