How to remove the lowers from a RST Vogue?

[Kingfisher_BE]

I cant seem to remove the lowers from a second hand Vogue that I bought. When I pulll out the red rebound knob, I can insert a hex, but that just turns and turns without unscrewing anything. So how do I remove the lowers?

 

[RST_Europe_Team]

Good afternoon Kingfisher_BE,

the lower removal of the VOGUE fork series is basically an easy task, however the rebound screw that you are trying to open with the 3mm allen might be causing some issues
The scew is going inside the rebound rod is usually secured with some LocTite / screw locker patch in order to have this crucial connection (of wheel to bike) secured!

As, depending on who has been opening this fork lately, this screw locker could be sitting VERY tight, you might to try to either heat up or even drill the fixing lowerr screw - we have attached the exploded view of the VOGUE fork for this reason.
Try a heatgun first, since you will need to replace the lower screw (which is a special, genuine RST part) if you drill open the fork:

Make sure the drill is big enough so you are only removing the head of the fixing screw which is "freeing" the lower; then the remaining thread can be unscrewed from the rebound rod so the rebound is still useful and can be used to revive the VOGUE.

Hove this all helps and makes your fork service possible.
Have a great day and stay safe.

Best regards Stephan, RST_Europe_Team.

 

[Kingfisher_BE]

So it's that one I am trying to remove. It fits a 3mmhex, it turns and turns, but it wont come out

 

[Kingfisher_BE]

Succes!!!! Managed to open the fork.

1) Remove the Compression dial (warning: small springs and bearings!!!!)
2) remove compression cap
3) remove lockout assembly
4) remove oil. Oil everywhere.
5) use a 14m key on a long extension to hold the top of the rebound assembly. Now I could undo the bottom leg bolt

The rest was fairly standard fork maintenance.

One question: no wipers, just a thick layer of grease??!? Or did the previous owner "forgot" to reinstall them? And if they are missing, where can I buy them (am in Belgium).

 

[RST_Europe_Team]

Dear Kingfisher_BE,

sorry for coming back to you so late. Good news I am reading there, that you managed to open the fork without using brute force
As for the foamring issue - unfortunately there has been space but no spronges in this generation of VOGUE forks. The fork series "F1RST 24" and VOGUE are using the same seals BTW. Paul Lange, the distributor in Germany (and few other countries in Central Europe) is liting them here: https://www.paul-lange.de/shop/de/rst/ersatzteile/dichtung-tauchrohr.html?sbeg=staubdichtung ... [article number "FA003856395"]
Unfortunately this is also delivered without a sponge which is holding back dust quite effectively.

But using this space using a pack of grease (quality suspension grease) will do a good job as well. The genuine RST grease is "Slick Honey" which is the best and required grease to enform best performance over all weather conditions. RST Grease 50g: “H5GACB182” [PLG Number FA003851261]; it is the same grease also used from various companies - RS Butter, etc.

Hope this help, have a great day.

Best regards, Stephan, RST_Europe_Team.

 

[Okon]

Hi guys, do you know if this rebound screw (part no 17 on the drawing) can be actually purchased anywhere?

I apparently need to replace a piston (part no 6) on my Vogue air, but to do it as I understand I need to completely disassemble the fork. And the only thing keeping me from doing that is the rebound screw that is somehow damaged because of some previous unprofessional service attempt (cracked head and worn out socket). I can't remove it so I will probably need to use the drilling technique.

If I manage to open the fork to replace the piston mentioned above, can you suggest some kind of a service kit (grease, oil, orings, any other stuff that it's a good idea to replace when the fork is already disassembled)?
The fork hasn't been opened for the last 3 years and I don't think that the warranty service guys have even done any basics when it was still on warranty.

Any help is very much appreciated, I've tried to purchase this damn screw 3,5 years ago but no shop seemed to bother sourcing it for me (even when I gave them the precise part index).

Best regards,
Łukasz

 

[RST_Europe_Team]

Dear Lukasz,

sorry for my late reply.
As I need to have the production date of the forkj in order to see what generation we are talking about, can you please let me know what this is?
Either laser etched at the backside of the crown or engraved on the back side of the steerer tube, you will find the production code.

PS.: attached the manual which basically shows the disassebmly & service of the VOGUE fork up to now.
Even som small part have been changing over the years, the fork generally stayed the same
PS.PS.: there is a press fit on the rebound side: losen the screw but leave it inside the thread so you can disengage it with a plastic / rubber hammer.

Cheers, have a great day.

BR Stephan, RST_Europe_Team.

 

[Okon]

Dear Lukasz,

sorry for my late reply.
As I need to have the production date of the forkj in order to see what generation we are talking about, can you please let me know what this is?
Either laser etched at the backside of the crown or engraved on the back side of the steerer tube, you will find the production code.

PS.: attached the manual which basically shows the disassebmly & service of the VOGUE fork up to now.
Even som small part have been changing over the years, the fork generally stayed the same
PS.PS.: there is a press fit on the rebound side: losen the screw but leave it inside the thread so you can disengage it with a plastic / rubber hammer.

Cheers, have a great day.

BR Stephan, RST_Europe_Team.

Thanks for the info and for the attached manual, I guess I'm stuck on the a3 step because the screw on the rebound adjustment is damaged (head/socket is worn out and cracked). The fork has a "15" mark, the bicycle is a 2016 Author Codex.
Could you please elaborate more on the "PS" part? I don't really understand the press fit and what screw exactly we're discussing - I can't see this step in the manual.

Thanks and BR,
Łukasz

 

[RST_Europe_Team]

Dear Lukasz,

ideed you need to drill open the rebound fixing screw which, when damaged, is unremovable.
As you can see from the suggestion above, the drilling process is not fancy, yet "freeing the lower" from the rebound rod.
Where are you located? Just so we can find a retailer / shop who yould help you with parts once the fork is taken apart.

Have a great day.

BR Stephan, RST_Europe_Team.