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Fishy Dorado....

dG video

dG video

I blew a mod to get this title
Feb 25, 2004
2,133
0
vermont
So as some of you may or may not know I got a new dh bike that came equiped with a Dorado. I had ridden the bike before purchase and everything felt great, the fork didnt seem to have any problems and everything looked good.

Well after a couple days of owning the bike I was takign a closer look at the Dorado. I noticed that the left leg didnt seem to have a seal like every other fork. The right side did. So I popped the bike up on the stand and took a closer examination and there was no seal to be found, there is however a rubber bumper or soemthing around the stantion about 1/2" into the fork leg.

The other thing I noticed while compressing the fork that there is a thud about 3-3" into the travel, thud as in a thud feeling not noise. This also concerns me because it could be something major but I am not sure.

The guy I bought it from told me that he would rebuild the fork within the couple days I gave him to take it apart and clean it up the bike. He installed stiffer springs also. I don't have any doubts that the fork was rebuilt because this guy works at my LBS but I am not sure if it was necisarely put back together corectly.

I took some pictures just to give you guys a better understanding on the seal situation. Here is a picture of the bike upside down showing the fork and both legs, keep in mind the fork is upside down thus the fork legs are descripted in the oposite left and right sides:



Right leg with seal:



Left leg without seal:



Theres the pics, hopefully the shot of the left leg without the seal shows you the bumper thing I am seeing.

The guy I bought it from did have some mods done on it by himself like an air assist type thign. I am not really sure exactly what was done.

Anyways.

I suppose I could just buy a pair of Enduro Seals and have a shop rebuild it but I dont want to pay the shop to rebuild it if that thud wont go away. If anyone knows how much a Manitou rebuild is let me know. I could probably send it back to them and ask to just have the whole thing fixed up but I am scared to see how much that will cost me. Any info will greatly be appreciated.

Thanks, Dan
 
BMXman

BMXman

I wish I was Canadian
Sep 8, 2001
13,827
0
Victoria, BC
I would demand the person who you bought it from to make good on the fork. It's obviously missing parts....D
 
Guntruck

Guntruck

Monkey
Feb 9, 2004
210
0
Mill Creek, WA
The missing part I belive is actually just a dust seal to keep dirt off the oil seal which is the "bumper" thing I think your speaking of.
 
BMXman

BMXman

I wish I was Canadian
Sep 8, 2001
13,827
0
Victoria, BC
now that I think about it...looks ike you may have one '02 leg and one '03 leg....you should check the "tech talk" forum and see Orven's sticky post...or PM him he's very knowledgeable when it comes to Dorados...D
 
dG video

dG video

I blew a mod to get this title
Feb 25, 2004
2,133
0
vermont
Thanks for the help BMXman, The fork is an 02, and I dont have much knowledge as to what it has scene maintenence wise but I dont know why it would have 2 different legs.

Dan
 
Kntr

Kntr

Turbo Monkey
Jan 25, 2003
7,526
21
Montana
Plus the left sanction has some nice scratches..... its just missing the dust seal but you should have him fix it.
 
MikeD

MikeD

Leader and Demogogue of the Ridemonkey Satinists
Oct 26, 2001
11,737
1,820
chez moi
"thunking" in a dorado can simply be the result of built-up air pressure inside the fork. Taking the lowers out and reinstalling them can fix it entirely. Or it could be something else...I'd take the axle out and determine if the thunk is coming from the spring leg (non-drive side) or the damper leg (drive-side). Since there's no lower skider or arch on an inverted fork, you can compress the legs independently when the axle is out.

Good luck...you do need a new dust seal at the very least. Frankly, I'd send it to Manitou for a pro overhaul. I *think* they can upgrade the seals to the newest style, and you'll have a properly lubed and assembled fork. The guy who sold it to you should pitch in, or (really) pay for the whole thing...

Once you get it running, lube it every 2-3 months (10 min process, with a major 30-min teardown/cleaning/re-lube every 6 mos or so) and you're set.

MD
 
M

Morgan

Monkey
Feb 17, 2002
470
0
all lit up
as it was stated earlier the part you are missing is the dust wiper, if its an 02 it had the older model seals, he put the evil genius seals in though he wasnt a genius(sorry bad joke), saddly as you know you will need to break the whole thing down again to press in the wiper.
 
MikeD

MikeD

Leader and Demogogue of the Ridemonkey Satinists
Oct 26, 2001
11,737
1,820
chez moi
Morgan said:
saddly as you know you will need to break the whole thing down again to press in the wiper.
Click to expand...
It's not a marzocchi; he can have that lower leg off in 3 minutes and reinstalled in another 3...take another 3 to squirt some motor oil in the top and he's set. No need for sorrow when breaking down a Manitou...
 
N

NOR CAL***

Chimp
Jan 28, 2004
6
0
perhaps when he was putting the fork back together he forgot to put the seal on? dont jump to conclusions that this guy is trying to screw you, just go talk to him.
 
M

Morgan

Monkey
Feb 17, 2002
470
0
all lit up
ok my bad, thats right, the left leg only houses the springs, i blew the right leg and needed to bleed it before i put it back, took me a little while, also if i am not mistaken, arent the evil genius seals the "newer" model? they could have made some new ones but those seemed to work great for me
 
dG video

dG video

I blew a mod to get this title
Feb 25, 2004
2,133
0
vermont
Thanks for all the info guys. I did a search and found Orven's thread, read all of it and I have a better understanding of it know. I think the thud might be a possibility of too much oil in the fork where the pressure builds up as perviously stated.

The thud is coming from the left fork leg, so the spring side. Anymore ideas?

Dan
 
MikeD

MikeD

Leader and Demogogue of the Ridemonkey Satinists
Oct 26, 2001
11,737
1,820
chez moi
Yeah, EG are the new seals...and you don't have to bleed the damper if you simply take the lowers out. If you open up the lower leg which contains the damper, yeah, you're in for some fun (esp. the 1st time; after that, it's pretty easy). But you don't need to open the damper just to put a new seal on.

MD
 
dG video

dG video

I blew a mod to get this title
Feb 25, 2004
2,133
0
vermont
Ok, I dont think I am ready to tear the fork apart at this point, from the looks of Orven's thread it seems pretty easy to put new oil in and change the seals. Do you think I should try and do this myself or send it to Orven if he's willing or Manitou?

Orven, where are you when I need you!

Dan
 
MikeD

MikeD

Leader and Demogogue of the Ridemonkey Satinists
Oct 26, 2001
11,737
1,820
chez moi
Send it to Manitou, not Orven...but it's really, really simple and you can do it yourself. Have you looked at www.answerproducts.com for a technical manual? (edit: nevemind, looks like they don't have a 2002 manual)

Then again, you'll need at least a new dust seal...wouldn't hurt to have Manitou do it and check the whole fork over while they're at it.

MD
 
dG video

dG video

I blew a mod to get this title
Feb 25, 2004
2,133
0
vermont
Ohh, I definetally know how to take the fork off, I am talking about taking it apart...

Dan
 
dG video

dG video

I blew a mod to get this title
Feb 25, 2004
2,133
0
vermont
MikeD said:
Then again, you'll need at least a new dust seal...wouldn't hurt to have Manitou do it and check the whole fork over while they're at it.

MD
Click to expand...
I am scared of what they are going to charge me to have everything put back to "normal". Anyone know how much a standard rebuild costs?

Dan
 
MikeD

MikeD

Leader and Demogogue of the Ridemonkey Satinists
Oct 26, 2001
11,737
1,820
chez moi
I had them overhaul my Dorado SC onsite at a race before I sold it, including replacing a busted-off compression knob, and it was $40. I can't imagine you'd be talking any more than $75 for your fork, but you'll have to see what they tell you. Their CS is usually great.

MD
 
dG video

dG video

I blew a mod to get this title
Feb 25, 2004
2,133
0
vermont
MikeD said:
I had them overhaul my Dorado SC onsite at a race before I sold it, including replacing a busted-off compression knob, and it was $40. I can't imagine you'd be talking any more than $75 for your fork, but you'll have to see what they tell you. Their CS is usually great.

MD
Click to expand...
Well thats good news. I'll give them a call Monday and see whats up. I am worried about them finding some crazy ass homemade internals in there or something. Then that would be more money down the drain....

Dan
 
Orvan

Orvan

....................
Mar 5, 2002
1,492
2
Califor-N.I.A.
AHA! Nice to see the product-of-my-boredom-Dorado thread is kinda useful. Since I just rigged a ghetto damper bleed toolkit, I shld be updating it soon with a damper-bleed procedure.

Do not send Dorados to me (unless you're selling it for $250 or cheaper...missing parts or broken internals accepted :) ), if you must, call Manitou warranty. Be patient with them as they are backlogged. Leave a voicemail and ask for an RA number for an overhaul and follow the rest of their instructions. If you feel inclined to just install the EG seal yourself (and save Bobby and Manitou the time), they may be able to just send you the EG seal along with the aluminum ring. It's easy!

What bike did you get that the fork came from?
 
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