Originally Posted by
Velogoth
Thanks Kapusta, I did have to pump the shock up quite high to get it to a reasonable stiffness, so I'll be watching to see if there are signs of seal failure.
I'm thinking about having the shock serviced anyway, there's a guy in upstate NY who does them for about $85 plus shipping & parts. Maybe he can put in a beefier return spring or something.
I would definitely do a rebuild if you plan to actually keep it. If you are looking to flip it, it is likely not worth it. On the other hand, considering the bike was free you would still get your money back, though.
Hard to say what it is worth. As a functional MTB, Its pretty weak by today's standards. For what most people actually use 90s era hardtail mtbs for these days, the shock may be of little value. OTOH, to someone who wants a sort-of-vintage bike in what looks to be fairly original period-appropriate dress, this could be worth more.
Personally, if it were me, I would likely get the shock rebuilt and see how enjoy riding it.