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My reverb stealth has stopped working.
1. The post felt graunchy/grindy but worked fine - Do I need to just greasy the pins?
2. Now it has stopped working and stayed down, will a bleed sort this with a re grease?
3. I thought the basic service kit was about a tenner and need possible new bushing but are they much more expensive now?
4. Do you Crow's foot wench or can you make do in a DIY service?
First stupid question but have you checked air pressure?
I just followed the Sram video and did internal bleed with basic tools.
If it's stuck down it might be a bit more serious than a bleed fix - I'm not sure though.
I stripped and rebuilt mine last year - I made all the tools (oil level indicator etc) myself from bits at home. If you are mechanically minded then you should be ok. Just follow the instructions online.
You might get away with the 50hr service and bleed. You don't necessarily need a crows foot if you have a good "feel" for it. Mine has been running perfect for near on 7 months since the rebuild. The 50hr kits are normally around £10 I think.
I've done a basic rebuild on a couple of reverbs now.
You don't need a Crow foot adaptor, you do need a vice with soft jaw inserts.
The last one I rebuilt sucked down as I added air, but a bleed sorted it out, its working fine now
You don’t need a Crow foot adaptor, you do need a vice with soft jaw inserts.
Or put the post in the frame when you need to undo it/torque it up.
Not sure about stealth ones but you will need the adapters to undo whatever is on the end of the internal shaft (10mm on my non stealth one, think stealth would be the same just with actuation fluid going through not air?)
You can use a large adjustable, crow's foot only necessary if you're using a torque wrench but I can't see it being that critical on the seal head.
You'll probably need the more expensive kit that includes the seal head and associated bushing now anyway but yes, annoyingly the basic rebuild kit sees to have disappeared. All you really need is 2 bushings, I have been thinking about looking up the DIY fix to getting these bushings now it's about £40 for the service kit.
That service should be enough to sort your post out, as long as the internals aren't killed off by muck getting right in, in which case you can't get the parts individually so without a donor you're up shit creek. A bleed of the hose should stop it being stuck down.
1. The post felt graunchy/grindy but worked fine – Do I need to just greasy the pins?
Probably not the pins as the live in a relatively clean part of the post. More likely one of the bushes. The bottom bush could be the culprit especially if dirt/water/mud has made its way past the felt seal at the base.
2. Now it has stopped working and stayed down, will a bleed sort this with a re grease?
Check the seat clamp isn't too tight & check the air pressure is correct. If the air has escaped check that the schrader valve at the base isn't leaking. The other thing that can cause this is if the circlip at the base has completely rotted away allowing the working parts of the post to drop out. Sounds like a full service is required to eliminate the problem.
3. I thought the basic service kit was about a tenner and need possible new bushing but are they much more expensive now?
I think the basic service kit is about £30.00 bushings will be extra. These can be bought or made depending on what facilities you have available.
4. Do you Crow’s foot wench or can you make do in a DIY service?
I don't use a Crowfoot spanner and torque wrench as I don't own one. But that is the correct way to torque the sealhead.
Does anyone know where I can get the bushings on their own and cheap or is it go to a fabricator?
It feels like a bush.
So annoying that the service kits have rocketed in price as it’s nearly as much as taking it to someone to service.
I seem to remember that Bounce have made a tool especially for helping with DIY servicing
https://bouncecycles.co.uk/book-a-service/rockshox-reverb-clamp-set/
Looks expensive but now that Brand X have made Reverbs worthless if they aren't perfect you could keep yourself in seatposts forever..
How do you guys who service 3 or 4 reverbs per household, get cheap parts for servicing them?
If the cost now of a basic service kit is £40 ish. Top bush £7, it’s in the region of £55 for a full professional service.
Where do you source parts to make a home service viable?
Bearingboys sell the materials to make the bushes. It comes in short lengths that I cut down to fit.
https://www.bearingboys.co.uk/G-Sleeve-Bearings/WMG222530-Sleeve-Bearing-27971-p
https://www.bearingboys.co.uk/G-Sleeve-Bearings/WMG252830-Sleeve-Bearing-27982-p
I find that keeping the bushes in good condition and clean, especially the bottom one helps a lot. If the bushes are worn it allows misalignment in the sliding parts. If there's play in the post or a bit of sag I replace the affected bushes, any seals that look gubbed & reset the IFP.
Funny enough ,I grabbed my bike for a ride yesterday and my reverb wouldn't come up as it was binding (aging grease and dirt overtime does this).So I had to give it a quick strip ,clean and relube . Didn't cost me a thing except for an hour of time and a blob of rsp slick kick and a bit of reverb fluid for re bleed .I use those bushings that Davesport linked to above-they are solid and don't wear as much/fail/damage the post like the original PTFE style so can be re used through many services.
The best value genuine service kits are the ones that are £30 on fleabay. They have a complete new upper collar with wiper, bush, foam. Plus lower bush and seal, bottom out o-ring and foam filter for base. Providing your post isn't suffering from the dreaded 'bob' then one of those kits will get it feeling like new again. Cheaper non branded parts are on fleabay too but can be a bit of a gamble
Can I suggest a Brand X or a Oneup dropper for an easy life?