[Tarpon]

Oil Levels for 2004:

Firefly 3.3in, 85mm, 125cc
Breakout 3.7in, 95mm, 135cc
Breakout+ 4.3in, 110mm, 128cc
Slider 3.7in, 95mm, 135cc
Slider+ 4.3in, 110mm, 128cc

 

[punkassean]

Are those levels measured from the top of the leg at full extension or compression?

Thanks!

 

[Tarpon]

I'm not exactly sure how they are making the measurement. This is all the manual says:

3. Turn Crown/steer/leg assembly right side up, so that the crown of the assembly is facing you.
Extend the SPV rebound damping assembly or TPC rebound damping assembly all the way
out and then pour damping oil (P/N: 85-0023) into the right inner leg. Fill leg about _ of the
way up. Take a rag and cover the top of the right inner leg and then stroke the SPV damping
assembly up and down about 5 times. This will insure that oil gets below the piston and not
create an air space. Extend the damping assembly all the way out and then fill the inner leg
to the specified oil level.

Sounds like the measurement is made with the fork compressed and the damping rod all the way out (otherwise, how do you cycle the damping rod). Maybe use the oil volume as a guide and see what configuration puts the oil at the listed level.

 

[punkassean]

According to that, it would be at full extension but it doesn't say if that's the level from the top or the bottom? I think it is from the top but I'm not sure...

 

[Tarpon]

I changed out the oil in my Breakout this afternoon. You do it just like the book says. The oil level is measured from the top (where the top cap sits flush with the crown) to the oil surface with the damping rod all the way down.

I've only been running the fork for a couple of months, there was virtually no semi-bath oil in the sliders. I've heard complaints that Manitou does not always put enough in from the factory. The bushings looked fine also. Don't have any Prep-M yet, I'll see how it does without any in the seals (may lose oil quicker this way?) for now.

 

[MikeD]

Watch out with the semi-bath; on a Dorado, anyhow, too much can cause problems. So just don't overload it.

I pumped a few more PSI into mine and the clunk stopped, by the way. It's now at 38 lbs or so and works fine.

MD

 

[punkassean]

Werd, mine still does it even at 50+ psi...

 

[Jm_]

All this talk of riders having to grease their "semi-open-bath" forks is kind of disturbing...

 

[kicknitLivE]

I definitely noticed weird stuff happening with low psi in my slider plus. The spv is sticky and feels almost locked out. Im wondering if I can reduce the effect of spv with different oil wt. / level /etc. Anyone know? Supposedly in the 05 slider they changed a rubber seal to a plastic one to reduce stiction.

 

[Gumby]

Here's another obscure hint.

I figured my semi-bath was dry again as I wasn't seeing oil on the inner legs after a ride anymore.
I pulled off the lower casting to drain out whatever was stil in there.
And, like anyone would, since I hadn't seen the inside before I pushed/pulled each of the cartridges through their travel. The spring side was OK, but the SPV side was really sticky. After a few pumps is teems to have gotten some oil up where it needed it and was smooth.
I added new oil on reassembly, and now:
1 - It's never felt smoother, really nice
2 - Is gushing oil still, there's mud on the legs after riding
3 - I get a clunk that I never had before.

I think it's topping out now where it wasn't before because the SPV side was creating stiction on the rebound. The clunk is the topout.

I'm torn, it's soo sweet when if alll wet and goopy, but jeez, adding oil every two weeks?

-Bruce