Resuscitation/upgrade

[Colin]

its a 855 or 755 wc not a 856.bith the 856 and 756 used the girvin fork with the ulm not the stem mount.

................Not sure it's as simple as that............(what ever is??? <GRIN>)

I think you could get Vector II's with a stem Upper Link Mount on early 856's......

I respectfully submit my evidence..............<SMILE>





and the Vector I & II Alignment instruction sheet talks about the stem ULM........
http://idriders.com/proflex/coppermine/albums/userpics/10284/v1_v2_al_alignment.pdf

I think the only way to identify a x55 or a x56 is the use of friction shocks? Maybe some slight differences on the frame, but I don't know what.........The strengthening plates on later frames would definately identify the frame as an x56 but their absence doesn't confirm things one way or t'other.............maybe it doesn't matter! Fix it and Ride it! <GRIN>

Col.

[pressureangle]

Can I use a 1" headset? I'm sure I can find or have made some sort of sleeve, but I don't want this to be a Christmas project. I expected to be able to ride it at least easily as soon as I got pedals, so I'm taking a beating every day staring at the thing. The 856's you've posted appear to have the top tube bend forward of the rear tude, and the -5 and earlier has the bend right at the tube/plate junction. Also the swingarm mount is welded up the tube farther on the -6 bikes. Haven't received my tool kit yet so I haven't disassembled anything but it appears that the rear shock is oil and the front is not. It's obvious the stem is newer than the forks themselves.

[Carbon_Angus]

I'm following the 9-speed thread, it'll probably get XTR-9 running gear just because it's cheap on ebay. Should it have a square or splined bottom bracket? (I'm really dating myself here, my 'new' bike is still my '93 Cannondale SV1000)

I prefer square taper BB on my bikes. The can flex a bit, but I have weak legs anyway. I think I would just get it ridable if I were you, then concentrate on the shortcomings.

Twas me, I would spring for a nice 4 inch travel fork, probably 2 or 3 year old Fox(I like Noleen megaAir forks myself). Nothing wrong with Vector(other than I don't get along with em myself ).

Then work on a new drive train(XTR used is good). Good used wheelset, and you have a custom build.

Good thing you got it cheap, because you can build it anyway you like. 

Terry

Terry I know you can whip my arse, but I have toasted two tapered BB's. i think splined is much better, especially if you power/grind at snails pace because you weigh as much as a baby hippo. like i do...lol

[Colin]

The 856's you've posted appear to have the top tube bend forward of the rear tude, and the -5 and earlier has the bend right at the tube/plate junction. Also the swingarm mount is welded up the tube farther on the -6 bikes. Haven't received my tool kit yet so I haven't disassembled anything but it appears that the rear shock is oil and the front is not. It's obvious the stem is newer than the forks themselves.

I think the top tube bend point on x55's x56's and x57's is the visible difference between a Medium and a Large??

i.e. Large's have the bend right at the seat tube point, Medium's have it just a bit forward.

I wasn't aware of a change in the pivot point between x55's and x56's ??

If the rear is an oil shock (look for "ODS" on it) then you can use the RDS kit on it.

Col.

[DugB]

If you're talking about a 1" headset on a Vector II, I don't think so...I made the mistake of measuring the diameter of my 856's steerer at about the middle point, not seeing the step down at the bottom linkage. Bought a sweet Ritchey WCS sealed headset on FleaBay only to find out what the 856 actually uses a 1 1/8" headset but a 1" threadless stem. For the top race holder on the headset you need a sleeve that steps the 1" steerer to the 1 1/8" headset...I happened to have one from the previous headset.

- Doug

[rapiddescent]

colin's blue 856 is lovingly known as an 855.983759376 which was one of the halfway-house models that proflex used to do from time to time.

differences:
+ vector differences as mentioned above...
+ some had ODS shocks, some didnt
+ the rear swingarm on an 856 had much better bolstering at the dropout
+ the front triangle on an 856 had better welding to prevent cracks that appeared on 855 frames.

callum

[pressureangle]

Thanks to eBay, the USPS, and most of all the people on this forum I got to test ride the Frankenflex today.

Once I got the tools in hand, and the parts I thought I'd need, it turned out not quite so bleak as it looked. The shouldered Vector spacer was in fact in place, but upside down inside the 1-1/8 stem spacers instead of inside the headset. The front is fairly supple, the rear is a little stiff, and the components are generally worn out but aside from the trashed 73mm bottom bracket it's ready enough.

Great thanks to everyone for their input, the learning curve would have been long without you. I'll post up a pic riding down the front of an Abrams or something.

Eric