Manitou blowup?

[Matno]

My cheap Manitou 6 just croaked on me. "Hiccup" may be a better word, as I'm sure it's fixable. I'm just not sure what's wrong. It's a relatively new fork. OEM special (not listed on Manitou's website, and no manuals available). But, it's got a reverse arch and adjustable rebound damping (oil). It's coil/elastomer suspension.

Anyway, I was just riding it literally across the street from home, noticing how good the suspension felt for such a cheap fork, and I rode up a set of 4 steps. Felt a bit of a jolt on the bottom step, and when I got to the top... Travel stops dead at about 1 inch! Ouch!

Any ideas what may have happened?

[Simon]

Don't know this fork but my guess is somethings gone awry in the damper and
its hydraulicing,can't imagine the coil spring or elastomers causing the problem,anyway sounds like
a full fork strip,
Simon.

[Frankd3000]

Agreed with the full fork strip, but I call a mechanical problem. Manitou like to do this stupid crimping thing with some of their stuff and I suspect that something has "come un-done".

Tear it down, Matt. Check Manitou's guides, they can be helpful.

[Matno]

Well, I compounded the problem. I've taken it apart before (not completely, but enough to know better than to do what I did) and this time I forgot to turn the bottom bolt clockwise to remove. Didn't even torque very hard (the wrong way) and the entire bottom threaded portion broke right off. (Then again, as easily as that turned, it may have been at least part of the problem to begin with). At least now I have full travel! Completely undamped, but nice and smooth. I also have half a cup full of fork oil. I'm thinking that maybe there was an oil leak and I was running low. Can that cause a problem like this or would that just make me lose my damping? I did notice that the damping was working nicely up until about 30 seconds before the damage occurred.

I think I may have to go for a full replacement of the rebound damper lower assembly. Maybe not, but I'm pretty sure it's screwed. Good thing I only paid $36 for this fork...

I wonder how much it costs to get a replacement damper. I'm not willing to shell out major bucks for something like this. I'll call my LBS buddy tomorrow and see if he has any insight on prices.

[Simon]

At least you now know the problem was the damper,
running low I wouldn't of though would of caused the problem as air would of got in the system and as we know air compresses,
also the dampers tend to make a squelching noise when caviting,
I think maybe the oil bypassed a seal and caused it to hydraulic,anyway sounds like you need a new damper assembly or overhaul kit.
Simon.

[jimbo]

Might be cheaper to buy this:



http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/FK507A00-Manitou+Axel+Elite+100Mm+Oe.aspx



Manitou does a poor job of keeping their site up to date.  I had a hell of a time trying to find the part number for a softer spring for my 2005 Sherman earlier this year.  



I've been researching getting a jumper fork for my Planet X.  The Psylo is not cutting it.  A couple Manitou models came up in some forums.  The Stance Blunt and Gold Series.  These forks are availabe for sale at various online sources yet I can't find any technical data on them.

[Matno]

Thanks Jimbo. That's essentially the same fork as I have now except that i need one for V-brakes. And it's got 4" of travel. Mine only has 80mm. (The original one is supposed to be internally adjustable, but my OEM version is not. Then again, the original wasn't supposed to have adjustable rebound damping and mine does. Life is all about tradeoffs, right?)

Also, even though it's cheap at $69, it's WAY more than I want to spend. Hopefully I won't have to spend that much. If so,  My LBS buddy can usually get me stuff like that at cost. It's a pain to order stuff from him over the phone and usually takes a while, but it works. (There's an implied promise there that when I finish school, I'll buy a nice bike from him, but I'm sure he'll still give me a good deal!)

We'll see. I haven't called him yet.