Preload: What is it and how do I adjust it?

"Snyperx" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:ZKixa.867981$L1.250224@sccrnsc02...

Quoted message said:

****NEWBIE ALERT****

Recenlty purchased a new mt. bike equiped with the Manitou Axel Fork.

What

Quoted message said:

I was wondering is what exactly does the Preload dial do?? If someone

could

Quoted message said:

please give me some addtional info on fork Preload and how to adjust it correclty it would be
grealty appreciated. Thanks.

snyperx

It puts an artificial "load" on the spring by compressing it to adjust the ride characteristics to
your liking. Add load and the fork becomes stiffer, decrease load and it does the reverse. Check the
manual for the amount of sag (how much the fork should compress while you are sitting on the bike)
you need and you can use the preload to get to that point.

You can also add different types of springs for coil forks, is the axel coil or air?

Chris

CTG, Thanks for the reply. The Axel fork is coil. I am not sure what set of coils come with it, but
they seem to be pretty soft. I am 6' and 180 lbs. I can easily compress the fork all the the way
down. I tried adjusting the Preload, but the adjustment dial doesn'r seem to do anything, so I am
not sure if something is up with the fork or what.

Snyperx

"ctg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Snyperx" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:ZKixa.867981$L1.250224@sccrnsc02...

Quoted message said:

****NEWBIE ALERT****

Recenlty purchased a new mt. bike equiped with the Manitou Axel Fork.

What

Quoted message said:

I was wondering is what exactly does the Preload dial do?? If someone

could

Quoted message said:

please give me some addtional info on fork Preload and how to adjust it correclty it would be
grealty appreciated. Thanks.

snyperx

It puts an artificial "load" on the spring by compressing it to adjust the ride characteristics to
your liking. Add load and the fork becomes

stiffer,

Quoted message said:

decrease load and it does the reverse. Check the manual for the amount of sag (how much the fork
should compress while you are sitting on the bike) you need and you can use the preload to get to
that point.

You can also add different types of springs for coil forks, is the axel

coil

Quoted message said:

or air?

Chris

Snyperx <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:ZKixa.867981$L1.250224@sccrnsc02...

Quoted message said:

****NEWBIE ALERT****

Recenlty purchased a new mt. bike equiped with the Manitou Axel Fork.

What

Quoted message said:

I was wondering is what exactly does the Preload dial do?? If someone

could

Quoted message said:

please give me some addtional info on fork Preload and how to adjust it correclty it would be
grealty appreciated. Thanks.

snyperx

Dude don't touch the pre-load just buy yourself a firm ride kit to suit an axel fork ASAP!

"Snyperx" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:v3rxa.628575$Zo.135169@sccrnsc03...

Quoted message said:

CTG, Thanks for the reply. The Axel fork is coil. I am not sure what set of coils come with it,
but they seem to be pretty soft. I am 6' and 180 lbs. I can easily compress the fork all the the
way down. I tried adjusting

the

Quoted message said:

Preload, but the adjustment dial doesn'r seem to do anything, so I am not sure if something is up
with the fork or what.

Snyperx

Preload isn't meant to compensate for drastic differences, that's what the springs are for. The
preload is for small adjustments. Talk to your lbs and see what weight the springs are rated for,
you may need a new spring kit suited to your weight. But I don't know anything about the new
Manitous so definitely check with someone at your shop, or a friend, who is more knowledgable.

Chris

Snyperx said:

CTG, Thanks for the reply. The Axel fork is coil. I am not sure what set of coils come with it,
but they seem to be pretty soft.

Soft springs are good for certain kinds of riding.

Quoted message said:

I am 6' and 180 lbs. I can easily compress the fork all the the way down.

That would be a problem if you were supposed to sit on the bars of your bicycle, but your not. Does
it work properly for the riding you expect to use it for?

If it bottoms out to often you need to increase the the preload, if that does'n help or you run out
of negative suspension travel - get stiffer springs.

[snip]

--
__o | Øyvind Røtvold _`\(, | darkside.noindex.htmlOpen ↗ (_)/(_) | ... biciclare
necesse est ...

Thanks for the reply. Now does anyone know an online retailer that sells spring kits for Manitou
forks?? I haven't had much luch locating one. Thanks again. "David Bailey" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Snyperx <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:ZKixa.867981$L1.250224@sccrnsc02...

Quoted message said:

****NEWBIE ALERT****

Recenlty purchased a new mt. bike equiped with the Manitou Axel Fork.

What

Quoted message said:

I was wondering is what exactly does the Preload dial do?? If someone

could

Quoted message said:

please give me some addtional info on fork Preload and how to adjust it correclty it would be
grealty appreciated. Thanks.

snyperx

Dude don't touch the pre-load just buy yourself a firm ride kit to suit an axel fork ASAP!

"Snyperx" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<ZKixa.867981$L1.250224@sccrnsc02>...

Quoted message said:

****NEWBIE ALERT****

Recenlty purchased a new mt. bike equiped with the Manitou Axel Fork. What I was wondering is what
exactly does the Preload dial do?? If someone could please give me some addtional info on fork
Preload and how to adjust it correclty it would be grealty appreciated. Thanks.

snyperx

I have the same fork and problems on my new Rockhopper, far too soft for my liking. It comes with
the 'standard kit' 150-170 lbs spring. Look at Answer Products website and there is a dealer locator
and an owner's manual pdf with part numbers.

answerproducts.comanswerproducts.comOpen ↗

Paul