[turbojames]

I've got an older Judy SL shock. It's an oil setup. When I ride the bike, the shocks don't provide any cushion (they bottom out). What needs to be done?

Can I replace the cartidges with a spring type or some other type of dampening?

 

[BikeGeek]

Originally posted by turbojames
I've got an older Judy SL shock. It's an oil setup. When I ride the bike, the shocks don't provide any cushion (they bottom out). What needs to be done?

Can I replace the cartidges with a spring type or some other type of dampening?

It sounds like you're out of oil. Follow the instructions in the manaul or at www.angryasian.com to disassemble and replace the oil in the cartridges. Check the seals while you're at it. If the seals are blown, you might be SOL depending on how old the fork is.

 

[turbojames]

Thanks. One of them has a busted seal, b/c it's leaking oil.

 

[turbojames]

There is one spring inside each shock insert, but there is grease as well. What does this mean?

 

[Repack]

It could also be the elastomers (if you have them). They break down over time. This happens quicker if there has been any oil leakage. The bumpers have air bubbles on them. This is what keeps you suspended. As the bubble break, there is less preload.

 

[BikeGeek]

I'm not sure what year your fork is, but here's a pic of a '97. Each leg should have a spring on top of an elastomer (#32, only one shown). If it is the elastomer that's hosed, they're easy enough to replace with another or with a progressive spring stack.

You can see that only one leg has a damping cartridge (#22). The other simply has a guide rod (#17). I'm not sure how easy it will be to find a replacement for the damping cartridge. One option would be to replace it with an Englund Air set-up, but I have no experience with those so can't tell you if it's a good idea or not.

 

[turbojames]

I think I'm just going to replace my shock with a new one. Someone offered to sell me a lightly used Judy C for $60. Does that sound like a decent deal?

James

 

[BikeGeek]

Judy C for $60, what year is it? I ask because the Judy's used to be a decent upper-to-mid-level fork. I think it's the bottom line fork these days. Not that that means anything. With all the improvements in suspension, top of the line 5 years ago is bottom of the line today.

Take it for a test ride. Ifit feels good to you, $60 for a fork is pretty good.

 

[turbojames]

The Judy C is a 2001 model. Is that a decent shock? Should I spend a little more (100-120 and get something better)? I see there is a bunch of Noleen Mega Air's for sale on eBay, are they good (worth 115-120). What about a Manitou Comp 6 ($85) or Rock Shox Judy XC for $100? They are all 2000 & up shocks. Which one would you buy?

1) Judy C - 2001 slightly used - $60
2) Manitou Comp 6 -New 2002- $85
3) Noleen Mega Air -New 2001- $115
4) Rock Shox Judy XC -New- $100

Or should I just fix my shock. Is it really that difficult to do? I'm in a dormroom, and I don't have a lot of tools with me. My shock is a 98 SL.

 

[Repack]

New fork: Of the ones you listed, the newer open-bath Judys are pretty nice. They are durable, easy to work on and have a nice ride. Too heavy for some but a solid fork. Of the forks you listed, it was bar far my #1 pick. Do you know what year it is or can you link the ad?

I posted this in another RS maintenance thread about how to overhaul the cart. I think that all you need is a 5mm to remove the leg bolts and a pair of snapring pliers. A catch pan of some sort is also a good idea b/c sometimes they blow up when the snap ring comes out. Remember to let off all of the preload.
And ditch the elastomers for springs.
A very good cartridge tip:
The cart's are held together by snap rings and are very easy to rebuild.

When you are putting it all back together, slide a piece of metal wire betweent the plastic "plug" and the damper shaft. Fill up the shock body and new oil as much as possible before pushing the plug back down. Also coat the plug with oil. Push the plug down the shaft, keeping the wire in place betweet in and the shaft. As it goes into the oil, the extra oil will be able to escape around the wire. When the plug is pressed down all the way, slide out the wire. This insures that you have no air inside the cart. Air gets hot, expands and blows seals. Very bad.
This may sound complicated, but will start to make sense once you get it apart. I own a 97 Judy DH with aluminum carts held together by snap rings. Hopefully yours is the same. I think that some of the early Judy's had sealed plastic carts.

 

[BikeGeek]

Repack: I have a '97 Judy XC and it is just as easy as you say. I used a piece of fishing line in place of the wire and it also worked pretty well. I also agree that replacing those stupid MCUs with a spring stack of some sort (Speed Springs ) is the way to go. It sounds like turboj may have blown a seal on the cartridge. Any idea where to pick up seals for an older fork?

 

[Repack]

Originally posted by BikeGeek
Repack: I have a '97 Judy XC and it is just as easy as you say. I used a piece of fishing line in place of the wire and it also worked pretty well. I also agree that replacing those stupid MCUs with a spring stack of some sort (Speed Springs ) is the way to go. It sounds like turboj may have blown a seal on the cartridge. Any idea where to pick up seals for an older fork?

Glad to hear things went well.
I would tell your friend to do the same thing you did. The biggest problem with the Judy's is that as the oil leaked out of the cartridge, air would get in. As the air heated, it would expand and blow out the seal. When I first service my Judy DH, one of the seals blew out when I removed the snapring. Its almost as if the oil is "carbonated".
If it is blown, RS no longer makes parts for that fork. They stop making parts ~3 years after production stops. This is not to say that they don't have any left. They might. Also try calling around to shops. I know that the shop I worked for had a RS maintenance kit that included all the parts.

 

[ZachTheMech]

Originally posted by turbojames
I've got an older Judy SL shock. It's an oil setup. When I ride the bike, the shocks don't provide any cushion (they bottom out). What needs to be done?

Can I replace the cartidges with a spring type or some other type of dampening?

Englund makes Air Cartridges for them. I used to have a 95 JUDY DH fork but back them 80 mm of travel was alot. I threw these in and it made them alot more adjustable and felt alot better imo.