Weepy seal. Fox fork. Help please :)

[Barneyballbags]

My set of F100s appears to be weeping/leaking slightly on the air cartridge side of the fork. I've come out for a quick spin this morning and have just noticed some fluid on the stanchion. It smells like fork oil and I can see a small amount of it sitting around the seal.

I've wiped the oil off the stanchion and from around the seal, and it reappears when I compress the fork a few more times. It doesn't look as if the seals have ever been lifted and lubricated..

I'm guessing that they need a service, although to be honest for the amount it will cost I'm tempted just to get a set of second hand Rebas instead..

 

[Logic.Al]

Re:

Dodgy bearings on the rear hub, dodgy bottom bracket and now knackered forks. Not a great description from the seller IMO.

 

[Logic.Al]

Re:

And that's a lot of fork oil.

 

[Barneyballbags]

Re:

I know.. I was a bit annoyed that the bike was described as being in "very good condition" when it clearly wasn't. But I got it for a good price so can't complain too much..

 

[mattr]

Do a lowers service.
It'll take you 20 minutes and you can get the whole thing cleaned up and inspected. Then order some new seals if you need them.

And if they've had the foams soaked properly, or been stored upside down, that'd be a normal amount of seepage.

 

[Barneyballbags]

Re:

Do I need any specialist tools to service the lowers?

I've just found someone who can service the forks for £35, seals included. Plush Hill cycles in case anyone wants to know. A couple of my friends use them for their Fox forks and just recommended them to me. Certainly cheaper than Mojo and not much more expensive than buying the seals and oil and doing it myself!

 

[Barneyballbags]

Re:

And to be fair to the person I bought the bike from, I have had a part refund for some of the issues mentioned above..

 

[mattr]

No special tools, seal kit is about 20-25 quid.
35 quid isn't a bad price, might be worth asking about the condition of the stanchions as well.

 

[clubby]

Re:

Looks like a normal amount for a freshly lubed set of forks. Seals may well look undisturbed if the forks have been lubed the right way, ie lowers off, instead of the lazy way ie seals prised up.
How did they feel when riding, are they holding air?
Go for a proper ride and see if weeping settled down, before blowing your money on a service. If you do get new seals make sure they are the newer SKF versions, they feel much nicer than the older ones.

 

[Barneyballbags]

Re: Re:

Looks like a normal amount for a freshly lubed set of forks. Seals may well look undisturbed if the forks have been lubed the right way, ie lowers off, instead of the lazy way ie seals prised up.
How did they feel when riding, are they holding air?
Go for a proper ride and see if weeping settled down, before blowing your money on a service. If you do get new seals make sure they are the newer SKF versions, they feel much nicer than the older ones.

They ride fine, and they hold air fine. The only thing wrong with them is the lockout isn't working..