Query about air forks

[Bergman16]

generally speaking, if a fork tube is holding air, is the seal also holding oil? Would think the air would leak first but possibly not the case?

Bought a spare set that have been drained but hold the air I put in them. Just curious mostly as I need them for parts but tempted to mount and get a ride in this weekend before I cannabalize them.

[DiverRay]

Yeah, I would run a little kerosene to clean them, then put in the oil. They will work for a while. You probably will not see a sign of an oil leak until after you start riding it.
Oh, and keep the air pressure down to about 12psi.

[jetmechmarty]

The air seals are on the top of the forks. The caps and the air valves have packings (o'rings). Air can't escape out the fork seals on the fork lowers because it can't get by the oil blocking its path. Only oil leaks out there.

[Bergman16]

Yeah one leaked but not bad. The good news is both springs in the new old set were in spec so I'll be able to harvest those, along with the left outer tube which I needed. AND I got to ride all day.

Turns out I had one spring spec length but bowed, no doubt because the other was a full 3/8th short.

Even without putting on my brace yesterday the difference was very noticeable. Decent springs in clean rebuilt tubes should even be better!

[BA80]

Yeah one leaked but not bad. The good news is both springs in the new old set were in spec so I'll be able to harvest those, along with the left outer tube which I needed. AND I got to ride all day.

Turns out I had one spring spec length but bowed, no doubt because the other was a full 3/8th short.

Even without putting on my brace yesterday the difference was very noticeable. Decent springs in clean rebuilt tubes should even be better!

If all you need is one lower don't cannibalize a good set. I've got some extra Special lowers laying around. I'll send you one for the shipping cost.

I keep an extra set of forks around so I can reseal them if the ones on my bike start leaking. If that happens I can reseal the extra set and my bike is only down long enough to swap them out.

I had to do that after my trip out west this spring. The seal blew on the right fork n the way home so I tied a rag around it to keep the oil off the brakes for a couple weeks while I ordered seals and fork oil and resealed the extras. Bike was only down about an hour.

[Bergman16]

Great, that would give me a whole spare set minus springs. I'll pm you.

Thanks

[BA80]

I've got extra springs too if you want 'em.