Fork update

Andy Mullins · Apr 4, 2004

If you read my little ride report you'll remember my fork problem. Since I'm
not going to be able to get to the lbs until Thursday I decided to check a
couple things myself. I popped to fork tube cap to check the oil height. It
measured 120mm which is actually higher than the recommended level. This
makes me think no oil has leaked or it was filled to high from the factory
or dealer and excess oil was pushed out. Does this sound like a good theory?
I think I'm going to give it another ride before I take it back to the lbs.
Manitou recommends using Motorex 5wt suspension oil. Is there any difference
in the 5wt oil they use for mtbs and motorcycles? I've used their oil in my
MX bike and keep a bottle of it around.

miles todd · Apr 4, 2004

Andy Mullins wrote:
> If you read my little ride report you'll remember my fork problem. Since I'm
> not going to be able to get to the lbs until Thursday I decided to check a
> couple things myself. I popped to fork tube cap to check the oil height. It
> measured 120mm which is actually higher than the recommended level. This
> makes me think no oil has leaked or it was filled to high from the factory
> or dealer and excess oil was pushed out. Does this sound like a good theory?
> I think I'm going to give it another ride before I take it back to the lbs.
> Manitou recommends using Motorex 5wt suspension oil. Is there any difference
> in the 5wt oil they use for mtbs and motorcycles? I've used their oil in my
> MX bike and keep a bottle of it around.
>
>
>
>
There is no difference between motorcycle and bicycle fork oil, other
than price. Bicycle fork oil is sold in tiny little bottles for three
times the price per bottle as compared to motorcycle fork oil.

I'd ride it again to see if more fluid does in fact leak out, but not
for the reasons you hypothesize. The fluid that's leaking and the stuff
in the leg you checked are separated by seals, and should have nothing
to do with each other.

miles

Andy Mullins · Apr 4, 2004

So what you're saying is that there is another chamber of oil than the one I
checked. How can I check that oil? Is there a schematic breakdown anywhere I
can see of the forks. Its a Manitou Black Sport. I'm a fairly mechanical
person and can work on about anything.

"miles todd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> Andy Mullins wrote:
> > If you read my little ride report you'll remember my fork problem. Since
I'm
> > not going to be able to get to the lbs until Thursday I decided to check
a
> > couple things myself. I popped to fork tube cap to check the oil
height. It
> > measured 120mm which is actually higher than the recommended level. This
> > makes me think no oil has leaked or it was filled to high from the
factory
> > or dealer and excess oil was pushed out. Does this sound like a good
theory?
> > I think I'm going to give it another ride before I take it back to the
lbs.
> > Manitou recommends using Motorex 5wt suspension oil. Is there any
difference
> > in the 5wt oil they use for mtbs and motorcycles? I've used their oil in
my
> > MX bike and keep a bottle of it around.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> There is no difference between motorcycle and bicycle fork oil, other
> than price. Bicycle fork oil is sold in tiny little bottles for three
> times the price per bottle as compared to motorcycle fork oil.
>
> I'd ride it again to see if more fluid does in fact leak out, but not
> for the reasons you hypothesize. The fluid that's leaking and the stuff
> in the leg you checked are separated by seals, and should have nothing
> to do with each other.
>
> miles
>

Andy Mullins · Apr 5, 2004

When I finished riding I found lots of fork oil on the outside tubes. It
appeared to be leaking to me. Now I'm trying to figure out where the oil
came from.

"Chris Phillipo" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> [email protected] says...
> > If you read my little ride report you'll remember my fork problem. Since
I'm
> > not going to be able to get to the lbs until Thursday I decided to check
a
> > couple things myself. I popped to fork tube cap to check the oil
height. It
> > measured 120mm which is actually higher than the recommended level. This
> > makes me think no oil has leaked or it was filled to high from the
factory
> > or dealer and excess oil was pushed out. Does this sound like a good
theory?
> > I think I'm going to give it another ride before I take it back to the
lbs.
> > Manitou recommends using Motorex 5wt suspension oil. Is there any
difference
> > in the 5wt oil they use for mtbs and motorcycles? I've used their oil in
my
> > MX bike and keep a bottle of it around.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> I didn't read you problem, what was it? Motorcycle oil fork is the same
> thing just at 1/4 the price.
> --
> _________________________
> Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
> http://www.ramsays-online.com

Andy Mullins · Apr 5, 2004

Thanks for that link but I had found in on Answer's website already. It
didn't really show me what I'm looking for. I'm trying to see where the oil
would be leaking from if it didn't come from the tube I checked.

"sittingduck" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Andy Mullins" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Its a Manitou Black Sport. I'm a fairly mechanical
> > person and can work on about anything.
>
> google is your friend!
>
> http://216.119.92.126/Merchant2/pdfs/Blackeng1.pdf

miles todd · Apr 5, 2004

Andy Mullins wrote:
> When I finished riding I found lots of fork oil on the outside tubes. It
> appeared to be leaking to me. Now I'm trying to figure out where the oil
> came from.
>

The oil you saw in the tube was the "TPC" damper's resevoir. The oil
that may well be leaking, as I understand your original pot, is coming
from the seal where the outer leg overlaps the inner. The oil would
then be the from the small amount inside the outer leg (but outside the
inner leg) that is there to lube the bushings. The problem would lie
with the "Evil Genius" seals.
Normally this oil would simply sit at the bottom of the leg, and
occasionally splash around a bit. It really should have nothing forcing
it out of the fork... unless the bike spends a lot of time upside down.
You don't hang the bike upside down in your garage, do you?

Miles

Andy Mullins · Apr 6, 2004

> The oil you saw in the tube was the "TPC" damper's resevoir. The oil
> that may well be leaking, as I understand your original pot, is coming
> from the seal where the outer leg overlaps the inner. The oil would
> then be the from the small amount inside the outer leg (but outside the
> inner leg) that is there to lube the bushings. The problem would lie
> with the "Evil Genius" seals.
> Normally this oil would simply sit at the bottom of the leg, and
> occasionally splash around a bit. It really should have nothing forcing
> it out of the fork... unless the bike spends a lot of time upside down.
> You don't hang the bike upside down in your garage, do you?
>
> Miles
>

Nope, Don't hang the bike upside down. Its been hanging out in my living
room in the corner next to the couch where it belongs.
I understand where your saying this oil is. The source did appear to be at
the wiper under the boot. Is there a way to check this oil level? Should I
take it back to the shop for them to check it out or just do it myself? I
don't care to do the work and feel comfortable doing it.

Thanks for all the help guys.

miles todd · Apr 6, 2004

Andy Mullins wrote:

>>The oil you saw in the tube was the "TPC" damper's resevoir. The oil
>>that may well be leaking, as I understand your original pot, is coming
>>from the seal where the outer leg overlaps the inner. The oil would
>>then be the from the small amount inside the outer leg (but outside the
>>inner leg) that is there to lube the bushings. The problem would lie
>>with the "Evil Genius" seals.
>>Normally this oil would simply sit at the bottom of the leg, and
>>occasionally splash around a bit. It really should have nothing forcing
>>it out of the fork... unless the bike spends a lot of time upside down.
>> You don't hang the bike upside down in your garage, do you?
>>
>>Miles
>>
>
>
> Nope, Don't hang the bike upside down. Its been hanging out in my living
> room in the corner next to the couch where it belongs.
> I understand where your saying this oil is. The source did appear to be at
> the wiper under the boot. Is there a way to check this oil level? Should I
> take it back to the shop for them to check it out or just do it myself? I
> don't care to do the work and feel comfortable doing it.
>
> Thanks for all the help guys.
>
>

I'm not sure really how much oil is in the lower legs, but I don't
believe it is much at all. The issue, really, is the seal. ˆt doesn't
seem to be doing its job, and for that I'd go back to the shop and
explain the problem. If they say that it is typical, go to a different
shop. A SLIGHT residue is typical, but certainly not enough to drool
down the lower leg.

Miles

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