Fox Talas Fork Oil Change Part 1

How to change the oil in a Fox Talas III fork. This is part 1 of 2.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This service procedure is for 2012 and 2013 Fox Talas forks. The 2014 models have a new damper which is sealed and should not be taken apart without specialized instruction. I will make a video soon on how to change the oil in the 2014 Fox Talas, which is much easier.

[@NearlyFromAfar]

Thank you so much - I just finished rebuilding my Talas by watching your guide. If I may add something though: when you turn the bottom nut upside down for the hammer to tap on, I suggest not turning it upside down first. Because by doing so, you are hammering the side that needs to remain smooth, since that is the side that seals against the crush washer. Otherwise, great work!

[@kasparondrej2938]

Thank you for this great tutorial, Clint! I just successfully finished my first air shaft service - Fox 32 Talas O/C 2013 :) Some hints - fox fluid in foam rings last longer than fox green, spare crush washers are sold in 50 pcs. pack from Rock Shox - works perfect :), small amount of grease (slick honey/slick kick) in seals helps during assembly, be sure bumpers in lower legs are in correct position, take your time! .

[@Mtbskierdiyer]

Clint... used your video to step me through a 2011 Fox Talas oil & seal change. Thank you so much for taking the time to make it! Huge help and gave me the confidence to take on this maintenance for the first time.

[@ClintGibbs]

+David Starrs 👍👍👍

[@anko7990]

Thanks so much for taking the time and effort to film, explain and load this vid. I've done my first service. Not as hard as I thought. Also loved alot of your other vids. Cheers Clint

[@SonnyCrisini]

Thank you from HK where everything is delegated to a shop! wanting to learn more on how to do it! and your video very informative and easy to understand!

[@mojorisen475]

Best video on this service to date! Thanks!!

[@stevemillard5501]

Hi Clint Thanks for that you were a great help, more so than the local agent Steve

[@ClintGibbs]

Michael, I think this is the same for the 2010 model if you don't include the damper side, like I did. I would try to find the oil volume guide for your fork and even see if you can find the tutorial on Fox's website and make sure it's the same as the way I did it.

[@ClintGibbs]

I don't know if the internals on the RC2 are the same but you could go to the help section on Fox's website and look at the instructions. See if they look like the ones in the video I made.

[@ClintGibbs]

@SirCamsmorethanalot, you'll have to take that up with Fox.

[@bernerteorica6929]

Clint, Thank you for the advise. Any suggestion on alternative suspension fluid?

[@igorgoga]

masking tape works well to hold brake bolts in place when you unscrew the front brake from the fork

[@tyzzii03]

This was very helpful

[@InfiltrateDestroy93]

I think the RC2 means you need to put a different volume of oil in that side. The RC2, if I'm right, is a sealed unit inside.

[@spybot2d]

Very good guide. Thx mate.

[@VladimirOndrejcakcom]

Hi many thanks for your video. It was very useful. I made service and i had one problem in 13:14 minute you push up part of fork i wasn't able do this. It was so hard. I used socet key as you but i affred of to damage fork. Do you have any expririence with it? i tried to clean part of fork from up and than i composed it. Many thanks for your answer

[@Luq1981]

great tutorial..are these steps applicable to an RC2 Talas forks?

[@JumbleMT]

Cool video I'm trying to find 2014 Fox Suspension 34 Talas CTD Kashima Forks oil change

[@ClintGibbs]

Part 2 will be uploaded tonight.

[@feeleap2396]

Hello clint,I have a Giant reign 1 2013 fork is CTD Evolution 120-150 (stock) I cant seem to find it under the oil Fox volume. Thank you for any help Phil

[@SladeValleyDH]

would it be the same for the 2010 model ?

[@JD-007]

Hey mate! I just got Cube Stereo Rx MTB, it's slightly used, comes with Fox 32 Talas, the same as yours, but am confused between those "Low-Speed compression" + "Lockout force Nob" and the blue one, If I change them all, I really don't feel any difference, is there any manual guide or video about this specific fork so I can understand the features of it? Thanks

[@marcstafford3675]

Thanks for taking the time to share, Clint! I have a 2013 Fox 32 FLOAT O/C CTD damper. Would this same procedure apply?

[@ClintGibbs]

No, that fork will be a bit different. Your fork will be more similar to my video on the F-Series oil change. But the open cartridge will be different. Check out Fox's website for the tutorial on that fork and for the oil volumes.

[@edgaralfred_films]

Can I use red instead of green?

[@stevemillard5501]

Hi Clint I have the evolution 32 with talas and ctd, and 140mm of travel. Which are the 2014 model. Iam due to do the lower leg oil change and seal check, I have been on the fox oil volume tech page and cant seam to find the quanties or type of oil per leg. There agent here in New Zealand has told me two different amounts on different acocations. Can you please help. Steve

[@ClintGibbs]

Steve Millard What wheel size? Go to www.foxracingshox then go to Help ... Bike ... Service Procedures ... 2014 Bath Oil Volume Chart.

[@rgalang43]

Clint, this is so awesome. My Talas had stopped working and wasn't able to adjust any longer. After following your instructions, it's working again. I road the bike around the block and a couple of observations. Reducing travel works good. Almost too good. It seems that it goes down to almost 2" travel? Then when increasing travel, it's very slow to respond. I have to wheelie a few times for the fork to fully extend again. However, once fully extended it stays this way and works well. I also have some slight leakage the the lowers. Do I need to go on a full ride to get things "springy" again? Or did I do something wrong? Thanks again!

[@ClintGibbs]

+Raymond Galang it sounds like it's working pretty well. Is the leaking coming from the seals at the top of the lowers? If so it's probably time to replace those.

[@jsallan7]

Quick question. I've seen other service videos where they don't remove the cartridge from the stanchions, they only remove the lowers and replace the oil and check the foam seals. I've seen this done to Floats and not Talases, so for Talases (which I have) is the cartridge removal required? Or is it simply a more thorough rebuild? Thanks!

[@ClintGibbs]

drudge , you can certainly do this to save time since the oil is usually dirtier than the float fluid. But it doesn't take much extra time (especially the non-Talas forks) to change the float fluid so you might as well do it if you have the fork broken down.

[@bimsoej]

Very good tutorial. Can i apply this procedure to 2013 TALAS 32mm FIT CTD? Thanks.

[@ClintGibbs]

Yes, this works with the 2013 (which is what this one is). The 2014 changed the Talas system so it's a sealed design. (On the 2014 you just need to drain the oil from the lowers and replace it and not mess with the Talas system)

[@Luq1981]

thanks! great videos btw.. :)

[@SirCamsmorethanalot]

thx, will do.

[@74MrGman]

hi Clint, Very nice Video! and very useful thank you. my question is: you recommend to use rubbing alcohol to clean. I have Methyl Hydrate. would it be find? can I use it without risk of damaging seals and over forks part? Thank you!

[@ClintGibbs]

+74MrGman I honestly don't know enough about that to make a recommendation . Sorry!

[@74MrGman]

fine enough! i'll try and I will give you feedback on it! I'm just worry that my product could be too aggressive for the Cashima coating or component's fork. but I read that degreaser isn't good for cleaning forks. what do you recon' from your own experience?

[@ClintGibbs]

Rubbing alcohol has always worked fine and fox also recommends it in some of their service procedures.

[@dennisangeris9830]

Hi Clint , quick questions... this procedure applies to a Talas 36 FIT RLC 2012? Do I have to change the seals? Thanks

[@ClintGibbs]

Dennis Angeris , I'm not sure if this would be the same as the Talas 36 FIT but I would think so. To be safe you could try to find a video, or just change the oil in the lowers and not mess with the upper assembly. Look up the oil volume charts for your fork before doing it (kind of tricky to find on Fox's website so let me know if you can't find it). As far as changing the seals, if you ride frequently and it's been 2 years since they've been changed, then I would do it. But if they look good when you remove the lowers, it's not crucial.

[@bernerteorica6929]

Hi Clint, do you know to resolve fox fork talas air leak, also my rebound lock (for climb) not working. Do I need to replace the seals or just oil maintenance?

[@ClintGibbs]

If there were oil leaks on the stanchion tubes and then I would say the seals need to be replaced. To me it sounds like there is a leak in the talas air system so I think you need to send the fork back to Fox for an overhaul.

[@FillyDing]

I just recently bought a 2006 Talas rlc, do I need to do this on that fork as well?

[@ClintGibbs]

+FillyDing you do need to change the oil in the fork periodically.

[@michaelklesa3175]

Hey Clint, great video. I have a 2011 36 Talas 3 RLC 160. Is this the same procedure for mine?

[@ClintGibbs]

I think so but hard to say for sure without seeing the fork in person.

[@marktalaro3207]

Hi Clint. I have Fox 34 Talas CTD,26 Fit from my 2013 Cannondale Jekyll Carbon 1. I'm planning to do oil change but I'm getting confused what's the right oil to use. Can I use 20wt gold Fox oil instead? I'm looking for the 10wt green in Amazon but can't find it,what they have is the 10wt Red. I really hope you can help me. Thank you in advance.

[@ClintGibbs]

+Mark Talaro check out the oil volume chart on the Fox website. It will give the latest recommendation for the right amount and type of oil.

[@llomeli751]

I have problems watching this part of the series, the message is that there is an error... Is there a problem with the server?

[@ClintGibbs]

Luis Gonzalez , it seems to be working fine on my computer. Are you using a tablet, phone or computer?

[@nip2121]

What is that circular gear with numbers at 5:43?

[@ClintGibbs]

+kelvin acosta adjusting the position of the quick release lever

[@willarnold7923]

Hi, wonder if you can help. I have 2014 talas 34 and after hitting some heavy jumps I have seem to have lost about 2 3rds of my teavel?? It all seems to work fine but with only 80mm of travel instead of 150mm :^( any advice would be awesome. Thank you in advance.

[@ClintGibbs]

The 2014 Talas uses a sealed assembly that is not easily serviceable from a consumer perspective. But you can still change the oil in the fork. I don't think an oil change is going to solve the problem but it would be the first thing I would try. If that does not work then you would have to send it back to Fox. Has it been more than a year since you purchased it? If not it would be covered under warranty. In fact if it is under warranty I would just go ahead and send it back.

[@willarnold7923]

Thank you Clint, yes it is only 5mths old so i will try and sort it under warranty. Thank you for your advice.

[@ClintGibbs]

No problem. I had to send mine back within the warranty period because it was making a clicking noise. Fox got it back to me within a week or so.

[@willarnold7923]

That's awesome i will call them in the morning.

[@SirCamsmorethanalot]

why would they all be metric allens and then suddenly a 1/16 for removing that top cap..?>?? :/

[@sebastiandelamaza8440]

is it neccesary to use isopropyl alcohol? any other degreaser may damage the seals?

[@ClintGibbs]

Isopropyl alcohol is what Fox recommends so I would stick to that. Besides, it's CHEAP! :)

[@sebastiandelamaza8440]

bad news is that where i live you can´t buy it without a prescription, apparentely you can use it to make drugs

[@ClintGibbs]

Then I would try to find a biodegradable degreaser. If Simple Green is available that would work.

[@frankspiteri]

Clint Gibbs Great video. Have you made one for the 2014 Talas yet?

[@ClintGibbs]

Frank Spiteri, I'm going to make one for the 2014 Talas later this summer. But that fork is REALLY easy. The Talas assembly is sealed so really all you do is drain the oil, remove the lowers, wipe down, and then add 30ml of suspension fluid to each side. Then send the fork to Fox once a year to maintain the FIT damper and Talas assembly.

[@ClintGibbs]

Hmmmm, good question and I really don't know the answer to that. You may want to give Fox a call and ask about that.

[@ClintGibbs]

***** , that is correct for the 2014. You just need to drop the lowers, wipe things down, and replace the oil. None of the upper caps need to be removed. Then once a year send it to Fox to do maintenance on the talas and FIT systems.

[@rohinbakrania347]

What's the difference between a Talas and a Float?

[@ClintGibbs]

Rohin Bakrania Talas has travel adjust (on the fly with a knob) and float does not (you can change the travel of float forks but you have to take them apart).

[@rohinbakrania347]

Clint Gibbs that's nice to know as I just bought a 2013 36talas not knowing you have the ability to change travel, thank you Clint Gibbs

[@Alejandromartinez-un3xs]

what happens if i dont take the fork off the bike?

[@ClintGibbs]

You can do this service without removing the fork from the bike, but you'll still have to remove the front wheel and brake caliper. You'll have to flip the bike upside down at times during the service.

[@Alejandromartinez-un3xs]

Clint Gibbs Thanks for the video bro, awesome job real clear

[@banderilllero]

0:15 wtf - doing service that often? haha, big joke from Fox! I made my first service after 5 years now. Still all inside components were still good looking. I nevertheless renewed oils, but left all seals, only cleaned them. Just fyi..

[@majortom4543]

rock shox for life, Fox is for begginer department bikes, fox is only good in motorcycle gear and not mechanical but gogles and shit.

[@seanhornchek6440]

the gear is a totally different company, and fox does not come on department bikes

[@seanhornchek6440]

rockshox is the one that makes low end department bike forks like the tk silver

[@arthursnoeck]

Major Tom thahaha you’re joking right “beginner departement bikes”, go to a downhill park and look around you. Or you’re just really rich and call a €5000 bike a beginner departement bike

[@peoc422]

Hi I cant fined the oil volume on www.ridefox.com/help.php?m=bike&id=530 for the Fox 32 Talas CTD Evolution, w/15mm thru­axle, OverDrive 2 steerer, 120­140mm travel off the Giant trance 27.5 1 2014 do you know them.

[@ClintGibbs]

john robertson My guess is that it's 30 and 30, but I would call Fox to verify since the 120-140 fork isn't showing up on the chart.

[@rli6951]

alcohol on seals is not a good idea, it will expand. use mineral spirit

[@ClintGibbs]

Fox recommends isopropyl alcohol

[@rli6951]

i guess the seals are silicon then, if not don't care what they recommend.

[@alphawolph1002]

I m lost ...better buy a new one...

[@herman.crosbike86crosbike19]

kurang mnariik.,