Manitou Comp is it salvageable?

[Thunderchild]

Just picked up a Balance AL350 with a Manitou Comp on it. The fork is seized, but the elastomers look OK. I have put PB Blaster penetrant on it to loosen it up. Anyone ever rescued a Manitou in this condition? Can the stanchions be seized beyond repair? Maybe I have a Manitou rigid :shock:

I paid a whopping $20 for the whole bike. Frame is in good shape. Has r.i.d. handlebar and stem. r.i.d.= rider integrated design. The hubs are not high end, but have Balance printed on them.

Thunderchild

 

[13]

I would take them apart ie fork legs apart, brace off etc and do a full re-build. check the bushings, re-grease with judy butter or similar.
Put legs back together without the brace, check movement with each leg (without elastomers too so you can compress the fork) if ok put the brace on and check movement again.
elastomers look fine may just need some love.

 

[rudymexico]

great find!

cheers

 

[mrlee]

yeah i have, same thing seized like 13 says ^ a bit of love they work a treat, my seals have turned hard like plastic though,

 

[Gruff]

There is a thread somewhere on here about a balance with the same problem.
A search should bring it up.

 

[vinnya77]

I had a set of M4's that had 1 leg stuck down. It was hard work pulling it out, have a look why.

 

[mikee]

i find a sturdy wooden fence essential in these cases
you can sit the fork on the fence and by removing the bolts on one side
of the brace you can get the first leg to turn ,then get it to slide
fit the brace to the other leg and repeat

works for me

 

[Thunderchild]

Thanks for the picture vinnya77. The fork doesn't move even a millimeter, so it might be corroded like your picture. Mikee, thanks for the technique for loosening the fork legs. I am going to have a go at it this weekend.

Thunderchild

 

[vinnya77]

As mine had cracked it opened up slightly and it was wedged.

On the advice of steveo I had the forks sat in a bucket of boiling water to soften the rebound elastomers also. Then it was just pure force and constant pulling by 2 of us. 1 either end, took a while and a bit of sweat, but worth it when they were rebuilt with new elastomers.