Manitou Axel Super questions
 

As some of you know, i just bought a stumpjumper FSR today. The literature doesn't seem to have any info about the Manitou axel for. Can someone explain the left top adjuster and the bottom right lever to me? I know the left top knob is supposed to adjust the stiffness, but it doesn't seem to do much, and i wonder what the right bottom lever is for and if it affects the other knob. I can't seem to get much of a change no matter what i do with either. (i do know the right top is for lockout)

I'm wondering if the two somehow work in conjunction and i'm not doing it right. The fork seems kinda spongy, tho maybe thats just because never having had a suspension bike i don't know how it's supposed to be.

By the way........does anybody here also use thier MTB for street on occasion? If so, are there any things i should know to make the steet ride better, or any hints at all about using a stumpjumper for this dual purpose.

Thanks all......

Oh........and what about adding fluid? When should i and why and how?

www.answerproducts.com
Go to the forks section and find your owners manual. There is a wealth of info online, searching is your friend.
If you're using it for street riding and not switching to a semi-slick or full-on slick, the best thing you can do is pump those tires up (I believe they'll take 80 psi). If nothing else, you'll have slightly less rolling resistance.

Yea, i found that manual. But it's a service manual and doesn't explain how the adjustments work. Searching google didn't yield much info, at least not what i need. I especially need to know what that lever on the lower right leg is. Thanks for trying tho.

I got the same fork....the upper dial is the preload adjuster...it doesnt make much difference for me as well...and the lower blue adjuster is the rebound adjustment.... better change the springs to get a stiffer adjustment because the dials dont do much of a job out there....

Yannis

Preload rarely makes much of a difference, on any fork. The best way to check your rebound damping adjustment is to adjust it to the stop (in), then stand over your bike and cycle your fork. Pay attention to how fast or slow it rebounds. With it adjusted to the maximum damping (in or clockwise on most forks), the fork should rebound relatively slowly. Next go all the way out (counter-clockwise) with the adjuster, and repeat the cycling. It should look like a pogo stick.

Now you need to go find a slightly downhill, rough (the rougher the better) section of trail and it's even better if there is a turn in it. Dialing in suspension is an art, but I like to start with little damping (dial out) and go from there. You will find the magic spot by riding the section a couple times, turning the dial 1 turn at a time and trying again until it feels just right. About the only thing you can do wrong is put too much damping and causing the fork to "pack". I've yet to find a mtn bike fork that was adjustable enough to pack but if you are heavy if could happen. Try all this and post back, we'll go from there.

Remember- some general adjusting rules (most suspensions anyway):
- In= clockwise= slow= more damping
-Out= counter-clockwise= fast= less damping

Thanks. I tried what Mike said on adjusting the rebound damping, but that too seems hardly noticable. I'm wondering if this fork may be garbage, tho i can't imagine anything less than a decent fork on a $1300 bike. That may not be a lot compared to many MTB's, but i would think the fork would at least be adjustable to a noticable degree. I'll be going out today for my first ride, and if i find it's too soft i guess i'll have to lock it out. That would really bother me tho since a full suspension bike shouldn't have to be used locked. May as well have bought a non-suspension bike in that case.

But before i get all worked up, it'll probably be fine because as i said, i'm new to this and i really don't know what it's supposed to feel like.

dazco- on some fork models it isn't as noticable. Just go ride it and tinker, you will be able to feel the difference. That's a good bike, if you don't have any adjustment I would take it to the shop and have them go over it. If they balk, pick another bike and have them try the "cycling" as I described above, that way you will have something to compare it to. I have seen some xc forks that did adjust, although not enough to be able to "see" it.

Probably needs air. Check the manual for your correct PSI and pump it up :)

Edit...sorry, the Axel is not a coil/air fork :)

Maybe try a stiffer spring kit if the dialing in doesn't suit you? Mountainspeed makes (made?) Manitou kits. Your LBS should be able to order something...and kits are usually pretty cheap. Somewhere around 20 bucks.

Well, i'm heading out to ride for the 1st time in about 15 min. So i'll soon know how it works, and if it does need stiffening i'll look into the spring kits.....thanks for that.

They seemed to work fine. Brand new bike isn't so brand new anymore tho ! Took a couple spills and christened it real good.

I know you're relatively new to these forums, so I'll go easy on you. You really can say stuff like I christened it real well without attaching pictures. It's really unfair. It is however an unwritten rule around here, so I'll let you off with a warning!

BTW, how did you like it otherwise?

Were you able to play around with the pre-load and rebound adjustments?

let us know!

L8R

Actually, i left the adjuster as i had it and it was fine. (full stiffness) Rebound was set fast. Maybe once i get experienced at this stuff i'll be wanting to tweak things. But for now i'm fine with it.
The bike is great, but again i haven't got a clue as to whats good and what isn't. I'll figure it out soon enough tho i'm sure. But i can guarantee you this......i won't be buying a gram scale anytime soon. LOL!

......tapping fingers on desk........NO Pictures Yet!.............Still waiting..........C'mon!

j/k

L8R

Sorry......unfortunatly there were no fingers tapping up the mountain either........tapping a camera shutter that is. But since you asked, i'll bring my digital next time and upload some pics. Now you can stop tapping. :D