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Really enjoying my Spark, only had it three months, but its getting ridden a lot in the mud at the moment. Just cleaned it and noticed what sounds like a bit of grinding when compressing the rear shock. Seems like grime has got behind one or pivot bolt heads. Is there something I can use to clean them out without taking the bolts out and without destroying the bearings? Its a full carbon frame.
I sometimes spray around the pivots with silicone lube to flush out some of the grit. But really this is what happens when riding in all weathers, a strip down and clean every 3 to 6 months is the best thing to stay on top of it.
Thanks Steve, I'll give that a try!
I have a spark and this kind of "mini-guard" at the top and bottom keep the worst of the grit / spray out.
<img src=" https://photo Spark_Snows.app.goo.gl/zSx2QJDQcy3eCKPB9" alt="Spark_Snow" />
Thanks Kneed, where did you get the guards from?
Not sure of its how he did it but they could easily be made out of the flat flexible guards you bend to fit front forks or onto seat stays.
Yea they're made from bendy fenders. I think those ones came from decathlon. £2 each iirc.
The one by the chain needs a bit cut out of it for the chain to move into bigger sprockets. You won't know how much to cut til you fit it.
I sometimes spray around the pivots with silicone lube to flush out some of the grit. But really this is what happens when riding in all weathers, a strip down and clean every 3 to 6 months is the best thing to stay on top of it.
Pretty much this. Every now and again i spend an hour, remove shock, remove all mount points, clean up the contact points, wipe the outer faces of bearings, clean up the washers etc... It's an hours work, no more and i get to check the bearings too to make sure they're smooth.
I'm not sure about spraying lube on them. If it's capable of flushing grit out of the bearing, it's also capable of flushing it into the bearing. With my suspension bikes, I just let mud dry and brush it off. I haven't had problems with pivot bearings.
I'm not spraying lube into a bearing, just down between where the swing arm and frame meet, so there's minimal grinding paste between 2 parts of the frame etc but yes I know what you're saying, I think water/lube can definitely carry it along the axles and into the frame of you're overzealous.
im using muc off silicone spray and its keeping everything pretty clean. However i am concerned about the bearings in a carbon frame used year round.
do most folks replace them anualy?
I generally give mine some attention at the beginning and end of the winter. Pop the seals with a very sharp craft knife, and then either just repack with grease, or if they are grubby, give them a squirt of WD40 etc, then dry as best you can and repack with clean grease. This seems to keep them going for years, especially if you pack the bearings when new - you'd be amazed how many new bearings come with very little grease in them.
Just be careful if you clean the grease out not to let them spin until you get the new grease in.
It's also worth doing with your headset, or at least slapping plenty of grease on it.
+1 for the silicone spray stuff as it seems to make dirt slide off easier when washing. As a general rule it's better to spray it onto a cloth and then apply, rather than spray straight onto the bike, which risks brake contamination.
The pivots at the top of the seatstays are bushings, I had a customer bring one in a few month ago, had quite abit of play in that pivot, the Bush had also been moving in the carbon link causing that to wear aswell.
I'd be stripping it and giving it a clean once a month if your riding in shitty conditions.
I had a chat with the guys at the bearing shop where i buy bearings. They recommended to me to spray lanolin-based lubricants on the bearing seals as this will not wash off, damage seals, or potentially dissolve the bearing grease like petroleum-based lubes can - so personally wouldn't be using WD-40.
Can't recall seeing lanolin-based lubes in the UK. Easy to get in Australia...
... presumably the only option in NZ 🙂
EDIT: Looks like there's Lanoguard
im using muc off silicone spray and its keeping everything pretty clean. However i am concerned about the bearings in a carbon frame used year round.
do most folks replace them anualy?
I wouldn't do the first as it'll wash any grease out of them and as for the 2nd point, not a chance, replace them when they wear.
It's easy to undo the pivot bolt and pop the bearing seal off (use a small pin) and re-grease the bearing. Quite often bearings aren't packed well with grease from factory.