manitou swinger 4 compatiblity on my 5500c

[jtolputt]

Hi every one

ive recently put together a 5500c (which is dam sweet FSA throughout will post some pics soon) but im not liking the smart shock at the rear (boing boing), I have heard and seen a few mentions that a manitou swinger 4 is a good replacement for this.

Have just purchased one off ebay, just wondering if im gonna have to put it back on or be able to make use of it.

Could anyone point me to a previous discussion on this unit  or give some upto date advice.

Im beginning to get sea sick.

cheers

jase

[shovelon]

Need more info. Eye to eye? Coil or air? Do you have a shock pump?

[jtolputt]

The unit is 200mm i2i and its a coil shock, thanks for any help on this
jase  

[shovelon]

The bushings are available retail. You will have to tell your LBS what the dimensions are in metric.

I put mine in shock body up and it fit fine between the carbon plates.

The spring retainer cap will hit the swingarm mount., So either you can file the mount, or do what I did which was to file 2 grooves into the cap to stradle the mount. Then belt sand or grind a radius on the spring so it also clears the mount.

Sounds like the shock may be a tad short. Another option is to fab an extension block that will also give you the clearance for the mount.

Look here.

[Luke]

Hello everybody.
New to this forum, which I've known about for a bit.

I've been commuting happily on my 5500 for the last few years (morning run is a 850m altitude drop in 15 km on brilliant rocky tracks; evening is a long climb)

The poor thing's taken a pounding; I've had to glue a few inserts back in and the seat post is bonded in place now.

My NR4 was satisfactory until yesterday when it started peeing its oil all over the place.
CVI in England used to do my servicing, now my only option seems to be in the USA; but looking at the price of the 8.125" swingers that are back up on Ebay (found on this BB) I am sorely tempted just to get a Manitou.

I'm a mech engineer who's not afraid of making modifications but I don't have much time to do them anymore so all I would like to know is:

Can  bolt the 8.125 swinger straight in and go? or should I look for a shorter one and fart around to make an adapter that follows the idea of Shovelon's (but mine could never be that good looking)?

The long one must give enormous travel; I'm not sure if my 100 mm SID XL fork wouldn't be overwhelmed by such a soft back end.

Thanks for any advice you might be able to give me
Luke

[jtolputt]

Hi Luke

I have manage to fit the manitou swinger 4 I purchases from Ebay.
was £85

I had to make up some new bushings and had to grind down the strut on my swingarm but only by a few mil, I then had to grind a bit off the top of the suspension unit as its a very vey tight fit into the frame strut.

with a bit of time and perseverance it should fit all be it a tight one, ive been riding my 5500 for the past 2 weeks with it now and all seems good.

[Luke]

Hi,
Thanks for your reply Jtolputt.
By swingarm strut do you mean the little riveted plate with the two eyelets on it? You ground in the middle between the two eyes?

So now I know that with a bit of bodging a Swinger 4 will fit; the ones on Ebay are 3way airs.
Anyone know if their eyes are the same?

L

[jeffhop]

i mounted an 200mm i2i x-fusion air shock on my oz that i got off ebay new for £30 and i must say it works a treat, i made my own bushes and ground a bit off the mounting plate for the air valve but its the best £30 ive spent on the bike.