Anyone ever upgrade an old Manitou 26er fork with springs instead of elastomers?

[kjarrett]

Hi all, this is a long-shot post, but hoping one of you might have some info for me.

Re: that DBR Vertex WCF I posted the other day ... the Mantiou Comp fork does actuate but I'm thinking about replacing the elastomers with springs. I found a couple different companies that might have what I need (SRP, Worldwide Cyclery, SuspensionForkParts.net) but only the latter has anything (just elastomers). Also found some people in various other forums who did this mod many years ago; I have reached out but haven't gotten any responses yet.

Looking for ideas, perhaps old parts, any suggestions.

Thanks in advance for any help!

-kj-

 

[Magpiegifts]

I'm running springs in my manitou 3forks. Link in my signature for the manitou fs I'm using them on.
They work great.

 

[kjarrett]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing. Where did you get the springs?

 

[Thias]

I put springs and top caps out of an old RST fork into my Manitou comp. Works just fine, imho.




Right now I am modifying a Manitou 2 fork to work with (shortened) springs from a Hydrcoil Judy and a (also modified) dampening cartridge out a 96 Judy. Don't know if it will work yet. But I'm positive.

 

[kjarrett]

Fantastic! Thanks! Just went looking for a used RST fork for parts but there are so many. Suggestions as to which would work best?

 

[Thias]

I think the top caps came from a Mozo Pro. About the coil, I don't really remember. Some cheapskate RST.

 

[kjarrett]

Ah, thanks. Much appreciated!

 

[brj]

Springs without damping would not be an upgrade, elastomers (polyurethane) has a natural dampening quality, bare springs don't. Use Elastomers, and if you cant afford them make your own, cost about £12 for the urethane and bits and bobs for the molds, the only other expense will be a spray can of release agent. See my attempts here on my Flcikr account

https://flic.kr/p/QeZSWU

Still going strong after 10 years. (all the dimensions and shore hardness specs in that link) Hope this helps.

 

[Thias]

There was an actual scientific test in a bike magazine bitd. They compared the "self dampening" effects of steel springs and Elastomeres. The results were very clear. There was no difference. They basically wrote, that the self dampening effect was just marketing "effort".

And with this short of a travel, most riders wouldn't need recoil dampening anyhow.

Still great effort to cast your own elastomeres. This would be indeed the best solution for most people, that don't have the ability to do metal work. Or simply wanting to keep their fork in an original condition.

What shore hardness are you getting as a result? Are the different hardnesses available? How do those Elastomeres fare in cold weather? I remember my Manitou not working all that well whenever it got below 10°C

 

[brj]

Urethane and natural rubber have very good low frequency rebound characteristics, which are non existent in springs functioning in isolation, believe Alex Moulton (designer of the original mini suspension) or some half arsed magazine article back in the day, take your pick.
The shore hardness I used for me (105Kg) was 60A, I still had >1 turn left on the preload settings left at that hardness.
Hardness's between between 20 to 90 are generally readily available, and I've had no trouble with -3C in use, I can't say further than that because I avoid anything colder...(old I is) Also coat all the internals with good quality silicone grease.