Mountain Biking - Need a Mechanic...

Ok, before we go through the usual "cheeto you break everything, and cheeto your a dumb***** and etc etc etc"
Heres what happend.I was riding at, and at the end I noticed a different feeling, MY Lockout wasnt working!

I flipped the bike over, and on of the screws was deep down inside the fork.
I took the fork all apart and got the screws back in place and such, but now my lock out still dont work.

Ideas?

its a Manitou Splice Comp.

Pictures, and a better description would help. Loose, broken or missing parts, probably missing some oil now.

Not much we can help you do without more detail...

The bolt on the bottom of the fork,
'
No oil leaked at all I was sure of that.
Not even sure if theres oil in it LOL.
its the bolt on the compression side.

http://www.manitoumtb.com/serviceguides.asp?function=64&guideid=122

Knock yourself out. Not sure which year you have, but look there. Otherwise, shop time.

Parts shouldn't be falling off the fork obviously. That bolt shouldn't be coming out unless it was either undertorqued by a hack mechanic, or some of the bits it's conected to inside the fork are broken/messed up. Either way, sounds like your fork is either goingg to need major work, or replacement.

^thats all great and nice, If I could figure out which one to follow.

and if my mom didn't close out of the page when I was working.
It doesn't have a Lock out troubleshooting..
so I have no clue where to start.

You do realize that there is a Bicycle Mechanics forum right?

I don't mean to come off as an assh0le, but I'm honestly quite baffled by the amount of issues that you've had. I've been on the same bike with mostly the same components for a number of years. I've taken my share of falls, leading to some repairs, but nothing that compares to the level of issues that you have had. I can't help but think that there has to be something that you can do differently to avoid some of these malfunctions.

Anyhow, good luck with the fork.

^^ Some people are just hard on equipment.

When I used to race motorcycles, I knew a kid who was always on the 'latest and greatest' each season (supplied by mom & dad); yet the kid went through pistons, cylinders, forks, shocks, you name it. Then you watched him out on the track - - he never picked a line, it was just WOT and hang on. If he didn't blow up, he might make the podium.

I'm sure the shop his folks bought from were happy though.

he never picked a line, it was just WOT and hang on. If he didn't blow up, he might make the podium.
I see a lot of that "point and shoot" type riding around here.:thumb:

Some people are just hard on equipment.

I hear you. I'm not exactly the best with how I treat the Kona. I never clean it. I've crashed, landing on the same rear derailleur multiple times. My buddy (and mechanic) has bent that LX back into shape at least 3 times. I did go through some chain rings, but the ones that came on the bike were pretty flimsy. (The intensity of my testosterone-fueled pedaling caused them to cave in and beg for mercy.) And, maybe you're right, maybe it's about picking a better line, maybe it's about the terrain he's on, maybe it's just that when the rest of us bust something, we fix it and don't post about it. I have no idea... it just seems that a week hasn't gone by where something wasn't broken or just gotten fixed. I, for one, am baffled.

I see a lot of that "point and shoot" type riding around here.:thumb:

Are insinuating something?:D

I believe another reason for these mishaps stem from him tweaking things and taking things apart that were fine to begin with. Putting things back the way they were seem to be an issue.

I learned much of what I know here on BF. Before taking anything apart I make sure I understand exactly what I am doing. Cheeto takes things apart, then asks questions when the pieces to the puzzle don't match. It hasn't sunk in yet... :crash:

^^ At least he is exploring and taking things apart, though. Yes, it's more costly in the long run but there is something to be said for learning things the hard way sometimes. It is so sad when you encounter someone who won't even try.

^^True. I've screwed a few things up in my time. I think I give him a hard time mostly because he doesn't do his own homework before starting up another "i broke my xxxxxx" thread.

Indeed; much akin to the "Hey I just bought this bike - how did I do?" threads.

^^True. I've screwed a few things up in my time. I think I give him a hard time mostly because he doesn't do his own homework before starting up another "i broke my xxxxxx" thread.

I am a hard riding 250lb clyde and have never broken a part on any of my bikes. I have never even pinch flatted. That being said, I have a friend that I ride with, on every ride he breaks something or flats. I have seen him bust a Marzocchi fork on a relatively tame trail. Tweak a Sun Singletrack wheel on the same trail but at a different time. He is just prone to break or mess things up. Maybe Cheeto is like him....accident waiting to happen:giver:

cheeto seriously you should only be using your lockout on really smooth stuff like roads and jeep road climbs MAYBE. If your using it in harder stuff your just waisting energy. UNLESS, you have a Fox or a Rock Shock that has the lockout blow off on it. You don't really even need a lockout.

Ok I was riding and the bolts on the bottom of the fork went loose. The oneside screws into the outer part of the fork, and When I looked at it, the silver rod (that goes into the stanctions with the spring behind it) was pushed all the way down into it.

I am just having a bit of trouble understanding the fork.

I REALLY REALLY need the fork ready by saturday.... I'm supposed to go out for a sponsorship eval ride.

When I use the lockout. its only on smoother climbs.
When I use it on rougher climbs, its never fully locked out. The fork has the sweet spot where it will only use like 1-2 inches of travel, and if I hit a lot of big stuff it will go past that.


But now the compression settings dont work like they did.
Im baffled, and in distress!

If I cant make this ride I'm just about screwed in even being considered.

Maybe that sweet spot caused the issue?

The answer:

No, really... I have got to figure this out, any IDEAS on what could cause this?
did something just pop out of place or what?
Maybe a diagram of the splice could help me. IDK!!!

Cheeto post in the MECHANICS forum lol that's where real BIKE MECHANICS can help you.

Use a old fork. Dont you have 2 or 3?

No, really... I have got to figure this out, any IDEAS on what could cause this?
did something just pop out of place or what?
Maybe a diagram of the splice could help me. IDK!!!

Without posting a better description, and pictures of what's going on, WTF do you expect us to do? You either need to toss on another fork, rigid or otherwise, or get it to a shop ASAP if you want a quick fix. I have every confidence you're likely to make things worse otherwise.

A cheap backup rigid fork is a good thing to have around for a hardtail bike - at least then you could still be riding while working on the main fork.

Something is screwed up inside your fork. Duh. Without more information to work with, we can't diagnose, let alone try to get you a fix. :rolleyes:

Any LBS worth their weight will tell you if it looks right from the outside. They should only charge you if they have to pull out a wrench. Go pick their brain.


Your description for your problem only paints a fuzzy picture. You obviously have a camera...take a few pics and post them.

The answer:

+100000000
I rode around on a rigid for a really long time and loved it, but then I got my C'dale and fell in love with the concept of a sus. fork and now I would probably never go back

IMO, lockout is over rated. I almost never lock out my fork and when I do, its only ever on smooth road (I leave it unlocked because sometimes I get the urge to bunny hop or ride through a dry dranage ditch and try to jump out of the other side)

What kinda turms are you on with your lbs's mecs, and how far away is it. . .?

The Fluid Flow lockout assemblies are pretty simple. The only thing that can keep them from working properly is the oil level in the damper leg, or the entire piston has sheared off the shaft.

I've never worked on a Splice, but it's probably similar to the other TPC type forks. The red lockout knob is removed with a small allen wrench, and once it is removed you'll see a fork cap with 20mm hex (I could be wrong about the size). The cap has the FFD/Lockout shaft and piston attached to it. Unscrew it counterclockwise and remove it.

Just looked more closely at your pics -- you're missing the rebound adjustment knob at the bottom of the right leg, and if the rebound damper shaft unthreaded itself and was inside the leg, you've also lost all the semi-bath oil in that leg too.

take it to the shop. have them fix it. (if able/and you can afford it) pick up a cheapy rigid dic fork so you have something to ride in the meantime, and for the inevitable next time.

IMO, best bet: pick up a rigid fork. ride that while you save pennies for a decent fork. don't f#$k with the new fork.

The FFD/Lockout assy looks something like this:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/redboy2810/DSCN0623.jpg

You need something like this: (http://cgi.ebay.com/RockShox-Tora-Coil-U-Turn-White-80-135mm-w-canti-bosse_W0QQitemZ110265670939QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116)

Simple, does the job. Very, very easy to work on if need be, and more durable than the other crap you've been dealing with. It's not super light, but unless you spend more, you're not going to get that. About 4.5# or so.

You need something like this: (http://cgi.ebay.com/RockShox-Tora-Coil-U-Turn-White-80-135mm-w-canti-bosse_W0QQitemZ110265670939QQcmdZViewItem?_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116)

Simple, does the job. Very, very easy to work on if need be, and more durable than the other crap you've been dealing with. It's not super light, but unless you spend more, you're not going to get that. About 4.5# or so.

Indeed, I didn't want to start a war but the splice is not the greatest fork in the world.

Indeed, I didn't want to start a war but the splice is not the greatest fork in the world.


His new forks have been bad, and the used stuff he's gotten have all been bad. Stuff that at one time may have been a nice fork, but now is dated, and badly in need of a good service. If you can get the right parts, and have the know how to do said service.

Cheeto: Ride a rigid for a while because it's something you can do cheaply, then save for a nicer, higher quality fork than what you've been on. Even a mid level Tora will blow away the junk you've been on.

I REALLY REALLY need the fork ready by saturday.... I'm supposed to go out for a sponsorship eval ride.

I'll save you the hassle, you're not going to get sponsored. Face the reality.

What's up with your bike shop, dude? For god's sake get that pup into the LBS so you at least have a fighting chance to have your bike ready in time. It just doesn't seem practical (or timely) for you to attempt to fix this yourself. JMO tho.

And, I can wrench a Bike, But I like to know what to wrench before hand.
Put it this way, I may not be able to Diagnose it, But I can perform the surgery.



*snort*

Oh, and Cheeto- For this sponsorship eval./ride or whatever deal, do you really need YOUR bike? Does it matter to 'them' what you show up to ride on? My guess is that they want to know what kind of person you are and what your riding experience/skill is. Borrow a bike or rent one?

Who is the sponsorship with?

Who is the sponsorship with?

Syndicate

Frito-Lay.

Frito-Lay.

They are owned by PepsiCo.

They are owned by PepsiCo.But they run their own sponsorship program - - they especially like mountain bikers who fall with a crackly crunch.

But they run their own sponsorship program - - they especially like mountain bikers who fall with a crackly crunch.

I don't doubt it. I was just throwing out a fact because I had nothing useful to say.

I don't doubt it. I was just throwing out a fact because I had nothing useful to say.Don't sell yourself short. Even when you say little it speaks volumes.

I myself predict I will contribute nothing of substance today. It's Friday. I'm burned out from work. And I don't get to ride again 'til Sunday.

Well, when I was racing NASCAR bac in the late 60s the Mello Yellow,Pepsi,Mounatin Dew,Burger King,Moon Pie,Budwieser,Camel,Goodyear,JD Stacy,Havoline,Orville Redenbachers,Snickers Dodge payed my bills quite nicely.

Ok, before we go through the usual "cheeto you break everything, and cheeto your a dumb***** and etc etc etc"
Heres what happend.I was riding at, and at the end I noticed a different feeling, MY Lockout wasnt working!

I flipped the bike over, and on of the screws was deep down inside the fork.
I took the fork all apart and got the screws back in place and such, but now my lock out still dont work.

Ideas?

its a Manitou Splice Comp.

have you thought about seeing a psychiatrist?

mx

Ok I was riding and the bolts on the bottom of the fork went loose. The oneside screws into the outer part of the fork, and When I looked at it, the silver rod (that goes into the stanctions with the spring behind it) was pushed all the way down into it.

I am just having a bit of trouble understanding the fork.

I REALLY REALLY need the fork ready by saturday.... I'm supposed to go out for a sponsorship eval ride.

When I use the lockout. its only on smoother climbs.
When I use it on rougher climbs, its never fully locked out. The fork has the sweet spot where it will only use like 1-2 inches of travel, and if I hit a lot of big stuff it will go past that.


But now the compression settings dont work like they did.
Im baffled, and in distress!

If I cant make this ride I'm just about screwed in even being considered.

a sponsor should appreciate a competent rider

mx

i can't believe pepsi is picking you up. that's BS

mx

Who is the sponsorship with?

Huggies



Maybe it was PullUps...

"Mommy WOW...I'm-a-big-kid-now!!"

I agree with dminor. I love Junkyard's posts even though they are completely useless and offensive :thumb: