Increasing Travel in Fork

[MMcG]

As many of you know, I'm currently riding a Marin Nail Trail. The Nail Trail comes stock with a Manitou Six Deluxe fork that gives 80mm of travel and it works pretty well for the level of fork that it is.

Here's the gist of my question, I was reading a review of the Nail Trail via the Marin UK web site and the review mentions that the travel in the fork can be increased to 100mm from the stock 80mm.

Here is the info from the article:

Suspension
Manitou's 'Six' fork is one of a new platform for 2002 replacing the Magnum and SX's. Coil sprung and oil cartridge-damped, this Super model is the top model of the three. Apart from some added sculpting around the crown, it's very similar to 2001's SX fork, although a Twin Piston Cartridge (TPC) damping dial on the bottom of the fork has been swapped for a Fluid Flow version.
Fluid Flow is a progression of Manitou's TPC Sport Damping, which swaps a shim for a piston ring to prevent oil escaping around it and adversely affecting damping. The dial also allows quick range and external rebound adjustment, with minimum and maximum travel achieved within half a turn. Although set up in the 80mm travel setting here, this can be increased to 100mm by internally switching a clip from the bottom to the top of the spring stack.

Okay.....so can anyone help me with working on the fork and switching the clip from the bottom to the top??

This could solve a lot of dilemnas (at least bike wise!) for me right now. For example, I'd like to get a FS frame and swap parts etc, but the thing holding me back is that I'd want 100mm of travel up front to match the type of frame I purchase. Therefore, I'd have to purchase a frame and a fork (and that can get costly!) If I can convert the Six Deluxe that problem would be eliminated and eventually I could upgrade to a better fork when more cash becomes available.

Any offers of help/advice are appreciated!

Thanks!

[C.P.]

Check out this link.
www.answerproducts.com/pdf/sixeng.pdf
Page four has the step by step instructions for convertable travel of this fork.
Good luck

[MMcG]

Check out this link.
www.answerproducts.com/pdf/sixeng.pdf
Page four has the step by step instructions for convertable travel of this fork.
Good luck


Thanks C.P! I should have thought to visit the Answer site!

Now....anyone out there want to help me with the conversion?? I'd be happy to compensate said person with some fine brews of their choice!!

[MMcG]

It figures! I can't open the Focking PDF file! ArGH! >:(

[johnbryanpeters]

Go to http://www.adobe.com, download and install the Acrobat reader.

J

[AA]

Mark,

I took a look at the manual for the six fork and the conversion from 80 to 100 mm looks very easy. Once you download Acrobat reader & look at the manual you will see it's a piece 'o' cake.

AA

Just wondering Mark,

When did you start bottoming out the 80mm?

[MMcG]

I have the Acrobat reader and I still can't get that link to open.

When I went to the Answer site all I found were word files, but I'm not sure which one is the right one.

Justbill, I've only bottomed out the fork once....but I want to go with a Full suspension frame with at least 4inches of travel therefore would like a fork to match up front, hence my desire to make the switch to more travel.

Take care,

Mark

Ok Mark,
If you must do it, I'll help a little. Heres the instructions from the answer pdf. page 4 as posted by C.P.




CONVERTIBLE TRAVEL
1. Changing the travel from 80 to 100 millimeters or vice-versa requires
the removal of the lower legs.
2. Unthread (clockwise to loosen) the 8 mm and 4 mm bolts on the bot-tom
of the fork and pull the lowers free from the uppers. Unscrew the
cap on the bottom of the right leg (as seen from the rider’s position).
This will expose the clip that is used to adjust the travel. (Figure 6)
3. Remove the clip and insert it into the upper position (above the rod
flange) for 100 millimeters of travel or the lower position (below the
rod flange) for 80 millimeters of travel. (Figure 7)
4. Reassemble fork.

[MMcG]

Ok Mark,
If you must do it, I'll help a little. Heres the instructions from the answer pdf. page 4 as posted by C.P.




CONVERTIBLE TRAVEL
1. Changing the travel from 80 to 100 millimeters or vice-versa requires
the removal of the lower legs.
2. Unthread (clockwise to loosen) the 8 mm and 4 mm bolts on the bot-tom
of the fork and pull the lowers free from the uppers. Unscrew the
cap on the bottom of the right leg (as seen from the rider’s position).
This will expose the clip that is used to adjust the travel. (Figure 6)
3. Remove the clip and insert it into the upper position (above the rod
flange) for 100 millimeters of travel or the lower position (below the
rod flange) for 80 millimeters of travel. (Figure 7)
4. Reassemble fork.


Bill,

Thank you.....why are you so concerned about me trying this though? And did the pdf file open for you when you clicked on C.P's link? I wonder what's up with my computer that it won't work for me? I have Internet Explorer and Adobe Acrobat, but all I get is a blank screen with a little image icon thing in the window....and not the file. Weird!

Mark,
I'm more curious then concerned. What you do with your bike is your own business. Plus i thought it might be a interesting turn around if you had to answer a question or two. I'm just of the old New England school of thought,if it aint broke then why fix it. Also remember the first law of mechanics, " if you take somthing apart and put it back together enough times, you'll have two.

The pdf took a long time to come through. 10 min at least. If you touch any window while it is downloading it just stops. I just look at that globe thing in the upper corner and when it stops then i know its done.

Have fun, and dont be so sensitive will ya, I really am just trying to help

[MMcG]

It figures! I can't open the Focking PDF file! ArGH! >:(


I still can't get that link to Farging work......perhaps it's a sign from up above and Justbill is right after all....don't fix what ain't broke! :-\