Pumping up Mag 21's - how to?

[Pickle]

The Mag 21's on my RTS have seeming lost a bit of pressure.

I brought them off scant a few years ago (poss 08?). He set them up perfectly for me, and they have served me well.

But, since bouncing over the Peaks in Sept 09, its time they were pumped up!

So, I have a Rock Shox pump ready. Is it a case of:
- undoing the little screw on the top of each leg.
- greasing the pump needle
- inserting
- pump to the desired PSI
- remove needle
- put screw back in

I like a reasonably firm ride, so what PSI should I pump to?

The dials, what should I set them too?

 

[legrandefromage]

pump to your weight when sitting on bike

dial for comfort over rough terrain.

 

[mikee]

pump to 40 ish psi
the green bit on the pump gauge

stick the needle thru the rubber bit on top of the adjusters
if theres a cover mines missing

 

[ragnar1984]

- greasing the pump needle

RS recommends fork oil for lubricating the needle.

 

[The Ken]

I just wet the needle with spit - the old fashioned way of lubricating everything.

I also put in a little more than I need as you lose a little taking out the needle

 

[Easy_Rider]

...spit - the old fashioned way of lubricating everything...

I've got a horrible picture in my head now
"Come ere luv"

 

[Skeelsie]

Pry out the dust caps, spit on the needle and pump to 38-42psi.

There's nothing more technical involved, pull out the needle at a fair speed to reduce air loss.

 

[FSR-Si]

...spit - the old fashioned way of lubricating everything...

I've got a horrible picture in my head now
"Come ere luv"

+1 lol

 

[Pickle]

Thanks for the help chaps.

It was as easy as I thought.

Job done and nice firm forks again

 

[FluffyChicken]

To reduce damage to the air valve (rubber thing) or in fact to help revive slightly leaking one's use Judy butter or similar on the needle, fork oil is fine and better than spit, as spit doesn't lube as well. (Spit is better then nothing.
Twisting slowly as you insert and pull it out helps to.

Since you have screws then it's not such a problem but the the plastic covered version (also know as uncovered after a few miles) clean the top area up first

Anyways, 40PSI as a start, slap them on lowest setting and go riding.
PSI range isn't vast but can change the feel and drop if you're not bottoming out, increase if you do regularly

These forks where designed to take the big hit out and less of the stutter rumble. So they'll always tend to be hard. (1193 where a bit better, 1994+ where better again but yours are not

Alter the dial at the top alters the point at which it reacts to the terrain.

oh the one's on your RTS are MAG20's but for a putting air in point it's the same.