[Duncan]

Is it normal for the RP3 shock to be a little bit oily? My Push'd RP3 needs a bit of a wipe down after riding and the blue ring thingy is a bit of a mess sometimes. I should note however that, with the exception of not being able to sense any difference between the propedal settings, I've had no other major problems with the shock.

I'm heading off to New Zealand in about 2 weeks and have no time (and hopefuly no need) to send it to the guys at Push Industries. I can take my old Romic to New Zealand as a back-up but, fingers crossed, hopefully I won't need it.

Anyway, a few words of advice or reassurance would be great.

Cheers,

Duncan

 

[Steve71]

My wife's pushed Float did that. I called push and they said that was normal.

How is that Pike going?

 

[The Squeaky Wheel]

Likely just a bit of assembly lube. Wipe it clean and don't worry about it if it's holding air and otherwise functioning properly.

 

[SCUBAPRO]

If it's not loosing air then it's fine.

 

[PUSHIND]

Red = Go?

Duncan,

Yes, it is normal to wipe away a red fluid that will build up on the shaft. I actually took a couple of pictures the other day and will post a technical bulletin under the support tab later on. Basically the new Fox Wiper design is VERY good, but directional by design. It scrapes on the compression stroke, and relaxes on the rebound stroke. This is good because it allows trapped dirt and debris to escape and not stay locked in the seal system. Due to this design, it will also allow a small amount of assembly fluid out. That's the red fluid that you see building up.

Darren

 

[tscheezy]

Like Darren said, a bit of oil on the shaft is a good thing. It tells you the main body bearing and wipers are getting lubed. I actually put a bit of shock oil into my air canister knowing it will weep out over time and keep everything smooth. When I lose my oil ring after a couple of months I know it's time to go back in and add a few drops.

Oil developing at the PP knob I would consider worrisome though, personally.

 

[PUSHIND]

Huh?

I guess I missed a couple of things:

1. What bike is the RP3 on? You should definitely be able to sense the difference between settings. It sounds like we might have got your tune incorrect. If this is the case then get in touch with us when you get back so that we can tweak it for you.

2. tscheezy, you mentioned oil on the PP knob?

Darren

 

[tscheezy]

Oh, my bad. He talked about the "blue... thingy" and I thought he was referring to the PP knob. I forgot you use blue o-rings.

You may see an RP3 for Barny sometime this winter. The DHX-A is a bit sluggish at her light weight on the 5-Spot.

 

[PUSHIND]

tscheezy,

Got it.

Barny? Not sure who that it is, but drop me a line...I've got something for you.

Darren

 

[Dirty Bert]

he said...

Oil developing at the PP knob I would consider worrisome though, personally.

tscheezy said PP knob.


db

 

[jncarpenter]

Barny? Not sure who that it is...

...frikkin newb

 

[PUSHIND]

My bad

oops, I'm sensing a demotion? Didn't mean to offend.

Darren

 

[Duncan]

Thanks for all the advice guys. Seems like the shock will be fine in New Zealand, but I'll take the Romic just in case (hope I don't have to use it - Romic sucks compared to Push'd RP3).

Darren, the RP3 is on a 2004 medium five spot. I bought the shock second hand off another 5 spot owner about 4 months ago (very similar body weight and riding style to myself). There is no oil coming for the blue pp lever, so the only problem there is the lack of difference between the settings. He said he ran the air pressure at about 120 or 125 i think. I have it at about 140-150 as it felt a bit soft if it was lower.

Tscheezy, do you put oil straight into the schraeder valve wotsit?

Steve 71, the Pike is great.

Barny is a big purple dinosaur. It gets mighty lonely during those long cold Alaskan winters.

Duncan

 

[CAK]

tscheezy said PP knob.


db

If oil is developing at the PP knob it's a sure sign your shock has an STD. STD's (also known as Seal Trickle Disability) should be diagnosed immediately by your Push specialist. Failure to treat an STD may cause serious irritation and will decrease your riding enjoyment.

 

[jncarpenter]

oops, I'm sensing a demotion? Didn't mean to offend.

Darren

...tell ya what, shoot a set of those 5.5 rockers my way & it's water under the bridge

 

[tscheezy]

No, I unscrew the air canister body from the upper assembly and dribble a few drops of oil right into the air chamber. Check the (online) manual for disassembly instructions. Don't add too much oil or it fills the entire negative chamber of the shock and makes topout a bit obvious.

Have fun in NZ. Barny and I loved it there. Where are you headed?

 

[Duncan]

Have fun in NZ. Barny and I loved it there. Where are you headed?

I'll be home for two months and, with the exception of a week or so in Wellington, will be doing all South Island riding. What were the best places for you? I didn't really get into mountain biking until I left the country, so I've got little experience in New Zealand.

My bike mechanic, xc racing, hippy brother and his English girlfriend have just returned home so we'll be cruising around the countryside in a small truck and stopping anywhere it looks good for riding.

They'll both be on their Fat Chance hardtails though, and they've just spent about 6 months based near and riding in the French Alps, so it'll be interesting to see how I fare next to them on long fire road climbs on my Spot.

I'll have to give the bike the best cleaning and sterilization it's ever had if I want to avoid any hassles with the New Zealand customs guys.

Going home for the first time after over 6 years away is certainly going to feel strange.

Cheers,

Duncan

 

[tscheezy]

We were road touring and basically did both islands clockwise. We were on mountain bikes with slicks towing Bob trailers but didn't bother dragging knobbies around so we really didn't offroad, but the area around Whanaka looked just ideal. Gunslinger lives in Nelson I believe and Dougal is on the S Island too. He was in school in Christchurch but may be from the Whanaka area. I can't recall. I really can't recommend anything offroad since we never did any, but the bike touring was an enourmous pleasure and a very happy time.

 

[Duncan]

I'm about 1 hour from Gunslinger in Nelson and we've already been in contact. There's some good tramping tracks (ex-goldminers' trails) in the big hills between our towns. I went there a few times when I was a kid but I never thought about riding a bike there back then. Gunslinger met my mtb riding cousins there by chance one day - it's a small world in New Zealand.

One of my kiwi English teaching buddies went back to Christchurch a few months ago then lined up a job as a glacier guide somewhere near Wanaka, where he has already suggested riding.

Expect to start seeing lots of New Zealand biking photos in about three weeks.

Cheers,

Duncan

 

[SCUBAPRO]

RP3 is on a 2004 medium five spot. I bought the shock second hand off another 5 spot owner about 4 months ago (very similar body weight and riding style to myself). There is no oil coming for the blue pp lever, so the only problem there is the lack of difference between the settings. He said he ran the air pressure at about 120 or 125 i think. I have it at about 140-150 as it felt a bit soft if it was lower.

Duncan

Therein lays your problem with the PP adjustments not working for you. Sounds like that RP3 was not specifically valved for you and your riding style.