Friar
10-26-2004, 08:19 AM
I just had my first ride with the Maverick on my Heckler this past Sunday, and about 6-7 miles into the ride my buddy says "you might have a flat - something is hissing". I realize that it's coming from the fork. I then realize that the stanchions, the QR & axel, as well as my brand new Hope mini's are bathed in fork oil!!! I looked at the seals to see where it's leaking from, and discover that the wiper seal (on the air spring side) has come out and slid down the stanchion!!! The hissing (accompanied by some bubbling fork oil) was coming from the "seal head" that was still properly in place. I popped the wiper seal back in place and there didn't seem to be any further problem with the fork.
Since then, I pumped the preasure up to 100psi (had it at 90psi on the first ride), but it loses about 50psi overnight. I tried to get the seal off the air spring stanchion to make sure I wouldn't have that issue again, but NOW it seems quite solidly locked in place.
Now my question is:
So, even if the wiper seals are not on the fork, should there be any air coming out of the fork (like the hissing/oil bubbling on the trail)? The air spring should hold air regardless of whether the seals are on the stanchions - correct? Per the Service manual from Maverick's web site, I was going to remove the schrader valve and replace the oil that leaked out when the wiper seal came out, but I wonder if I need to remove the air spring and check for any leaks there? Any advice would be appreciated - I think it's a simple issue but my LBS doesn't have a clue - they'd just send it back to Maverick.
Even with the oil leaking out on the trail, I have to say that the fork is nothing short of amazing!!! It made my friends Z1 feel like my old Rockshock Quadra 21R!!!
As if the fork and brakes issue weren't enough; about 2 miles later, a stick no thicker than my finger some how got wedged in my spokes, driving the deraileur into the spokes. This broke the deraileur in a few places and mangled the hanger (but I guess that's why they're there - and I don't have to buy a whole new swingarm!)
Since then, I pumped the preasure up to 100psi (had it at 90psi on the first ride), but it loses about 50psi overnight. I tried to get the seal off the air spring stanchion to make sure I wouldn't have that issue again, but NOW it seems quite solidly locked in place.
Now my question is:
So, even if the wiper seals are not on the fork, should there be any air coming out of the fork (like the hissing/oil bubbling on the trail)? The air spring should hold air regardless of whether the seals are on the stanchions - correct? Per the Service manual from Maverick's web site, I was going to remove the schrader valve and replace the oil that leaked out when the wiper seal came out, but I wonder if I need to remove the air spring and check for any leaks there? Any advice would be appreciated - I think it's a simple issue but my LBS doesn't have a clue - they'd just send it back to Maverick.
Even with the oil leaking out on the trail, I have to say that the fork is nothing short of amazing!!! It made my friends Z1 feel like my old Rockshock Quadra 21R!!!
As if the fork and brakes issue weren't enough; about 2 miles later, a stick no thicker than my finger some how got wedged in my spokes, driving the deraileur into the spokes. This broke the deraileur in a few places and mangled the hanger (but I guess that's why they're there - and I don't have to buy a whole new swingarm!)