Author Topic: What to use to lubricate a parallelogram fork? (Read 6148 times)

whisperdancer · « **on:** February 22, 2015, 10:33:40 am »

What do you guys use to lube the girvin and noleen forks?
I was thinking about the finish line Teflon grase (as it's easy to get), but it seems to be les viscous than the original girvin goo grase.
Can I use the finish line one?

Spokes · « **Reply #1 on:** February 22, 2015, 01:34:55 pm »

Yes I'd say it fine as Goo was basically the same if a little thicker in viscosity. I've still got a little goo left but most of the time just I use a bike specific Teflon grease I get at my local bike shop. The guide with the bike just said not to use petroleum based grease as it rots the seals.

Chris

kiwi · « **Reply #2 on:** February 22, 2015, 11:28:49 pm »

and the elastomers

whisperdancer · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2015, 02:42:48 am »

Thank you for the replies.

I do have a couple of girvin goo tubes (I used half one on the swingarm), but want to use a newer lube, as I also have another bike that could benefit from it.
Finish line it is.

w2zero · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2015, 03:04:15 pm »

I have used a couple of different silicone based lubes. One is an electrical lube for pulling wires and it is dialectric as well. The other is a general silicone grease. Also have used the silicone/Teflon grease as well on pretty much all the joints and elastomers. They all repel water, stay in place and don't collect very much dirt.

piko4566 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 16, 2015, 01:56:15 pm »

To be honest I have had mine 18 years and never lubed it and it is still running smoothly despite the worst that the British weather can throw at it. However you now have me thinking.

Spokes · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2015, 01:18:35 pm »

What never? I hope I'm wrong but if you do decide to strip it, be prepared for some ware to the pivots.

Chris

w2zero · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2015, 10:55:47 pm »

When I was searching the parts for an eccentric upper link for one of the guys..... I found a lot of wear on the eccentric pivot and the top of the fork leg. Possibly never lubed after the factory assembly.

Colin · « **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2015, 06:06:37 am »

The worst Vector I stripped down had nothing left of the dust-seals and had worn the (nylon?) bearings down to nothing in an eccentric pattern and had just started to wear the metal pivot parts, but fortunately not too badly. I replaced the bearings (RK006) and used extreme seals (RK005) and it didn't seem to have any noticeable play in the movement.

I serviced my own Vector II on my XP-X after 11 years of regular use and found no wear, but replaced the original seals with extreme seals anyway.

My Crosslinks have been good for 8 years of use so far, but might get a look at in the next couple of years. One benefit of them is the lube port on the pivot link.

So, my opinion is, if the dust-seals have held together, you'll probably be OK, but if your up for a, hopefully pleasant, "Zen and the art of Pro~Flex maintenance" experience then go for it!

Col.

Spokes · « **Reply #9 on:** March 19, 2015, 01:23:52 pm »

I take your point but I also draw from my own experience. There's are from a crosslink cs I bought off eBay USA. Advertised as very good condition,until I stripped them for a check over. I'd say these had not been lubed in a long time.

Now I don't think for a minute that an enthusiast would knowingly ride a bike to this amount of destruction but as parts for these bikes are getting harder to find I recon it's good practice to keep these things well lubed.

Chris

kiwi · « **Reply #10 on:** March 21, 2015, 03:26:14 am »

and the extreme seals transform the action of the vectors that still have the old black seals!

Colin · « **Reply #11 on:** March 22, 2015, 12:21:18 pm »

Quote from: Spokes on March 19, 2015, 01:23:52 pm

I take your point but I also draw from my own experience. There's are from a crosslink cs I bought off eBay USA. Advertised as very good condition,until I stripped them for a check over. I'd say these had not been lubed in a long time.

Now I don't think for a minute that an enthusiast would knowingly ride a bike to this amount of destruction but as parts for these bikes are getting harder to find I recon it's good practice to keep these things well lubed.

Chris

Oh Dear! They are terrible! Hope you got some come-back on the seller.................
Good point Chris, once those "Top-Hat" Axle Pivots wear out, you really are in trouble, so best to lube early and often!

Col.

jazclrint · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2015, 12:40:12 pm »

I've been using Slick Honey on my pivots the last few years. Oh man, that's some good stuff.

Carbon_Angus · « **Reply #13 on:** August 26, 2015, 09:02:39 am »

I bought a tub of "Slick Honey". Used on a Mega Air-fork and Cross-link and swing-arm bearings....etc etc

What's hilarious is I still have a few tubes of Girvin Goo from last century.

fyrstormer · « **Reply #14 on:** October 05, 2015, 04:43:56 pm »

Yes, Teflon grease should be fine. The bushings are nylon anyway, so they're chemically compatible.

Looking at those pictures, I'm so glad the only bushings left on my bike are the main swingarm pivots and the lower strut pivots, both of which I serviced a few years ago and made sure everything fit well, rotated smoothly, and was properly lubricated. The main swingarm pivots are actually extremely well-sealed and I doubt they'll ever wear out.

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Author Topic: What to use to lubricate a parallelogram fork? (Read 6148 times)