Trying to do a lowers service on a Suntour Epixon fork.
Search via serial number takes me to https://www.srsuntour.com/products/details/Epixon-XC-LO-R-26-4591.html. I can't see any servicing instructions specific to that fork but the general video linked
is the same as any other fork: release air; loosen bottom bolts; tap to unstick the damper / spring; pull off lowers.
I've done this, and have definitely unstuck both air spring and damper (I can see them vanishing from the end of the lowers as I extend the fork) but I cannot get the lowers to pull off. Have tapped the arch quite firmly with a mallet but no joy. Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNhsDMYXdzo to show the damper / spring released.
Any idea what to try next?
Sorry if this isn't much help but looking at the below video it doesnt look like there should be anything else holding the lowers on than the bottom of the air spring and damper being pressed in to the lowers that you've already shown you've seperated. Looks like it just needs another pull or a firmer tap!
at about 50 seconds illustrates they should just pull off like virtually any other modern suspension fork once youve tapped in the air spring and damper.
Good luck
I normally hold right way up and tap the arch with a rubber mallet to get it to slide off, as above, looks like you have done everything right
If it seems to need excessive force I'd be worried....
If your sure the pressed in rod ends are loose it could be the stantions are corroded near the bushes causing them to be tight. This definitely happens on the really cheap suntour stuff.
I wouldn't be hitting the fork arch to hard. You could break it. Hold it upside down and hit the crown instead.
Is this the first service in many years of use? Did oil come out when you removed the nuts and tapped out the rod ends?
More force applied and got them off :-). Used blocks of wood between arch and crown and a lever to pry then off.
They've got a fair amount of corrosion where the lower bushing sits and below which was stopping them coming apart.
They don't actually feel *too* bad so I'll give them a clean and put them back together.
Is this the first service in many years of use? Did oil come out when you removed the nuts and tapped out the rod ends?
Yes. Bike (a whyte 405) is newish to us but I doubt they've had a previous service. And no - according to the suntour service videos these aren't oil bath forks. I wonder if I should add some fox 20wt and PTFE on the bolts when I reassemble?
Probably better to use grease, if they're not designed for an oil bath, it'll probably just leak out of the bottom, and coat everything including your disc.
And no – according to the suntour service videos these aren’t oil bath forks. I wonder if I should add some fox 20wt and PTFE on the bolts when I reassemble?
The problem with converting to an oil bath is the damper ingesting the lower oil and limiting travel as it hydraulically locks
You are supposed to re grease them every 25 hours. They feel better when freshly greased, but it does not last long in Scotland (in my experience of customers kids bikes)
If you google it you will see success and fail stories on oil conversion
Ok I'll just use grease. Expensive fork grease or ok with just regular bearing grease?
I've never serviced a cheap fork before so appreciate your answers above thanks.
One more question. Should I try to remove the corrosion with some fine wet and dry?
