pivot questions

[numbnuts]

As you may remember I posted some time ago about problems with my Evo pivot. Well i finally pulled it to pieces last weekend and discovered that the needle bearings are totally trashed and the axle is pretty rusty also.

Pivot kits have been out of stock, although I was assured via an email from K2 that they have em again now, so I had to put the pivot back together without bearings so I can ride until I get one. Thanks to whoever suggested teflon tape, I wrapped the axle with it and slammed it back in with loads of grease, works pretty well as a temporary fix.

A couple of questions 1; does the pivot kit come with everything needed to replace ? axle, bushings,bearings etc

2; I have been riding the Evo for about 18 mths, obviously I should have lubricated the pivot at intervals, how long do you usually go between pivot lubes ?

[Carbon_Angus]

the k2 site has a ton of info there....

http://k2bikes.com/tech_library/pdfs2/00/00evoframeassembly.pdf

http://k2bikes.com/tech_library/service_manuals/02evo.pdf

top one gives exploded view of your pivot, the second one has the parts list for the rebuild kit

[smiley=beer.gif]

[jimbo]

A couple of questions 1; does the pivot kit come with everything needed to replace ? axle, bushings,bearings etc

2; I have been riding the Evo for about 18 mths, obviously I should have lubricated the pivot at intervals, how long do you usually go between pivot lubes ?

Yes pivot kit has everything including the grease.  My pivot was trashed too.

My manual recommends disassembly and lube once a year.

My bike mechanic who use to work for a K2 dealer recommends dripping oil on the pivot after every ride.  Especially after wet rides.  The pivot is not well sealed so it doesn't take much moisture to wash out the lube.  He still recommends servicing once a year.  The oil dripping will increase the life of the pivot so you won't have to replace it as often.

[numbnuts]

Jimbo,

what kind of oil do you drip on the pivot area? Presumably you put the bike on it's side to do this. Won't this actually help to wash out the grease?

Anyone thought about trying to seal the pivot, maybe a silicon sealant could be applied ?

[jimbo]

Jimbo,



what kind of oil do you drip on the pivot area? Presumably you put the bike on it's side to do this. Won't this actually help to wash out the grease?

That's the catch 22.  Once you start oiling you'll have to keep oiling.



Mine got trashed because I did a lot of wet riding.  I probably should have taken the pivot apart after each wet ride (YEAH RIGHT.) The oiling would probably saved it till I actually had it serviced.  



I use regular chain oil dripped in with the bike upright.  



I remember someone had made foam seals in the picture or file section.



I use to think the Evo frame had only one weakness which is tire clearance in the rear.  The poor sealing would be another on my list.  Still a great frame for the money though.

[Carbon_Angus]

Those pivot keepers were made from slices of foam pipe insulation. OP's idea. ...If that's what you were referring to.

I am not familiar with the needle bearings, but anytime you drip oil or put grease on something that is not sealed, it just attracts more dust and dirt and moves what ever gunk on the surface inwards.

I used to do that with my mega Air forks do decrease stichion, but it backfires after a short period of time unless you take things apart and clean them very often.
[smiley=beer.gif]

[jimbo]

I am not familiar with the needle bearings, but anytime you drip oil or put grease on something that is not sealed, it just attracts more dust and dirt and moves what ever gunk on the surface inwards.
[smiley=beer.gif]

That's the catch 22.  The trashed bearings and rust is because the lube has dried up.  

[numnuts]

well my bearings had completely rusted up, I do some wet rides but not a whole lot. The pivot area doesn't seem to be a particularly easy area to work on so I don't think I will be pulling it down every time it gets wet. I guess I'll attack it about every 6mths and I will order a spare pivot kit as a back up.

[jimbo]

Has anybody had the same problems with the roller bearings and axle being rusted out?

Has anybody had problems with the older Evos that used bushings?

We had a couple months of really wet weather.  The following month my Evo started to experience severe stiction and squeaking at the pivot.  The bearings and axle were trashed.  I'm thinking the water displaced the grease and rusted real fast.