New to full suss - no manual included, HELP!

The BIG GT · June 2007

Hi,

I've just built up my first FS (white Giant VT) and am looking forward to getting a couple of rides in before [mode=smug] I fly out to B.C. [/mode=smug] at the weekend.

However, as it was a second-hand frame there was no manual with it to show how the Manitou 3-way SPV rear shock works! I understand the new forks (Phaons) and their compression, preload, rebound and travel adjusters but am clueless about the SPV.

There are black- and red-capped air valves and a blue adjuster wheel. I am not confident playing with them as they 'kind of' work as they are but I feel that I could set them better, if I knew what they did! The previous owner was quite a bit heavier than me but I've no idea of his ride preference. I do have the shock pump.

Can anyone tell me:

a) what the various adjusters are for and
b) what the correct(ish) pressures would be for my 14+st heft?

Thanks,

Gary (a full-suss noob!)

P.S. I might have finally (!!) started a query thread that SS won't comprehensively answer first as he is a strictly hardtail guy! He always gets in first on my questions otherwise.


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Looking wistfully out of the office window at the sun.....
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daydreaming of the Sierra Nevada (and now of Vancouver/Whistler too!!)

Jinja Ninja · June 2007

Swinger manual for you son.

<hr noshade size="1">
Theres only one return, and it ain't of the "king" Its of the Jedi

"Frankie's little Bro"[:o]

Andy B · June 2007

I have a '06 swinger 3 way on my Orange 5...

Red valve is the SPV, using psi it should be set a 50-70% of your body weight in lbs (upto a max of 175psi)

Black valve is the preload (sag) which I set to about 25-30% (I like a firm rear!) for XC/AM use. You can set the sag anywhere from 25-40% depending on personal preferences. (max of 300psi)

Set the SPV (red) 1st, then the preload (black).

I do the set up with all my bike clobber on, inc full hydration pack, to get the 'true' settings for the trail.

<hr noshade size="1"><center>Official Forum Potty Mouth 2007</center><hr noshade size="1"><center>My Flickr Album, With new updated bike pics
Me & My Bikes Orange Bikes Howies© moredirt photo gallery
'05 C2C Pic's, Red Bull Soap Box Race & Snowboarding Pics</center>

The BIG GT · June 2007

Thanks guys! [:D]

I'll give it a go when I get home this evening, I assume that the blue dial is for rebound?

Hopefully, I'll tweak it before I get somewhere it's properly needed...
[B)]

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Looking wistfully out of the office window at the sun.....
.
.
.
daydreaming of the Sierra Nevada (and now of Vancouver/Whistler too!!)

Andy B · June 2007

Yup, blue is rebound.

<hr noshade size="1"><center>Official Forum Potty Mouth 2007</center><hr noshade size="1"><center>My Flickr Album, With new updated bike pics
Me & My Bikes Orange Bikes Howies© moredirt photo gallery
'05 C2C Pic's, Red Bull Soap Box Race & Snowboarding Pics</center>

Unknown · June 2007

hey Gary, you gonna post some piccies up then?!

<hr noshade size="1"><center>Handsome Ransom | Chillin' in the Chilterns
Just ride til something breaks. Then replace it!</center>

The BIG GT · June 2007

Dave,
I rode it to work today. I MBR'd it...bridleways, country lanes, country park and canal towpath all the way...
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so, perfect terrain for a 5" travel bike!!

Will try for some photos this evening but it's not properly finished yet, still have to get the BB faced to fit the Hone crankset so using the Truvativ BB and FiveD crankset off my GFs bike and it's a fair bit heavier. Also going to change the tyres as the cheap Verts weigh a lot more than the IRCs I have so that should help too.

Saying that, it still seemed quicker up the hills and easier than the Armadillo (??).

Also I have kept the Kula as a nippy hardtail and it looks sweet too with my spare kit on it! Hope to finish that tonight and it's probably more suited to the commute than the VT!!


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Looking wistfully out of the office window at the sun.....
.
.
.
daydreaming of the Sierra Nevada (and now of Vancouver/Whistler too!!)

Unknown · June 2007

put some slicks on your kula and you'll be laughing.

look forward to seeing it (the VT) get muddy

<hr noshade size="1"><center>Handsome Ransom | Chillin' in the Chilterns
Just ride til something breaks. Then replace it!</center>

The BIG GT · June 2007

I have some Michelin Wildgrippers (?) on the Kula, a light summer tyre for less technical days out or the off-road commute to work (about 7 miles - if I don't get tempted into the hidden singletrack of the two country parks on my doorstep (sooo much better than Cricklewood!).

I still have the old, trusty, rigid Diamondback for proper commuting duties on the road but that will barely be used until the nights draw in again or possibly the next Critical Mass Ride.

BTW, when are you going to join us on one of those?


___________________________________________________________________________

Looking wistfully out of the office window at the sun.....
.
.
.
daydreaming of the Sierra Nevada (and now of Vancouver/Whistler too!!)

The BIG GT · June 2007

Andy B,

I tried the air adjustments last night and it seemed great until I had to unscrew the shock pump from the valves. As soon as I did this, most of the air hissed out before I could get it completely off to close the valve. I wondered at first if it was just escaping from the pump itself but checking the pressure shows that it dropped right down (50 PSI).

Is this normal and am I just not doing it correctly (special knack?) or is there a problem? I tried it 2-3 times to be sure but the same each time.

There is also a noticeable knocking rattle as well that may be because the pressures are so low or potentially the bearing bolts a little loose? I'l check the bolts but is there anything else I should look out for?

Thanks! I am a REAL FS noob!!
[:I]

___________________________________________________________________________

Looking wistfully out of the office window at the sun.....
.
.
.
daydreaming of the Sierra Nevada (and now of Vancouver/Whistler too!!)

Andy B · June 2007

The air was escaping from the pump hose, when you reattach the hose the air has to full the hose again, resulting in a lower pressure being shown on the pump's gauge.

Not sure about the rattling, but as a guide, I'm almost 11 Stone fully kitted out & I put 90psi in the SPV & 100-110 in the preload.

<hr noshade size="1"><center>Official Forum Potty Mouth 2007</center><hr noshade size="1"><center>My Flickr Album, With new updated bike pics
Me & My Bikes Orange Bikes Howies© moredirt photo gallery
'05 C2C Pic's, Red Bull Soap Box Race & Snowboarding Pics</center>

Unknown · June 2007

haha, I took my bike back to the shop and asked why i was loosing air from my rear shock...

was exactly as AndyB says...

Boy did i feel like a pranet (sp?)

<hr noshade size="1"><center>Handsome Ransom | Chillin' in the Chilterns
Just ride til something breaks. Then replace it!</center>

The BIG GT · June 2007

Cheers guys,

I checked the manual link that Jinja posted up and it clearly stated this. You'd think that with all my years in IT that I should have learnt the programmer's rule of;

"If all else fails, RTFM!!
[;)]

I think that I've discovered the knocking sound... because of the rear triangle moving (Whoa! Really! No $h1t!) and the way the cables have to swoop more to allow for this PLUS the fact that the tubes of the frame is hydroformed, bigger but thinner-walled than the girders that were used for my Armadillo, over bumps the cable whacks against the frame and makes the noise!

Now all I need to do is dismantle it all again to take to Vancouver at the weekend...
[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:p][:p]

___________________________________________________________________________

Looking wistfully out of the office window at the sun.....
.
.
.
daydreaming of the Sierra Nevada (and now of Vancouver/Whistler too!!)

New to full suss - no manual included, HELP!

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