Winter is coming... Annual Gravity Maintenance

Discussion in 'The Adrenaline Factory' started by bing!, Sep 7, 2013.

  1. bing!

    bing! Active Member

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    Well, I got through the season with only one complete tear down. Besides oiling the chain and pumping new grease into the pivots with a Zerk grease gun, the bikes been stellar.

    I check clean and lube the stanchions after every trip, and each cycle still leaves a nice slippery film so my lube is still good. I am pleasantly surprised that the fork didnt need a lowers service.

    I am inclined to put in new seals and change the oil bath, not sure if I need to rebuild the Fox 40 damper cartridge. Would you?

    The Vivid RC2 in the rear has been stellar since day one. Besides playing with the compression a click or two, the stock adjustments for high and lo speed rebound were spot on.

    I did rebuild it at the start of the year, and noticed that the service cycle for rear shocks are far longer than forks. Do you rebuild your rear shock every year?

    I was doubtful of the Formula Megas when I got them with my used bike, but in all honesty, they have been the best brakes I've ever owned. If I were to nit pick, the rear brake has tendency to change its feel at the end of a long run. It 's something the adjustment thingy on the Formulas compensates for. I'll be doing a bleed.

    The pivots will be checked. I hope the bearings last more than a year.

    The chain guide was never silent from day 1, mostly from the lower pulley. I think I will need to change out the upper cage a second time this year. It rattles pretty bad now and tightening down doesnt really help and is why the last one failed. I'm seriously considering changing to something that's mopre silent and adjusts better than the MRP G2.

    Had to change saddle mid season. The original developed a bad creak. I got the Charge Spoon, which is known to be a quite reliable. May consider a lighter unit with more bling.

    My one and only gripe about the Intense 951 is that the rear derailleur and brake hose get taught after a few runs and start breaking zip ties. This concerns me a bit. If the forces that pull on the hoses are strong enough to pop zip ties, will it cut or cause a leak on the rear brake hose down the line. Will be watching it closely.

    What's your winter maintenance issues looking like?
     
  2. Grego

    Grego The FLB

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    After 2 visits to Snow Summit my bike developed a creak clearly comming from the front. Took apart and cleaned up, reassembled w/lube the bar clamp, stem, hub/axel and headset/frame cups and still had the same creak. I've never come across a fork making a creak by itself but I've got to check. Took the fork off, placed the steerer tube in a vice and rocked the lowers back and forth by hand . Yep, there it is. Next I rocked the fork by the upper sanctions with steerer still in vice. There it is again pinpionting the creak comming from the crown either where the steerer is pressed in or where the sanctions are pressed in. Probably no fix for this. My maintenance issue = replace fork.

    https://soundcloud.com/gregoflb/bicycle-maintenance
     
  3. bing!

    bing! Active Member

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    Are you sure it isnt the lowers leg bushings. Those are still replaceable.

    If youre crown steerer interface is indeed creaking, better look for a crack. As a non moving interface, its either loose, which will be obvious, or a crack is moving causing the noise.

    The bushing may be dry and worm, they can still creak even if youre holding the upper stanchions.

    Try taking the lowers off and check for the creak again.
     
  4. CarbonLegs

    CarbonLegs Search for ultimate ride.

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    Winter is Coming,

    Feels like Summer just got here =)
     
  5. bing!

    bing! Active Member

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    Youre right. Seeing all the bike parks reducing operating hours, I'm in DH bike storage mode.
     

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