I did my first fork service! Heaps of pics here...

[Pebble]

Just some pics from servicing the Tora 318 fork the other day. The Rock Shox service guide does a pretty good job of detailing the procedure, so these are more for people who are interested in seeing what the internals look like in real pictures and also get an idea of how hard it is to remove the internal all travel spacer.

Basically I took it apart cleaned it, put new oil back in the required weights and amounts and also removed the travel spacer while I was at it.

Only hickup was loosing a spring retainer for the dust seals which I later found. And there was also a sound (click or clang) that wasn't meant to be there so I did the air side again, but the problem was only solved after the first test ride. Overall it wasn't hard to do. I didn't replace any of the seals, orings etc, but may consider doing that myself when it's due for it.

1. Obviously it's a good idea to have everything required for the job and a good work area (the dining room was perfect). The wooden dowel was to help clean the insides. Kids medicine syringe came in useful too and heaps of rags (unused cloth nappies are perfect).



http://forums.farkin.net/photo/data/500/medium/PB210001.JPGhttp://forums.farkin.net/photo/data/500/medium/PB210002.JPG

When they say a sharp tap they mean a sharp tap to loosen the stanchions inside the lower legs. Got it after a few goes.

http://forums.farkin.net/photo/data/500/medium/PB210004.JPGhttp://forums.farkin.net/photo/data/500/medium/PB210005.JPG

Taking out the air shaft

http://forums.farkin.net/photo/data/500/medium/PB210007.JPGhttp://forums.farkin.net/photo/data/500/medium/PB210008.JPG
http://forums.farkin.net/photo/data/500/medium/PB210009.JPGhttp://forums.farkin.net/photo/data/500/medium/PB210010.JPG
http://forums.farkin.net/photo/data/500/medium/PB210011.JPG

Taking the travel spacer off.

http://forums.farkin.net/photo/data/500/medium/PB210012.JPGhttp://forums.farkin.net/photo/data/500/medium/PB210013.JPG

Taking the motion control damper out. The oil in this side was the dirtiest and could have used a change that's for sure.

http://forums.farkin.net/photo/data/500/medium/PB210015.JPG
130mm of 5wt oil back in the motion control side.
http://forums.farkin.net/photo/data/500/medium/PB210017.JPG

Put it back together and all finished.

http://forums.farkin.net/photo/data/500/medium/PB210019.JPG

Time patience and care and it's not very hard to do and not that scary. But still if you don't have spare washers, orings and seals available it's too easy to stuff something up which means lost ride time anyway.

The oil in the motion control side was cruddy/brown looking the rest looked fine. The fork has only had 6 months of use (700k's of riding).

Apart from losint the retaining washer (ended up on the inside of the dust wiper) and the click sound, no real problems were encountered and taking photos is great just in case you get "is that really supposed to go back in that way, doesn't look right" scenario.

[TerraNik]

Yay Pebble!! (it's Nik from farkin hehe)

I wouldn't have the foggiest idea to service my forks!! I think I'll leave that one to the professionals.

[DirtDiva]

Look at all that shiny new travel! :D Good work.

[fatbottomedgurl]

Wow Pebble, you are my kind of girl! I thought I was doing well replacing my Hayes brake pads and reseating the caliper to center it!

[Pebble]

I've only done a quick ride on it (50min) on my usual trail close to home. And I've very happy with the new ride. Probably take a bit of getting used to the taller front end, but it feels like it just want's to eat up all the rocks now.
Confidence inspiring really, and I don't bash the pedals as often it seems.

I can only begin to understand people who rave albout all the travel that bikes such as the Reign have and how they roll over everything.

Hmm the Hayes, yes I'll have to do that at some stage when the time comes.

LOL for some reason I'm more afraid of even thinking about doing the rear shock though!

[tattiefritter]

You are really showing me up, I have absolutely no idea how to service my forks - I leave it to the BF. He really loves doing that kind of thing and is good at it. I keep thinking to myself that I should get him to teach me but him and I in the garage together is usually a cause for argy bargy!

He gets worried when I go into the garage, I'm allowed near the bikes of course but anywhere else causes anxiety. If I want to annoy him I'll pick up a tool and wander round with it, he's very anal about where his tools live :D

I do need to learn how to do some maintenance on my roadie ready for next spring (brake pads, gears and the like) as I tend to go out on that on my own.