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How do you clean the dust wiper on your fork
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
Hi there
Bit of a noob question but how do you clean around your dust wipers on your fork? Is it ok to hose it with a garden hose on low pressure? Will water seep into the fork?
Thanks
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We've all been noobs at one point. My cleaning regimen depends on how dirty the forks are.
If they are just dusty then I might give the uppers and dust seals a brush with a soft paintbrush and if necessary, a gentle wipe around the top of the seals with a soft cloth. Preferably a cloth with some texture/fibres to grab the remaining dirt.
If they are muddy or covered in something that doesn't want to come off I will use a hose with a nozzle on a soft sprinkler setting and spray the forks until the muck softens and starts to come off. Never spray the seals directly. When I'm happy that the muck is mostly gone I'll use a soft cloth and gently wipe around the top of the seals. A horizontal wiping action rather than any downward pressure to try and avoid pressing any water or muck into the seals.
yeah, when I clean my bike I really clean my bike
It's only unhealthy if you find yourself doing it between rides.
I also use a 2 litre pressurised spray bottle from Bunnings to spray a foamy mist of carwash and water when I'm giving the bike a proper wash as it makes it quick and easy to get detergent everywhere you need to.
i just use one of those muck off soft detailing brushes and run over the whole bike. As for seals i use the brush and scrub from the top. Because the bristles are quite long and soft they get in there really well without causing any damage. I also like to go overboard with the cleaning thou.
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=muc+off+brush...
fork juice
http://www.juicelubes.co.uk/fork-juice.html
Do you buy that directly from Juice Lubes website or is it something that's stocked here in Perth?
I bought mine at TBSM. Your LBS should have them
http://enduro-mtb.com/en/how-to-the-quick-suspen...
Gear oil and a clean cloth.
Thanks for your help. I guess dry dirt is not too hard to get off but more the muddy stuff is harder. I do use fork juice after I have cleaned the stanchion but can you use it as an actual cleaning agent itself? Just spray it on the dust wiper and wipe off with a cloth?
hmmm, all I do is pass an old sock around the dirt build up to wipe it off.
@ozgti.
Clean the stancions with a rag - make sure you get into the hard to access bit, then spray the lube and cycle the fork a few times - this usually brings up a little more muck with the lube - so wipe this off as well.