TFTunedShox

Why does my fork lock-out not work?

If you have ridden over bumpy ground with the fork locked-out it may have caused 1 of 2 seals to fail at the base of the stanchion. The oil now trapped between the upper stanchion and the lower tube will cause a hydraulic lock which results in a loss of travel (you will only be getting a few cm's at most). If the fork is within warranty, take it back to the place you bought it from. If not, it’s time to get it repaired, although on lower-end models, it may be worth considering a new fork.

What is done during a TFT Manitou Fork Service?

Before any service work is carried out, the fork is wiped clean & we check its operation. It's then stripped & all oil seals/o-rings are removed prior to cleaning the individual parts in a chemical bath. Once cleaned & dried the next step is to check the bushings for any play. If we find any we will try to refit the bushings a little lower in the casting but if this fails we will contact you to get authorisation to fit new bushings. With bushings fitted/sized we then pop the new Evil Genius seals in position. Then we assemble everything in accordance with the factory/TFT procedures, put oil in the important places (no more microlube we use semi oil bath), grease any spring assemblies & make her feel lush. Next we check all the adjusters do what they're meant to do & set it up to match your weight & riding style (on coil sprung forks this may require another spring which we will contact you to get authorisation before we fit). Then we pop a small TF Tuned sticker on it, invoice & complete the Service Record, box it up & send it back.

My '04 SPV fork seams a little harsh on small bumps - what can be done?

Some '04 SPV forks (Minute, Black, Skareb & Sherman) can be a little harsh over small bumps due to the high level of low speed compression & seal stiction. Manitou have recognised this & for '05 they have reduce the platform threshold by 20-30% together with eliminating most of the seal stiction. We can upgrade any '04 SPV to the '05 SPV Evolve - see next question

Can my '04 SPV fork be upgraded to '05 SPV Evolve?

By machining the SPV piston to accept a glide ring, plus a few porting mod's we can bring your '04 SPV bang up to date. Combine this with a service & your fork will run silky smooth over the small stuff but still have enough platform to resist pedal bob & maintain the SPV cornering characteristics.

Why does my SPV damped fork knock when pushing up and down?

The SPV has failed. It is a pneumatic piston which opens and closes on compression and rebound. When the SPV fails, it fills up with oil instead of air which means it cannot close which results in no compression or rebound damping. This causes a knock when pushing up and down. The SPV will need replacing to sort this out.

Why has my Sherman lock-down stopped working?

If the mechanism internaly hasn't broken your lockdown probably just needs re-clocking. To do this, remove the adjuster knob on top with a 2mm allen key. With a 20mm socket remove top cap. You will see a bit of aluminium hex sticking out from the top of the spring. Pinch this with a pair of needle nose pliers, lift up the spring and drop it back down till it’s seated. Then turn the hex clockwise a tiny bit and it should spring back on release of the pliers after a little turn. This is the unlocked (max travel) position. Mark the forward face of the aluminium hex with marker pen. Now re-install the 20mm hex cap (note, this will spin the little aluminium hex, don’t worry). Tighten the top cap then turn the marker pen or scored face anti-clockwise till it is forward facing again. Check to see if it works with the adjuster then re-install the adjuster knob.

My left hand wiper keeps popping up on my air forks, why is this?

The seal keeps popping up due to an air leak into the lower fork assembly. It can be due to any number of things. The finish of the air tube can be inconsistent allowing air to bypass the air piston and fill up the lowers. Or the piston has scored the air tube whilst in use and this too can cause a leak. If your fork is still in warranty, return the fork to the store you bought it from. It will need a replacement CSU (crown/ steerer/ upper). If your fork isn’t in warranty the CSU can cost £90 to £180, depending on model.

Why do my forks feel really harsh when deep into the travel?

Almost all manufacturers have varying problems with this. The reason is normally tight bushes.
Bushes are fixed to the lower legs and allow the stanchions/upper legs to slide through.
Tight bushes will cause a binding sensation when halfway through the travel.
They simply won’t “bed in” as is commonly believed. These bushes need re-sizing. This process involves changing the shape of the bush within the lower leg, to fit the stanchions better and prevent binding when the leg is passed through. The tools we use are from all our brands and even some of our old brands! Using a combination of all these and our experience we can get your bushes sweet!  For some slick, stiction free action.

Why has the rebound stopped working on my 06/07 TPC or Intrinsic damped fork?

The rebound check shim has been jammed & stuck open. This is why the fork is pogo central with no rebound & little compression damping. We can prevent this by modifying the area to prevent this happening in the future.

My pre '02 Fork gets very stiff during muddy rides - what's up?

Prior to '02 model year the wiper seal, with or without the mini boot, wasn't good at keeping mud or water out of the fork. As soon as dirt/water enters the lower assembly the bushing stiction will increase dramatically as the grease looses any lubricating qualities it had. By fitting Evil Genius seals, which are way better at keeping the muck out & semi oil bathing the fork we can guarantee long & silky smooth operation.

Why don't TF Tuned service Stance & Splice forks?

There are a few recurring problems with the lower end forks. None of which can be ironed out. The varying quality of design and manufacture on these models means we can’t guarantee our workmanship. There is also the cost of the service versus the cost of the fork. Please bear this in mind as it could work out better to buy a newer fork.

Why don't TF Tuned service IT (Infinite Travel) equipped forks?

Have you ever felt that sinking feeling on your IT fork? That is due to the air leaking between chambers. We had been doing them for a few years but they kept coming back because they were sinking down. We have used numerous upgrade parts but the problem persisted. So we made the decision to stop servicing IT forks - Sorry

How do I tighten my Hexlock correctly?

Insert the axle so that the larger end is flush with the fork casting then tighten the pinch bolts holding the small end of the allen key. Next insert the end cap with the 6mm allen key. This will pull the legs onto the hub. When you can screw no more, tighten the rest of the allen key pinch bolts. Again, holding the small end of the allen key.