Just wanted to show some appreciation. I use your videos a lot during maintenance on my own bikes and you definitely explain everything in a way that any novice cyclist can understand and the steps anyone can follow without too many complications. As well as the videos being informative, they are also interesting to watch.
> "Every 4 weeks or 25-30 hours of riding or whenever the performance of the fork has diminished(whichever occurs first)." Thanks. I'll now go and take apart my creaking suspension not opened for 10+ years. Wish my luck LOL
I have just taken on a refurbish bike build so...i definitely wish you luck...lol This guys videos are just full of little tips tricks and essential maintenance advice you will soon be cleaning, repairing and cycling with the pro's.
This is so crazy. Was living on the coast of Ecuador for a couple of years, not taking too good care of my bike, so the shocks got rusty, muddy and wasn't working. So I figured I'd take them apart and give it a good clean. Among the first few vid's was this one.... GREAT VIDEO, and tailored to me perfectly, because as it turns out I have the EXACT same bike make and model . How weird is that!!!!!! Thanks for the great instructions. Off to find some lube.
I got similar forks. They are the most insane forks I’ve ever had. They are like a pogo and I have full confidence I’ll be jumping into a cloud! Never serviced em in 5 years they’ve never changed! Maybe I’m lucky! But I love em. On a Columbia too lol
Wow.... I have 15,000 km with my Gila RST :) . It is first time when I will do this :) . Was a second hand Magellan Polaris bike. 100% has over 20,000 km without maintenance... :)
Just so you know, you put the rubber pieces shaped like cones that are the first of two pieces that go on the thin bar coming out of the upper on backwards. I know from watching the way it was when you took it apart and from comparing with my own RST fork. Hope that is helpful if you didn't ever catch it.
Thanks for the video. I bought my bike 2 years ago and I probably hit the dirt trails twice a month, I don't think they need this maintenance yet. I have RST Gila fork.
I like your videos! Lots of info. I haven't read all the comments but instead of having a helper sit on the bike, a ratchet strap from the front wheel to the top of the handlebars or frame would have put pressure to get that bolt released as well... For those of us alone in the garage :-)
Thanks a lot for detail video. Going to do the same to my shocks. Hope there are everything the same as in yours. And that is a good point you showed, how to unscrew the bolts at the bottom if they spinning freely.
cheers that looks simple enough i have the very same fork on my bauer razor FS bike and this is wot i need to do to them as the forks have never bin touched since I've had the bike cheers once once again from New Zealand
cant wait to do that with my specialized hardrock, as well as use your how to fix bent chainring guide to clear that issue up. your videos have helped me with many different bikes, always look for rj the bike guy for tutorials and you have always had them lol
I actually have the same forks on a Cannondale. Followed your video and got them cleaned. Except the grease that was in them was this nasty yellow stuff. A devil to get out! Smelled of old dirt and vasoline. Finally just dumped lowers into a bath of strong citric cleaner.
Thank You for this excellent video,I have the samo fork on my bike, and I will do the same,without this video I wouldnt try it!! Wouldnt be easier to take off the suspension from bike and set it on the working table,than clean it?
Thanks for this tutorial. I have a fork that had lost most of it's spring. I'll be needing to install new coils and hopefully what you've demonstrate will apply to this fork. I have another fork that has no bottom screw and when I remove the top cap, there's an Allen bolt, however I don't have an Allen key long enough to reach it. Are there special tools for this kind of fork?
I have over a dozen different fork overhaul videos. Different forks are different. If I don't have a video on your fork, then you will have to find instructions or figure it out. www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001NT2LK4/ref=nosim/youtube25-20
You said a non-lithium grease, but I searched marine grease and it is lithium based. I just bought some petroleum grease for car brakes/ bearings. Wonder what's right... doing this overhaul on similar fork soon
I outlined the steps, to help me remember better, may it be useful to you all as well: DISSASSEMBLE CLEAN LUBE AND REASSEMBLE RST GILA T-5 SHOCKS 1. remove bolts from bottom of fork-shock assembly (compress shock if inner assembly is spinning, disallowing the unscrewing of bolt-with wheel on, have someone put their weight onto front forks) 2. pull “lower” off like a pair of metal pants 3. remove any pieces from lowers that did not come out along with them (plastic pieces that fit around the metal rod in the center of the tubes-use coat hanger wire, hooked at end--note orientation) 4. set aside lowers 5. unscrew caps from the top of uppers (vice-grips? make your own wrench?) 6. pull out (coil spring) “stacks” from upper tubing, lay out in order of orientation with plastic pieces from step 3) on a piece of clean cardboard IN FOLLOWING STEPS, REMOVE OLD GREASE, DIRT, CORROSION, ETC. 7. (unscrew plastic plugs from bottom of stacks, remove “elastomers” from inside stacks) 8. Degrease the stacks and pieces 9. clean outside of upper tubes with degreaser (scrub any corrosion with soft scrubbie) 10. clean out inside of lowers (degreaser, piece of shirt on end of hanger) and uppers (twist a shirt down into them) REGREASE AND REASSEMBLE: 11. regrease all inner parts (non-lithium grease) and the channels on the inner surface of the seals at the top of the lower tubes, and (with a thin layer, wiping off excess grease) the outside of the upper tubes (stanchions) 12. reverse the disassemble (careful with threads of upper caps)
Hi Rj! Thank you so much for this Amazing tutorial. You have help us newbies to save money and Do it by ourselves( not destroy it by ourselves). By the way do you recommend using a fork on the lower legs instead of using "Marine Grease"?
I couldn't find any other videos that you did on the 2005 Hardrock Sport. I'm especially interested in removing the cranks and replacing the bottom bracket. If you did a such a video, could you give me a link to it? (I have a 2004 Hardrock Sport.)
Thanks for the Video, very informative! I have an RST CT-FREE-TNL which has oil on one side and a spring on the other. Do you (or anyone who is reading this) know if it's safe to open that up like you did? Or will I have oil all over the place then? Thanks!
Hi RJ, my intention is assemble and re assemble my rockshox mag21 and my mag10 If u try it then it will beautyful for rockshox 63mm army;) U are my teacher:)
Hi RJ, I have an rst fork that is leaking an oil from the rebound adjuster. would this or another video of yours help me open the fork up and figure out what's going on? thanks, your videos have been a huge help
I appreciated your video, thank you. I have an old Giant Sedona that needs some TLC and since the prices at the bike shop to do it are a bit high, and since I'm a bit handy, I figured I could do a lot of it myself. They told me the suspension was not serviceable but apparently, from watching your video, that's not quite true. Perhaps what they meant was that the hardness could not be adjusted which sort of appears to be the case. On an old bike, those springs sooner or later will provide less tension much like in an old car. So If I need a harder ride, is there any option other than changing the whole fork? I have noticed that on the top of the Gila T5 fork there is the indication of an adjustment with a + and - sign but you didn't go into that in this video. Could you elaborate on what they do and how to use them? Thanks, Peter.
+Water Air Industry Taking old shocks apart can be risky as parts are likely not available. Adjust the cap on the top. That is the preload and will stiffen the shock some.
Nice one - that should work for the Capa T6 RST's I've got to sort out. Ever had to get new boots/covers ? both are split on the bike I'm restoring, any hint for where to get them would be helpful!
You can try an impact wrench. Sometimes that will break it loose. If you remove the stacks from inside the fork, I think you can get a long hex socket down there, and hold it from inside. I can't remember if these had that like RockShox.
Thanks for the upload, i have the same hardrock only difference is i have disc brakes. My question is. Do i have to do this maintenance? my top caps of the left side are loose and dont snap into place. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated!
I have watched a few of your videos by now and its saved me a s*%t ton of headaches. I have a set of EST front shocks (very similar to your RST's) that need a lot of TLC. Do you have any quick fixes or tips to keep them in good condition? My sanity thanks you in advance.
Because it may not play nicely with any plastic parts or especially the elastomers. I think it's probably different in other ways also. Use the correct lubricants. Would you replace your motor oil with vegetable oil? They are both about the same consistency... No. They are different. They have different properties.
Thanks for the video! Just a quick question, though. I got this exact make/model of bike used for a nice price, but the top tubes have one cap missing (the things you used your special socket too for around 3:35.) Do you know if there are replacements for those?
For more bike repair videos hit the subscribe button 🛑 and click the notification bell ► bit.ly/SubRJTheBikeGuy
Thank you - it was very helpful
Just wanted to show some appreciation. I use your videos a lot during maintenance on my own bikes and you definitely explain everything in a way that any novice cyclist can understand and the steps anyone can follow without too many complications. As well as the videos being informative, they are also interesting to watch.
> "Every 4 weeks or 25-30 hours of riding or whenever the performance of the fork has diminished(whichever occurs first)."
Thanks. I'll now go and take apart my creaking suspension not opened for 10+ years. Wish my luck LOL
I have just taken on a refurbish bike build so...i definitely wish you luck...lol
This guys videos are just full of little tips tricks and essential maintenance advice you will soon be cleaning, repairing and cycling with the pro's.
This is so crazy. Was living on the coast of Ecuador for a couple of years, not taking too good care of my bike, so the shocks got rusty, muddy and wasn't working. So I figured I'd take them apart and give it a good clean. Among the first few vid's was this one.... GREAT VIDEO, and tailored to me perfectly, because as it turns out I have the EXACT same bike make and model . How weird is that!!!!!!
Thanks for the great instructions. Off to find some lube.
Thanks to you and your videos, I literally now making living servicing in repairing MTB here in the P.N.W 🤙
I got similar forks. They are the most insane forks I’ve ever had. They are like a pogo and I have full confidence I’ll be jumping into a cloud! Never serviced em in 5 years they’ve never changed! Maybe I’m lucky! But I love em. On a Columbia too lol
You're the Man, RJ! Thanks for your clear, well edited videos.
I did thit to my RST capa T6 and it had never been cleaned ,before the suspension wasn't working very well , now it works beautifully,thank you. :)
Nice one. I'm currently restoring an identical Specialized so now I know how to recondition the fork too 👌🏻
Thank you for using a tripod and editing your video. Great Job!
I've really learnt a lot this past couple of days. I always thought shocks were a costly job.
Wow.... I have 15,000 km with my Gila RST :) . It is first time when I will do this :) . Was a second hand Magellan Polaris bike. 100% has over 20,000 km without maintenance... :)
Just so you know, you put the rubber pieces shaped like cones that are the first of two pieces that go on the thin bar coming out of the upper on backwards. I know from watching the way it was when you took it apart and from comparing with my own RST fork. Hope that is helpful if you didn't ever catch it.
Your are right! He put the pieces back on upside down.
You are a very professional luber
No one really likes to leave things dry
this helped a lot I have this mongoos 2.2 ledge its almost two years old and I'm doing maintenance on it for the first time
Thanks for the video. I bought my bike 2 years ago and I probably hit the dirt trails twice a month, I don't think they need this maintenance yet. I have RST Gila fork.
simply amazing! thanks dude, it's a useful video about how to do maintenance by yourself. I think I'll save a lot of money.
Mate. Your stuff is great. I've learned heaps about servicing my own gear from your posts. Thanks.
I like your videos! Lots of info. I haven't read all the comments but instead of having a helper sit on the bike, a ratchet strap from the front wheel to the top of the handlebars or frame would have put pressure to get that bolt released as well... For those of us alone in the garage :-)
Thanks a lot for detail video. Going to do the same to my shocks. Hope there are everything the same as in yours. And that is a good point you showed, how to unscrew the bolts at the bottom if they spinning freely.
cheers that looks simple enough i have the very same fork on my bauer razor FS bike and this is wot i need to do to them as the forks have never bin touched since I've had the bike cheers once once again from New Zealand
Another really useful video. They save me lots of time/ trial and error.
cant wait to do that with my specialized hardrock, as well as use your how to fix bent chainring guide to clear that issue up. your videos have helped me with many different bikes, always look for rj the bike guy for tutorials and you have always had them lol
Hi, your knowledgement and technics are awesome. Thanks for all your videos.
THANKS FOR SHARING. IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO FIND THIS VIDEO.
Its like listening to Darth Vader doing cycle maintenance!
Thanks so much for this video! I didn't have any non lithium based lubricant so I used vaseline and it worked wonders!
good tip man! thanks
Big help i was gonna go to the bike shop now i decided to do it my self
Many thanks. That tool is pretty cool.
Could you explain a bit about the plastic dials on top of the uppers and how they should be set?
They preload the springs and can make the suspension just a little softer or stiffer. Personal preference.
thanks man, really well explained and very helpful.
That awesome orange is great for cleaning chains and rear cassette and rear derailleur
Cheers bud I have the exact same bike just the disc brake version but my forks were all seized and rusted
Thanks you for the guide! This helped me restore an old rst that i found
excellent explanation, for good maintenance of the suspension RST Gila. Upload video is general bicycle maintenance. Cheers...
This helped me a lot cause the screw under the shock would not get tight
Very detailed and helpful. I will try with my RST GILA PRO after this.
thanks from uruguay!! very usefull!
Thanks for these detail video instruction. thumbs up!
Thanks for the video, interesting and informative.
Good video tutorial , it helped me alot revamp my shocks
Thank you I'll be doing this tomorrow!!
Excellent video as always, tanks a lot RJ
Your video is going to be a great help for me !!! Thanks!!!
Your are so helpful mate. Thank you very much. That tool you made is really cool. What would the proper tool be called?
+yathatisgood Not sure the exact name. RST Special Tool or something like that.
I actually have the same forks on a Cannondale. Followed your video and got them cleaned. Except the grease that was in them was this nasty yellow stuff. A devil to get out! Smelled of old dirt and vasoline. Finally just dumped lowers into a bath of strong citric cleaner.
Joe N i recommend to use atf (automatic transmission fluid ) than grease will add more dirt inside the stancion
Would it be the same procedure on a 1998 rockhopper with a manitou fork
The Manatou is a different fork, so it is probably different. I haven't worked on one, so I don't know.
Nice job man ! I have ideal pro rider 29' . Fork RST Blaze-ML, 100 mm, mechanical lock out, adjustable preload . Is it the same system with yours?
this was actually extremely helpful, thanks!!
Thank You for this excellent video,I have the samo fork on my bike,
and I will do the same,without this video I wouldnt try it!!
Wouldnt be easier to take off the suspension from bike and set it on the
working table,than clean it?
Not really.
Ha! I just bought a bike with this RST fork on it this vid was all I needed to know. Thanks.
Now to go buy some grease.
Thanks for this tutorial. I have a fork that had lost most of it's spring. I'll be needing to install new coils and hopefully what you've demonstrate will apply to this fork.
I have another fork that has no bottom screw and when I remove the top cap, there's an Allen bolt, however I don't have an Allen key long enough to reach it. Are there special tools for this kind of fork?
I have over a dozen different fork overhaul videos. Different forks are different. If I don't have a video on your fork, then you will have to find instructions or figure it out.
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001NT2LK4/ref=nosim/youtube25-20
nice clear instructions. Thank you very much..
In this type of shocks you should put one of the elastomers off in each leg. You will get better move of fork
It was very helpful to me. Thank you very much. terima kasih.
if there is rust, is it a good idea to use a metal polish to get rid of it?
Thank you for the instructions video!
It was very helpful to me!
:)
You said a non-lithium grease, but I searched marine grease and it is lithium based. I just bought some petroleum grease for car brakes/ bearings. Wonder what's right... doing this overhaul on similar fork soon
I outlined the steps, to help me remember better, may it be useful to you all as well:
DISSASSEMBLE CLEAN LUBE AND REASSEMBLE RST GILA T-5 SHOCKS
1. remove bolts from bottom of fork-shock assembly (compress
shock if inner assembly is spinning, disallowing the unscrewing of bolt-with wheel
on, have someone put their weight onto front forks)
2. pull “lower” off
like a pair of metal pants
3. remove any pieces from lowers that did not come out along
with them (plastic pieces that fit around the metal rod in the center of the
tubes-use coat hanger wire, hooked at end--note orientation)
4. set aside lowers
5. unscrew caps from the top of uppers (vice-grips? make your own wrench?)
6. pull out (coil spring) “stacks” from upper tubing, lay
out in order of orientation with plastic pieces from step 3) on a piece of clean
cardboard
IN FOLLOWING STEPS, REMOVE OLD GREASE, DIRT, CORROSION, ETC.
7. (unscrew plastic plugs from bottom of stacks, remove “elastomers”
from inside stacks)
8. Degrease the stacks and pieces
9. clean outside of upper tubes with degreaser (scrub any
corrosion with soft scrubbie)
10. clean out inside of lowers (degreaser, piece of shirt on
end of hanger) and uppers (twist a shirt down into them)
REGREASE AND REASSEMBLE:
11. regrease all inner parts (non-lithium grease) and the
channels on the inner surface of the seals at the top of the lower tubes, and (with
a thin layer, wiping off excess grease) the outside of the upper tubes
(stanchions)
12. reverse the disassemble (careful with threads of upper caps)
Hi Rj! Thank you so much for this Amazing tutorial. You have help us newbies to save money and Do it by ourselves( not destroy it by ourselves). By the way do you recommend using a fork on the lower legs instead of using "Marine Grease"?
I recommend using something like Slickoleum/Slick Honey. I should have used it on this fork.
I have RST Capa T9 model ... almost the same shape ... is in the characteristics also identical?
Yahyaoui Mohamed No idea.
Amazing video dude!
Why we should use a non-lithium grease on forks ? What happened if I use this type of grease in my old RST Gila ?
I couldn't find any other videos that you did on the 2005 Hardrock Sport. I'm especially interested in removing the cranks and replacing the bottom bracket. If you did a such a video, could you give me a link to it? (I have a 2004 Hardrock Sport.)
Thanks for the Video, very informative!
I have an RST CT-FREE-TNL which has oil on one side and a spring on the other. Do you (or anyone who is reading this) know if it's safe to open that up like you did? Or will I have oil all over the place then? Thanks!
Sorry, I don't know anything about that model.
very nice video, thanks
Hi! My bottom screw is attached to the metal bar and i dont know if i can disattach. Can i disassemble this fork?
Great video. I've been looking for a little grease gun like that. Really hard to find. Does it have a brand name?
+yathatisgood It's a Dualco. I got it at Amazon. www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0025UGOVW/ref=nosim/youtube25-20
Yah this videos are very helpful
Thanks a lot
Hi RJ, my intention is assemble and re assemble my rockshox mag21 and my mag10
If u try it then it will beautyful for rockshox 63mm army;)
U are my teacher:)
Those are a different animal. Planning to do some work on a Mag 10.
i just got rst oldstock yes!!!!!!!!!!!
how do you wash all the towels and rags you use. Do you just throw them into your typical household wash machine?
The really dirty ones, just get thown away. I wash the rest in washer by themselves.
I think you could probably go 100 to 125 hours between services. Since both Fox and RockShox have adopted that newer service interval.
Probably I doubt many people do the recommended interval.
RJ The Bike Guy No doubt RJ! it's usually a, 'Wait Until It Breaks scenario' 😅 👍
Hello, thank you for video. It si very usefull for me but i have one question, where i can buy this oil?What brand it is? thank for answer.
+vladimir kacur I don't think I used oil on this shock. What I actually recommend in "Slick Honey" or "slickoeum"
www.slickoleum.com/
great..saves me a lot off time investegaiting
Hi RJ, I have an rst fork that is leaking an oil from the rebound adjuster. would this or another video of yours help me open the fork up and figure out what's going on? thanks, your videos have been a huge help
the fork is an RST First GTRL Air RLO
+Matthew Larrabee Sorry, I haven't worked on one of those.
Perfect - thank you.
I appreciated your video, thank you. I have an old Giant Sedona that needs some TLC and since the prices at the bike shop to do it are a bit high, and since I'm a bit handy, I figured I could do a lot of it myself. They told me the suspension was not serviceable but apparently, from watching your video, that's not quite true. Perhaps what they meant was that the hardness could not be adjusted which sort of appears to be the case. On an old bike, those springs sooner or later will provide less tension much like in an old car. So If I need a harder ride, is there any option other than changing the whole fork? I have noticed that on the top of the Gila T5 fork there is the indication of an adjustment with a + and - sign but you didn't go into that in this video. Could you elaborate on what they do and how to use them? Thanks, Peter.
+Water Air Industry Taking old shocks apart can be risky as parts are likely not available. Adjust the cap on the top. That is the preload and will stiffen the shock some.
Thanks RJ.
Hey! great videos! they are very helpful
Nice one - that should work for the Capa T6 RST's I've got to sort out. Ever had to get new boots/covers ? both are split on the bike I'm restoring, any hint for where to get them would be helpful!
You are just going to have to google around and see if any are even available.
Bg! Fork MTB saya yg sblh kanan (dBagian lock) ad 1 komponen yg tdk bs dKeluarKn, sudah dBalikpun forknya ttp tdk mw jatuh komponennya. Apakah ad caranya Bg?
As always a great video. And I do believe that I caught a glimpse of the elusive RJ the bike guys face!!! The is as rare as a Bigfoot siting😂😂😂
Thanks for your good instructions I Have an i dea how to fix my fork
Is it the same for double crown forks?
sir do you have any remedy incase the bolt is still turning but not loosening despite pressing the fork hard.
You can try an impact wrench. Sometimes that will break it loose. If you remove the stacks from inside the fork, I think you can get a long hex socket down there, and hold it from inside. I can't remember if these had that like RockShox.
I need help I compress the forks but the screw still does not let me take it out and I don't have a impact drill
Try putting more weight on them. Have two people put their weight on the handlebars.
Thanks for the upload, i have the same hardrock only difference is i have disc brakes. My question is. Do i have to do this maintenance? my top caps of the left side are loose and dont snap into place. Any feedback will be greatly appreciated!
+rpmbxdj The top caps snap on and don't screw on?
+RJ The Bike Guy I meant the lowers top caps sorry
Muito bom. Vou tentar fazer na minha suspensão. Apesar da minha não ser a T5.
good show man
GREAT VIDEO! THANK YOU!
bought a jamis trail x2 and the gila rst fork is not rebounding as it used to should i replace the fork entirely or get the fork looked at.
Helped alot!
Hey RJ love your videos, would it be the same for the RST Omega T6 fork? I have an old 2004 or 2005 GT Avalanche with that fork.
Sorry, I haven't worked on one of those.
Tşekkürler bu gün bunuda öğrendik
too helpful😃😃thanks
I have watched a few of your videos by now and its saved me a s*%t ton of headaches. I have a set of EST front shocks (very similar to your RST's) that need a lot of TLC. Do you have any quick fixes or tips to keep them in good condition?
My sanity thanks you in advance.
I have never heard of EST forks, much less worked on them. So I can't tell you. Clean them and lube them.
Great vid i would do that but im scared that i'll ruin my forks
Quick question, RJ...
Would Castrol automotive bearing grease work well with my shocks?
+mtlnascarfan No.
+RJ The Bike Guy why ?
Because it may not play nicely with any plastic parts or especially the elastomers. I think it's probably different in other ways also. Use the correct lubricants. Would you replace your motor oil with vegetable oil? They are both about the same consistency... No. They are different. They have different properties.
+RJ The Bike Guy true . thanks again . I appreciate everything
RJ The Bike Guy . thnks for a great tutorial. tomorrow gonna strip down my shoock on the Titan, it has a similiar fork. cheers
Thanks for the video! Just a quick question, though. I got this exact make/model of bike used for a nice price, but the top tubes have one cap missing (the things you used your special socket too for around 3:35.) Do you know if there are replacements for those?
Doubtful. You can check ebay. Probably just replace the forks, or find some damaged versions of these for parts.
grease attracts sand though. better to use a ptfe spray or teflon on the upper area.
nicely done. thanks,