Mountain Biking - Quick Question on Manitou Axel Fork

Hi there! I've just bought a Giant Rainier, and it comes with the Manitou Axel Super (http://www.answerproducts.com/axelsuper.htm) as the stock fork.

Pretty squishy, even though I'm only 135 lb.

The thing didn't come with a manual, and the site's useless. Does anyone know how to adjust the stiffness?

(There is a knob on the top left of the fork that says "preload", and a little horizontal lever thingy at the bottom right of the fork that says "fluid - - - flow"; can someone explain to me what these mean?)

Thanks!

I have never seen the fork but tpicall yuou can turn the preload to increase stiffness...Turn the know clockwise to make it stiffer...

As for the other one...not sure...the fork might be half and half (half oil half air) which means you can add more oil to stiffen up the compression but since I dont know the fork don't quote me on that.

Oh, and if anyone could define what those terms mean (preload, fluid/flow), I would really appreciate it.

Thanks.

Fluid/flow is new to me...the a manitou thing for sure....

PReload is easy. It preloads the fork with pressure...if for example you use a spring it tightens the spring down essentially stiffening the fork up without loosing travel (take a spring a press it down 1/4 of an inch). It is now preloaded.

Thats what I found by searching about fluid flow

FLUID FLOW DAMPING
Based on our respected TPC damping system, Fluid Flow Damping (FFD) provides unsurpassed damping control including Quick Range rebound adjustment on select models

Click on Technical Support on the bottom left of the screen, and go here:

http://www.answerproducts.com/home.htm

The link takes you to the home page! Oh Well!

Click Tech Support

Then Manuals and Schematics

Then 2003 Owner/service Manuals

There you are!

L8R