Need some advice!

[doctorsimpson]

I was recently given a ProFlex 856.  The bike was only ridden a couple of times before the original owner took a spill into some cacti and decided to give it up.  So from new, the bike was used less than a dozen times and then sat in a garage until about a week ago.  

The elastomers on the rear ODS shock are completely melted/disintegrated.  I have been reading about replacing it or rebuilding it.  Risse racing has replacement shocks (pretty expensive for this severely budget minded individual!), RDS has the COR replacement spring and suspensionforkparts has the rebuild elastomer kit.  Can anyone offer me some insight or alternatives to these options?  Spend more money and get a Risse shock, go with the COR springs or just replace the elastomers?  I'm 185lbs and will be riding trails here in Arizona.  

Also, I have read about replacing the oil in the shock but will I need to replace any seals/bushings as well?  Any sources for these seals/bushings?  If I rebuild the original shock with either elastomers or a spring, will this shock last me for a few years of relatively trouble free riding or should I play it safe and replace the whole thing?


Next is the fork.  The bike currently has an Answer Manitou 4 fork.  I haven't taken it apart yet to see what the elastomers look like yet but it still has travel and rebound to it when compressed.  Suspensionforkparts also has a rebuild kit for this.  But my question is, should I use replacement elastomers or go with a spring kit?  Has anyone done either of these options?  If so what were your results?

I hope that you can forgive a newb and all these questions?  I have read alot of the other posts regarding some of my questions but I wanted to consolidate them here in one thread.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Oh, yah...the bike has SRAM SRT 800-X shifters, Dia Comp 7 brake levers, Shimano XT front and rear derailleurs, Shimano LX cantilever brakes and Panaracer tires that are crumbling to pieces!

And thanks for this forum.  I had no idea that so many people kept/rebuilt/loved their old mtb's.  I'm coming off a 94 Rocky Mountain Equipe so when I do get this bike back in shape it will be a huge step up for me!

One more thing...will the Manitou fork and rear swingarm fit v-brakes when I eventually upgrade?

[Colin]

I'd stick with the ODS as the budget option, but upgrade it with the excellent COR spring option from Callum (RDS).
Buying more elastomers is a waste of money as they don't perform that well and will age harden/melt.
Changing the shock is the rich man's option to be considered if money is no object or you can really justify the potential performance improvement in your riding.

Check the ODS is working OK, by dis-assembling it from the rear strut and frame, see this diagram:
http://idriders.com/proflex/coppermine/albums/userpics/10284/97_spc657_strut.pdf

Remove the ruined elastomers and clean up the shock, check the shock has compression and rebound damping by compressing the piston shaft and then drawing it back out again, it should have about 50mm 2" of stroke.
Maybe put a bit of light oil on the shaft just to lubricate the shaft wiper seal to help it along.
If it resists you in both directions and no sign of oil leaks, then it's a good 'un!
It might be a bit stiff on first try as it's stood so long, but it should give with your body weight behind it!

No need to do an oil change on it, especially if you ride in warm conditions, unless you specifically want less damping.
Suck it and see!
Again, this is a performance upgrade that you can play with at a later date, the seals are industry standard and seem to be available, see other threads) and Callum has an instruction sheet for doing this. But I've never felt the need to do this and my ODS shocks have lasted 11 years of use!
Put an inner tube "boot" over the shock body and piston shaft inside the coil spring to keep the crap off of it and it should last years!

Sorry, don't know anything about the fork.

Good luck with your excellent "gift"

keep us informed,

Col.

[doctorsimpson]

I'd stick with the ODS as the budget option, but upgrade it with the excellent COR spring option from Callum (RDS).
Buying more elastomers is a waste of money as they don't perform that well and will age harden/melt.
Changing the shock is the rich man's option to be considered if money is no object or you can really justify the potential performance improvement in your riding.

Check the ODS is working OK, by dis-assembling it from the rear strut and frame, see this diagram:
http://idriders.com/proflex/coppermine/albums/userpics/10284/97_spc657_strut.pdf

Remove the ruined elastomers and clean up the shock, check the shock has compression and rebound damping by compressing the piston shaft and then drawing it back out again, it should have about 50mm 2" of stroke.
Maybe put a bit of light oil on the shaft just to lubricate the shaft wiper seal to help it along.
If it resists you in both directions and no sign of oil leaks, then it's a good 'un!
It might be a bit stiff on first try as it's stood so long, but it should give with your body weight behind it!

No need to do an oil change on it, especially if you ride in warm conditions, unless you specifically want less damping.
Suck it and see!
Again, this is a performance upgrade that you can play with at a later date, the seals are industry standard and seem to be available, see other threads) and Callum has an instruction sheet for doing this. But I've never felt the need to do this and my ODS shocks have lasted 11 years of use!
Put an inner tube "boot" over the shock body and piston shaft inside the coil spring to keep the crap off of it and it should last years!

Sorry, don't know anything about the fork.

Good luck with your excellent "gift"

keep us informed,

Col.

Colin,

Thanks for the response and advice.  I'll most likely go with Callum's COR spring.  When you mentioned an inner tube 'boot', were you referring to something like a Lizard Skin rear boot?  Where I ride it is mostly dry, hot and dusty so not much worry about getting the shock wet, just need to keep out the dirt.

Iain

[Colin]

Yeh a Lizard Skin would do the job.

But what I do is simply cut a length of old inner tube of the right diameter to be a tight fit over the shock body with the spring removed and the right length to cover the piston shaft and then slip the spring over that.
The inner tube just concertinas up as the shock compresses and keeps dust and dirt off of the shaft quite well.

Must post a piccie of this aftermarket mod that I have patented! <GRIN>

Col.