Question about 1994 Manitou Forks

[Twitchell]

New to bikes so my question is a newby question.

My used bike (1994 Marin Bike "Pine Mountain") came with optional Manitou Forks.
James Thomson (from this group) found the forks manual sent me a copy. It said
there should be about 1 1/2 inches travel in the forks. I leaned on the bars
but there was NO travel.

Am I missing something?....shouldn't there be some travel like a regular shock?

The manual says the forks should be disassembled every three months and lubed.
Really? Does anybody really do that?

Has anyone ever disassembled one of these and if so, how complicated is
it?....ya I got the manual with an exploded view of parts but I'm a bit nervous
about doing it. I'm game to do it.....just a little intimidated by it.

No...I won't take it to a bike shop.....I'm out of work and living on
unemployment checks...so everything must be done by me.

Forks:

http://imgplace.com/image/view/f4791039b79d8686f571935e86996c1e

http://imgplace.com/image/view/4eb6332a91dac87b42cd22b31f2c63d3

Any advise is appreciated.

twitch

 

[A Muzi]

Twitchell wrote:
> New to bikes so my question is a newby question.
>
> My used bike (1994 Marin Bike "Pine Mountain") came with optional Manitou Forks.
> James Thomson (from this group) found the forks manual sent me a copy. It said
> there should be about 1 1/2 inches travel in the forks. I leaned on the bars
> but there was NO travel.
>
> Am I missing something?....shouldn't there be some travel like a regular shock?
>
> The manual says the forks should be disassembled every three months and lubed.
> Really? Does anybody really do that?
>
> Has anyone ever disassembled one of these and if so, how complicated is
> it?....ya I got the manual with an exploded view of parts but I'm a bit nervous
> about doing it. I'm game to do it.....just a little intimidated by it.
>
> No...I won't take it to a bike shop.....I'm out of work and living on
> unemployment checks...so everything must be done by me.
>
> Forks:
>
> http://imgplace.com/image/view/f4791039b79d8686f571935e86996c1e
>
> http://imgplace.com/image/view/4eb6332a91dac87b42cd22b31f2c63d3
>
> Any advise is appreciated.

Your fork is stuck fully compressed; May be corroded inside.

Did you do a web search? Here's a fork manual for a similar model to yours:
http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/technical/manitou.php
--
Andrew Muzi
<www.yellowjersey.org/>
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

 

[Twitchell]

In article <[email protected]>, A Muzi says...
>
>Twitchell wrote:
>> New to bikes so my question is a newby question.
>>
>>My used bike (1994 Marin Bike "Pine Mountain") came with optional Manitou Forks.
>>James Thomson (from this group) found the forks manual sent me a copy. It said
>> there should be about 1 1/2 inches travel in the forks. I leaned on the bars
>> but there was NO travel.
>>
>>Am I missing something?....shouldn't there be some travel like a regular shock?
>>
>>The manual says the forks should be disassembled every three months and lubed.
>> Really? Does anybody really do that?
>>
>> Has anyone ever disassembled one of these and if so, how complicated is
>>it?....ya I got the manual with an exploded view of parts but I'm a bit nervous
>> about doing it. I'm game to do it.....just a little intimidated by it.
>>
>> No...I won't take it to a bike shop.....I'm out of work and living on
>> unemployment checks...so everything must be done by me.
>>
>> Forks:
>>
>> http://imgplace.com/image/view/f4791039b79d8686f571935e86996c1e
>>
>> http://imgplace.com/image/view/4eb6332a91dac87b42cd22b31f2c63d3
>>
>> Any advise is appreciated.
>
>Your fork is stuck fully compressed; May be corroded inside.
>
>Did you do a web search? Here's a fork manual for a similar model to yours:
>http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/technical/manitou.php

Hmmm....funny you should send this. I was just at their website looking for a
manual online but they don't go back that far (about 1994) and I don't know
enough about their product line to know if any of the 12 or so listed forks at
your link. Which model were you referring to?

My model is the Easton E9.

I've been doing a Google search for it but so far nothing technical....still
looking...

twitch

 

[A Muzi]

>> Twitchell wrote:
>>> New to bikes so my question is a newby question.
>>>
>>> My used bike (1994 Marin Bike "Pine Mountain") came with optional Manitou Forks.
>>> James Thomson (from this group) found the forks manual sent me a copy. It said
>>> there should be about 1 1/2 inches travel in the forks. I leaned on the bars
>>> but there was NO travel.
>>>
>>> Am I missing something?....shouldn't there be some travel like a regular shock?
>>>
>>> The manual says the forks should be disassembled every three months and lubed.
>>> Really? Does anybody really do that?
>>>
>>> Has anyone ever disassembled one of these and if so, how complicated is
>>> it?....ya I got the manual with an exploded view of parts but I'm a bit nervous
>>> about doing it. I'm game to do it.....just a little intimidated by it.
>>>
>>> No...I won't take it to a bike shop.....I'm out of work and living on
>>> unemployment checks...so everything must be done by me.
>>>
>>> Forks:
>>>
>>> http://imgplace.com/image/view/f4791039b79d8686f571935e86996c1e
>>>
>>> http://imgplace.com/image/view/4eb6332a91dac87b42cd22b31f2c63d3
>>> Any advise is appreciated.

> A Muzi says...
>> Your fork is stuck fully compressed; May be corroded inside.
>> Did you do a web search? Here's a fork manual for a similar model to yours:
>> http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/technical/manitou.php

Twitchell wrote:
> Hmmm....funny you should send this. I was just at their website looking for a
> manual online but they don't go back that far (about 1994) and I don't know
> enough about their product line to know if any of the 12 or so listed forks at
> your link. Which model were you referring to?
>
> My model is the Easton E9.
>
> I've been doing a Google search for it but so far nothing technical....still
> looking...

It's a Manitou 3 (4?) and the Black is built along the same lines
--
Andrew Muzi
<www.yellowjersey.org/>
Open every day since 1 April, 1971
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

 

[Twitchell]

In article <[email protected]>, A Muzi says...
>
>>> Twitchell wrote:
>>>> New to bikes so my question is a newby question.
>>>>
>>>>My used bike (1994 Marin Bike "Pine Mountain") came with optional Manitou Forks.
>>>>James Thomson (from this group) found the forks manual sent me a copy. It said
>>>>there should be about 1 1/2 inches travel in the forks. I leaned on the bars
>>>> but there was NO travel.
>>>>
>>>>Am I missing something?....shouldn't there be some travel like a regular shock?
>>>>
>>>>The manual says the forks should be disassembled every three months and lubed.
>>>> Really? Does anybody really do that?
>>>>
>>>> Has anyone ever disassembled one of these and if so, how complicated is
>>>>it?....ya I got the manual with an exploded view of parts but I'm a bit nervous
>>>> about doing it. I'm game to do it.....just a little intimidated by it.
>>>>
>>>> No...I won't take it to a bike shop.....I'm out of work and living on
>>>> unemployment checks...so everything must be done by me.
>>>>
>>>> Forks:
>>>>
>>>> http://imgplace.com/image/view/f4791039b79d8686f571935e86996c1e
>>>>
>>>> http://imgplace.com/image/view/4eb6332a91dac87b42cd22b31f2c63d3
>>>> Any advise is appreciated.
>
>> A Muzi says...
>>> Your fork is stuck fully compressed; May be corroded inside.
>>> Did you do a web search? Here's a fork manual for a similar model to yours:
>>> http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/technical/manitou.php
>
>Twitchell wrote:
>>Hmmm....funny you should send this. I was just at their website looking for a
>> manual online but they don't go back that far (about 1994) and I don't know
>>enough about their product line to know if any of the 12 or so listed forks at
>> your link. Which model were you referring to?
>>
>> My model is the Easton E9.
>>
>> I've been doing a Google search for it but so far nothing technical....still
>> looking...
>
>It's a Manitou 3 (4?) and the Black is built along the same lines

The 'Black' shows that you just dump oil into the fork itself. The manual I
have makes no mention of that.

The list the link provided doesn't show a Manitou 3 (or 4)

twitch

 

[James Thomson]

"Twitchell" <[email protected]> a écrit:

> My model is the Easton E9.

Easton is just the manufacturer of the aluminium tubing used in the fork
legs. Your fork is a Manitou 2 (see the scrawled Z-shaped sharpie "2"
graphic) from '92.

You could contact Answer/Manitou to see if they have documentation for your
fork:

http://www.manitoumtb.com/contactus.asp

I had a quick look at the Manitou site, but didn't see any documentation
older than about 2000. Fifteen years is a long time in mountain biking, and
it's likely that Answer are no longer supporting your old fork, but it never
hurts to ask.

Do try the retrobike site I suggested before. There's a lot of knowledge
there, and someone may have the documents you need or know where to find
them.

It may be that your best option is to look for a suitable rigid fork to
replace the Manitou, particularly if you're not going to be riding off road.
At about the time your bike was made, many riders were removing their rigid
forks and replacing them with suspension, so there are plenty of rigid forks
around.

James Thomson

 

[Twitch]

In article <[email protected]>, James Thomson says...
>
>"Twitchell" <[email protected]> a écrit:
>
>> My model is the Easton E9.


No wonder I had very little success in finding the ole Easton E9!



>
>Easton is just the manufacturer of the aluminium tubing used in the fork
>legs. Your fork is a Manitou 2 (see the scrawled Z-shaped sharpie "2"
>graphic) from '92.
>
>You could contact Answer/Manitou to see if they have documentation for your
>fork:
>
>http://www.manitoumtb.com/contactus.asp

Already dropped off a question about an old user manual in pdf format. I used
Easton E9 as the model name but also mentioned it was an optional fork for the
Marin Bike of 1993/94.

I've actually oiled the exposed tubing and got the tube to slide about 1/2 inch
so maybe I'll get it to work that way.

twitch


>
>I had a quick look at the Manitou site, but didn't see any documentation
>older than about 2000. Fifteen years is a long time in mountain biking, and
>it's likely that Answer are no longer supporting your old fork, but it never
>hurts to ask.
>
>Do try the retrobike site I suggested before. There's a lot of knowledge
>there, and someone may have the documents you need or know where to find
>them.
>
>It may be that your best option is to look for a suitable rigid fork to
>replace the Manitou, particularly if you're not going to be riding off road.
>At about the time your bike was made, many riders were removing their rigid
>forks and replacing them with suspension, so there are plenty of rigid forks
>around.
>
>James Thomson
>
>

 

[Twitchell]

In article <[email protected]>, James Thomson says...
>
>"Twitchell" <[email protected]> a écrit:
>
>> My model is the Easton E9.
>
>Easton is just the manufacturer of the aluminium tubing used in the fork
>legs. Your fork is a Manitou 2 (see the scrawled Z-shaped sharpie "2"
>graphic) from '92.
>
>You could contact Answer/Manitou to see if they have documentation for your
>fork:
>
>http://www.manitoumtb.com/contactus.asp
>
>I had a quick look at the Manitou site, but didn't see any documentation
>older than about 2000. Fifteen years is a long time in mountain biking, and
>it's likely that Answer are no longer supporting your old fork, but it never
>hurts to ask.
>
>Do try the retrobike site I suggested before. There's a lot of knowledge
>there, and someone may have the documents you need or know where to find
>them.
>
>It may be that your best option is to look for a suitable rigid fork to
>replace the Manitou, particularly if you're not going to be riding off road.
>At about the time your bike was made, many riders were removing their rigid
>forks and replacing them with suspension, so there are plenty of rigid forks
>around.
>
>James Thomson
>
>


James...

finished off my Google search now that I know the right name. There were some
interesting comments about them in some bike forums in 2007. The forks are WAY
out of date and even the manufacturer (Answer Products in Valencia, CA....there
is NO company named Manitou...it's just a name licensed to Answer Products by
the inventor) laughed about the lack of spare parts for them, telling the caller
to update his forks to something ONLY TEN YEARS old.

It's not discouraging...I just thought it was something involving a simple
cleaning and that's all....apparently the innerds contain an 'elastometer' that
can wear out/break and has to be replaced if you are a rabid biker (I'm not).

I ordered some cheapo tires last night. Not knowing which version to buy
(decimal or fractional nominclature) I ordered one of each knowing I have to
throw away/make-into-a-coaster one of them...but at $6.50, who cares. Googled
the bike tire sizes but no site had as good an explanation as one of this groups
members but his reply came too late as I wanted to get things ordered by
yesterday.

Anything else I need I'll have to buy at a garage sale. New parts wise, I'm
tapped out as far as this bike is concerned. I've already spent $120 of George
Bushes $600 rebate check.

twitch

 

[Bellsouth Ijit 2.0 - 'Roid Rage Edition ®]

"Twitchell" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> New to bikes so my question is a newby question.
>
> My used bike (1994 Marin Bike "Pine Mountain") came with optional Manitou
> Forks.
> James Thomson (from this group) found the forks manual sent me a copy. It
> said
> there should be about 1 1/2 inches travel in the forks. I leaned on the
> bars
> but there was NO travel.
>
> Am I missing something?....shouldn't there be some travel like a regular
> shock?
>
> The manual says the forks should be disassembled every three months and
> lubed.
> Really? Does anybody really do that?
>
> Has anyone ever disassembled one of these and if so, how complicated is
> it?....ya I got the manual with an exploded view of parts but I'm a bit
> nervous
> about doing it. I'm game to do it.....just a little intimidated by it.
>
> No...I won't take it to a bike shop.....I'm out of work and living on
> unemployment checks...so everything must be done by me.
>
> Forks:
>
> http://imgplace.com/image/view/f4791039b79d8686f571935e86996c1e
>
> http://imgplace.com/image/view/4eb6332a91dac87b42cd22b31f2c63d3
>
> Any advise is appreciated.
>
> twitch
>

It's a 14 year old suspension fork. The oil in it has long been dried out.
Now it's a rigid fork. Take it apart and try to fix it, or live with it as
a rigid.

 

[Kurd]

"Twitchell" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> New to bikes so my question is a newby question.
>
> My used bike (1994 Marin Bike "Pine Mountain") came with optional Manitou
> Forks.
> James Thomson (from this group) found the forks manual sent me a copy. It
> said
> there should be about 1 1/2 inches travel in the forks. I leaned on the
> bars
> but there was NO travel.
>
> Am I missing something?....shouldn't there be some travel like a regular
> shock?
>
> The manual says the forks should be disassembled every three months and
> lubed.
> Really? Does anybody really do that?
>
> Has anyone ever disassembled one of these and if so, how complicated is
> it?....ya I got the manual with an exploded view of parts but I'm a bit
> nervous
> about doing it. I'm game to do it.....just a little intimidated by it.
>
> No...I won't take it to a bike shop.....I'm out of work and living on
> unemployment checks...so everything must be done by me.
>
> Forks:
>
> http://imgplace.com/image/view/f4791039b79d8686f571935e86996c1e
>
> http://imgplace.com/image/view/4eb6332a91dac87b42cd22b31f2c63d3
>
> Any advise is appreciated.
>
> twitch



HAHAHAHHA

You know a shop that would work on a 14 year old junk fork?

 

[Anthony DeLorenzo]

I just pulled a near-identical fork off a friend's bike a few days
ago, in similar condition. It was totally bottomed out.

Can you pull down the fork lowers? Will they slide? If so, the fork
isn't seized, but you would need to rebuild the fork with whatever
goes in there -- seals, oil, elastomers... Probably unavailable or
difficult to find. In my case, I just replaced it with a 2002 Rock
Shox Judy that I got for $10 at a yard sale.

 

[Twitchell]

In article <8e642e45-c6de-44ab-aac3-1c4ac348301b@z24g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,
Anthony DeLorenzo says...
>
>I just pulled a near-identical fork off a friend's bike a few days
>ago, in similar condition. It was totally bottomed out.
>
>Can you pull down the fork lowers? Will they slide? If so, the fork
>isn't seized, but you would need to rebuild the fork with whatever
>goes in there -- seals, oil, elastomers... Probably unavailable or
>difficult to find. In my case, I just replaced it with a 2002 Rock
>Shox Judy that I got for $10 at a yard sale.

I oiled all around the top part and it will go up and down 3/8" but you really
have to sit on it.

Guess I'll just leave it as it is and hopefully, something will turn up at a
garage sale.

BTW, to remove the whole fork from the bike, do I just loosten it topmost
nut?...and just pull it out? The instructions don't really say but I assume
it's no different than any other fork.

twitch

 

[spincircles]

It is perhaps no longer safe to ride due to both its age, if used hard
over the years, and due to its design. Those forks, IIRC, had cnc
machined aluminum fork dropouts and crowns. The crown on that model
may be prone to cracking. Something about the shape and the nature of
cnc machined aluminum. Try internet searching for the model name and
"recall" or failure.

At any rate, time and money to refurn a non-oem supported, un damped,
short travel elastomer fork is perhaps not time well spent.

Consider upgrading your dental plan if you continue to ride this fork.

regards,
Pat Smith
>
> It's a 14 year old suspension fork.  The oil in it has long been dried out.
> Now it's a rigid fork.  Take it apart and try to fix it, or live with itas
> a rigid.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

 

[Twitchell]

In article <4db9d95d-6e4c-48d8-8440-ae8abda16267@c65g2000hsa.googlegroups.com>,
spincircles says...
>
>It is perhaps no longer safe to ride due to both its age, if used hard
>over the years, and due to its design. Those forks, IIRC, had cnc
>machined aluminum fork dropouts and crowns. The crown on that model
>may be prone to cracking. Something about the shape and the nature of
>cnc machined aluminum. Try internet searching for the model name and
>"recall" or failure.
>
>At any rate, time and money to refurn a non-oem supported, un damped,
>short travel elastomer fork is perhaps not time well spent.
>
>Consider upgrading your dental plan if you continue to ride this fork.
>
>regards,
>Pat Smith

Manitou had a recall in '93 but not this model.

twitch



>>
>> It's a 14 year old suspension fork. =A0The oil in it has long been dried o=
>ut.
>> Now it's a rigid fork. =A0Take it apart and try to fix it, or live with it=
> as
>> a rigid.- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>

 

[Bill Sornson]

Twitchell wrote:

> Manitou had a recall in '93 but not this model.

They also recalled my old "Mach 5" (IIRC) that came on my 1996 Fisher
Paragon. Worst fork ever made...even AFTER they fixed/swapped it!

Bill "endo" S.