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How to stiffen a Sherman Firefly?

triumphbc

Chimp
Oct 9, 2003
75
0
Arlington, VA
I have a '03 Manitou Sherman Firefly which I can easily push through the travel on. It's stuck in the 5" setting permanently and I have tried upgrading to heavier springs and oil. I was hoping someone might have additional suggestions for stiffening up a fork like this. Any help would be appreciated.
 

dfinn

Turbo Monkey
Jul 24, 2003
2,129
0
SL, UT
triumphbc said:
I have a '03 Manitou Sherman Firefly which I can easily push through the travel on. It's stuck in the 5" setting permanently and I have tried upgrading to heavier springs and oil. I was hoping someone might have additional suggestions for stiffening up a fork like this. Any help would be appreciated.
what level springs do you have? i beleive they come in medium/regular, firm and x-firm. I just got firm and that feels ok for trail riding but I think I need it to be stiffer so i'll probably be getting the x-firm springs soon. with the mediums I could bottom it out easily. i weigh 240. the tech I spoke to at manitou said that there shouldn't be any need to go to hevier than 5wt oil.
 

dfinn

Turbo Monkey
Jul 24, 2003
2,129
0
SL, UT
a noodle? huh? Well I'm not expert but I wonder if something is messed up with your fork. I just took mine for it's first real ride last night with the firm springs and 5wt oil and it felt pretty good. I definitely blew through all of the travel a couple of times on small rocky stuff so I will be upgrading to the x-firm pretty soon. You might want to give them a call, the tech I talked to was really helpful. The phone # is on their site. For $20 you can get the x-firm springs so it's not that expensive to get them and try them out, alot less expensive then a new fork.
 

triumphbc

Chimp
Oct 9, 2003
75
0
Arlington, VA
i was able to find the part you're referring to. incidentally, does anyone know how to reduce the travel on one of these? 100mm would be ideal as well.
 

dfinn

Turbo Monkey
Jul 24, 2003
2,129
0
SL, UT
triumphbc said:
where'd you get the springs for $20?
I just called up my local shop and ordered them. It's simply called a X-Firm ride kit for that specific fork. I believe both BTI and QBP carries them so pretty much any shop should be able to get you one.