Grease on stanchions?

[xwhatsit]

Hullo,

Have got some new fork seals (my pretty new forks didn't take long before they started to leak a tad, very sad :(), and also picked up some fork gaiters at the same time.

I saw recommended in a very old piece of literature that one should smear some grease all over the stanchions before putting the fork gaiters on top, to keep corrosion at bay. I have some lithium grease. Yay or nay?

[Shadows]

Yay I say.

[Ocean1]

Little light grease can't hurt. The seals will imediately wipe 99.9% of it off but it'll help protect the bits above that. Good to peel the gaiters off once in a while to check that water hasn't worked it's way into the gubbings through the vent holes (which need to be at the bottom facing aft). The very best thing for protecting metal from corrosion is stuff called Prolan, basically lanolin, it's got some properties that help minimise galvanic corrosion effects also (from dis-similar metals in contact with each other).

[xwhatsit]

Schweet. I was worried about it interfering with the seals, but yes, the dust seals should take care of it.

Cheers guys.

[Robert Taylor]

Hullo,

Have got some new fork seals (my pretty new forks didn't take long before they started to leak a tad, very sad :(), and also picked up some fork gaiters at the same time.

I saw recommended in a very old piece of literature that one should smear some grease all over the stanchions before putting the fork gaiters on top, to keep corrosion at bay. I have some lithium grease. Yay or nay?

In moderation

[Crisis management]

In moderation

This is KB Robert, you should know that moderation is frowned upon........



+1 for Oceans & Roberts advice!

[terbang]

If you cover them up then, yeah maybe. However with an exposed stanchion, grease will only retain dust and grit becoming a nice form of grinding paste that will surely find its way under the seal and bearing surface.
Just do what the manufacturer does and keep it clean and replace the seals when they leak.

[FROSTY]

Dude provided your staunchens are in good condition theres a REXOL product that is heaps better than grease.It sprays on like chain lube but sets like wax.its used by engineers for stopping steel components from corroding

[Robert Taylor]

Dude provided your staunchens are in good condition theres a REXOL product that is heaps better than grease.It sprays on like chain lube but sets like wax.its used by engineers for stopping steel components from corroding

And is it fork seal compatible?

[FROSTY]

yep sure is -once its set

[Robert Taylor]

yep sure is -once its set

To that end I would be very very dubious, also as to how it would react to the fork oil. Although very few pay credence to it, a number of fork oils are also not chemically compatible and will react forming a nasty residue.

Its not worth playing Russian roulette and frankly I am shaking my head as would others with some knowledge re these subjects.