Tri Flow save on fork seals?

[ProjectDan35]

Is it? I just picked some up for lubing my derailures and whatnot, is it safe to dribble some on the seal and push down on the fork to clean them? I was using the Finish Line Teflon before, but I've read this is better for lubing moving parts.

[One Pivot]

Its pretty close to the exact opposite of what you want on a fork! A fork needs thick oil to not seep up past the seals, and not flow instantly to the bottom. It needs to stick and lube the bushings.

Derailleurs have an extremely low lubrication requirement. They really hardly move. I dont think triflow has any business near a bike. Your chainlube works beyond well to lube derailleurs.

[ProjectDan35]

I'm not doing it to lube the fork, I'm using it to clean the seals. You push down on the fork and it will bring the dirt up.

[ProjectDan35]

Anyone else?

[TNC]

What fork? It can make a difference on what you use and how you do it.

[ProjectDan35]

A coil sprung front suspension fork. I will dribble a little along the top of the seal, push down, and it will raise up the dirt and I wipe off.

[rkj__]

I've used it with no ill results.

[customfab]

Adding lube to the outside of your suspension will only do harm. Lube attracts dust and dirt which means those seals that you think you are cleaning are having to work that much harder because you have put something on the stanchions that attracts gobs of grim. If you want to do your fork some good, service it for real.

[ProjectDan35]

You dont get it. I WIPE IT OFF. IT's to get RID OF THE DIRT ON THE SEAL.

READ.

http://steveukmtb.wordpress.com/basi...hock-cleaning/

[customfab]

I completely understand what you and that knucklehead are trying to do. But if you think that you are getting all of that lube of your stanchions you are very wrong. Companies that make lubricants design them to stick to things, they will stick to your stanchions and will do more harm than good. I suppose if you did this 'service' as often as you lubed your chain you could keep up with all the extra crud you are attracting. Replace your seals once a year and don't worry about it.

If you don't believe me call whoever made your fork and ask them.

[Glide the Clyde]

....if you think that you are getting all of that lube of your stanchions you are very wrong. Companies that make lubricants design them to stick to things, they will stick to your stanchions and will do more harm than good.

If you don't believe me call whoever made your fork and ask them.

Boy, don't tell my Fox Brain rear shock this. I have to wipe off air sleeve lube that leaks out each ride. I now know it's unknowingly committing suicide and has been since new.

I didn't call Fox but I did find this on www.foxracingshox.com:

FOX Racing Shox forks feature a sealing system designed to keep your fork moving smoothly in all conditions. There are two parts to the system: the fork seal and the foam ring. The fork seal features a proprietary scraper lip geometry that keeps dirt out and oil in. The foam ring sits just below the fork seal. It is saturated with oil and in turn applies oil to the upper tube as it passes by. This keeps the fork moving up and down smoothly.

While FOX Racing Shox forks are designed to require minimal maintenance, periodic inspection and cleaning of the fork sealing system is required. It is normal on FOX forks for a small amount of oil and/or grease to accumulate on the upper tubes. This is necessary to keep the fork working smoothly and to keep dirt out. Furthermore, fork seals are grease packed at the factory. This grease tends to migrate out of the seals during the break-in period. (emphasis mine)

Project, I don't see how your application of a small amount of Tri-Flow to the stanchion at the seal, cycling the fork and wiping the dirt ring/lube off with each cycle can really hurt the seal or stanchion or is much different than the lube that gets by the seal with normal operation. Lube attracts dirt whether it's the Tri-Flow or the Fox lube leaking by. I use the same stuff and follow the same steps every few cleanings. Mostly though, I simply wipe the stanchions off. Replace the seals once a year either way and your fork will be happy.

[TNC]

A coil sprung front suspension fork. I will dribble a little along the top of the seal, push down, and it will raise up the dirt and I wipe off.

That's no much help. I ask what fork, because if it's a Fox or RS fork with foam rings under the scrapers, you get great benefit by lifting the scrapers and lubing the foam rings underneath them with a heavier oil like motor oil and such. If it's a real oil bath fork with real oil seals like many Marz forks, then you won't get much of anything past those seals to either clean or lube to any great accomplishment.

Fork smoothness as it relates to the seal/scaper drag is best done by lube/oil that comes from the inside. Trying to lube the outside and wiping it off so as not to attract a lot of crud yields very minimal benefit.

[beanbag]

Although I am not sure, I will guess that either Triflow or Dupont Teflon Dry Lube are bad for the fork wipers. The reason is that they both contain volatile solvents. When was the last time you knew of a solvent that was good for rubber or urethane? I suppose if you applied to the cloth first and then wiped on the stanchions only, it might be ok, but I don't know how long it will last. On the other hand, non-evaporating things like grease and suspension/hydraulic oils are fine for seals and in fact help keep them lubricated.

I squirt suspension/hydraulic oil under the dust wipers and I find that it helps lube both the seals and the stanchions. Yes, the stanchions attract more dust, but I also found out that the oil make the dust much easier to push off. In fact, it helps prevent waterspots and dried-on mud spots, which can work themselves under the wipers and potentially damage them. My Reba's wipers are good enough that I can have oil and dirt dribbling off them and yet when I open up the fork, I don't see any dirt under the seals.

[ProjectDan35]

Ok. So after a dusty ride, and theres tons of dust and stuff on top of your fork seals, do you just leave it there?

[denjen]

Ok. So after a dusty ride, and theres tons of dust and stuff on top of your fork seals, do you just leave it there?

Its funny how many people do exactly that.

I agree with everything Dan has said. Dribble a little bit of triflow or any light weight fork oil around the seals and work it in to pull the dust up. Then wipe it down good. This keeps the the top of the seals clean and slightly lubed.

I also do this on the seal onmy air shock every couple of rides. Even if it looks clean I will always get a black ring from the dust that the oil pulls out.

[customfab]

Ok. So after a dusty ride, and theres tons of dust and stuff on top of your fork seals, do you just leave it there?

wipe it off with a rag and if you want to clean the seals use low pressure compressed air.

[bad mechanic]

Why complicate things with Triflow? Just wipe it down with a damp rag - done. Spend the extra time and energy on regularly servicing your fork, which will do much more good.

[TNC]

Boy, don't tell my Fox Brain rear shock this. I have to wipe off air sleeve lube that leaks out each ride. I now know it's unknowingly committing suicide and has been since new.

I didn't call Fox but I did find this on www.foxracingshox.com:

FOX Racing Shox forks feature a sealing system designed to keep your fork moving smoothly in all conditions. There are two parts to the system: the fork seal and the foam ring. The fork seal features a proprietary scraper lip geometry that keeps dirt out and oil in. The foam ring sits just below the fork seal. It is saturated with oil and in turn applies oil to the upper tube as it passes by. This keeps the fork moving up and down smoothly.

While FOX Racing Shox forks are designed to require minimal maintenance, periodic inspection and cleaning of the fork sealing system is required. It is normal on FOX forks for a small amount of oil and/or grease to accumulate on the upper tubes. This is necessary to keep the fork working smoothly and to keep dirt out. Furthermore, fork seals are grease packed at the factory. This grease tends to migrate out of the seals during the break-in period. (emphasis mine)

Project, I don't see how your application of a small amount of Tri-Flow to the stanchion at the seal, cycling the fork and wiping the dirt ring/lube off with each cycle can really hurt the seal or stanchion or is much different than the lube that gets by the seal with normal operation. Lube attracts dirt whether it's the Tri-Flow or the Fox lube leaking by. I use the same stuff and follow the same steps every few cleanings. Mostly though, I simply wipe the stanchions off. Replace the seals once a year either way and your fork will be happy.

Malibu, I still think Fox is saying the effective lubing is occuring from the inside out. Any decent seal/scraper system will still push any externally applied lube up the fork stanchion where it will combine with the internally pushed lube to add more dirt gathering effect. I don't think externally applied lube is the end of the world for a fork's life span, but at best it does little good...at least on most quality forks. Keeping the foam rings lubed...where applicable...or having the correct type and amount of internal stanchion lube available in the fork is the absolute best way to run a fork. And yes...always wipe or brush down the accumulated crud on the fork scraper and stanchion after a ride. I use a fine bristle paint brush, as I think it tends to "sweep" away debris rather than grind it into the seals and stanchion.

[denjen]

Why complicate things with Triflow? Just wipe it down with a damp rag - done. Spend the extra time and energy on regularly servicing your fork, which will do much more good.

so putting oil on the seals is bad but putting water on the seals is good????

I dont understad how putting triflow on complicates things. It takes about 2 minutes or less to do both legs and the rear shock.

[bad mechanic]

so putting oil on the seals is bad but putting water on the seals is good????

- A damp rag doesn't leave behind much water.

- Any water left behind evaporates. Any oil left behind stays there and will attract dirt.

- Unless your seals absolutely suck, no water from a damp rag will make it past them.

[beanbag]

Ok. So after a dusty ride, and theres tons of dust and stuff on top of your fork seals, do you just leave it there?

The only time I bother to wipe something off is if there is a risk it will dry up and turn crusty, like mud.

[Gman086]

so putting oil on the seals is bad but putting water on the seals is good????

I dont understad how putting triflow on complicates things. It takes about 2 minutes or less to do both legs and the rear shock.

Correct - Triflow contains solvents to help it penetrate. Those solvents, as they evaporate, pull out the plasticizers used in the seals to help them remain flexible over time. You're slowly ruining your seals by using a penetrating lubricant. Does that "uncomplicate" things?! LOL

Have FUN!

G MAN

PS - I used to sell additives to Thompson Formby who invented it (now owned by Sherwin Williams/Minwax) and still have a bunch of samples they gave me.

[trailville]

I don't recall which specific brand forks these were (I have quite a few), but I absolutely recall reading in at least one fork user manual that it was recommended to put a little oil (fork oil or synthetic motor oil) on the stanchions, cycle the fork, then wipe off. And I'm vaguely remembering another that may have mentioned triflow, but I'm not as sure of that one.

But fork manufacturers are well known for changing recommendations regularly, so their recommendations are about as trustworthy as those we get from all the self-proclaimed experts that post on these forums.

So ultimately you need to decide for yourself, and once you make your decision make sure you regularly come back and post your barely educated guesses as though they are scientifically proven facts

[michaelblade]

Tri-flow was what I used on guns. I just keep my forks clean by wiping with a soft rag. But WTH if you like doing your procedure with the TF it wont cause any problems. It's not like youre leaving it on.

[michaelblade]

Lots of expert opinions but note that Tri-flow actually dries and leaves a silicon film. So if it gets wiped off it can't collect anything.