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front fork losing air in the cold

Started by Alvin Liau · · Last activity · 8 posts · 1,377 views

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01 / Original postfront fork losing air in the coldAlvin Liau · 23 Jan 2003 02 / This pagePosts 1–8Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #8Spider · 13 Feb 2003

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Cycling Equipment
Published
23 January 2003
Last activity
13 February 2003
Original author
Alvin Liau
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8
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  1. Original post
    Alvin Liau
    Archived post
    #1

    Hi! I have a 2001 Manitou Mars that's acting up. It performs fine when the weather's warmer.
    However, when it gets below freezing, the air seems to be leaking fast. For example, I'd pump it up
    to about 150psi, and about 5 minutes down the trail, most of the air will be out. When I screw the
    pump back on, the gauge will show about 40psi.

    I'm going to dig into it this week, but before I do that, any clues on what I should keep my eyes
    peeled for?

    Thanks. alvin

    Report
  2. Huw Pritchard
    Archived post
    #2

    On Tue, 21 Jan 2003 12:12:27 +0000, Alvin Liau did issue forth:

    Quoted message said:

    Hi! I have a 2001 Manitou Mars that's acting up. It performs fine when the weather's warmer.
    However, when it gets below freezing, the air seems to be leaking fast. For example, I'd pump it
    up to about 150psi, and about 5 minutes down the trail, most of the air will be out. When I screw
    the pump back on, the gauge will show about 40psi.

    I'm going to dig into it this week, but before I do that, any clues on what I should keep my eyes
    peeled for?

    My guess would be seals. If you've got a fork of that sort of age that's been used heavily then
    stuff is going to wear. Clean the fork down externally, take it apart, see what sort of state the
    seals are in and replace them if necessary.

    --
    Huw Pritchard | Replace bounce with huw | to reply by mail | www.secretworldgovernment.org

    Report
  3. Kinkycowboy
    Archived post
    #3
    Alvin Liau said:

    Hi! I have a 2001 Manitou Mars that's acting up. It performs fine when the weather's warmer.
    However, when it gets below freezing, the air seems to be leaking fast. For example, I'd pump it up
    to about 150psi, and about 5 minutes down the trail, most of the air will be out. When I screw the
    pump back on, the gauge will show about 40psi.

    I'm going to dig into it this week, but before I do that, any clues on what I should keep my eyes
    peeled for?

    Thanks. alvin


    Same problem caused the Shuttle Challenger crash; rubber seals losing their flexibility at sub zero
    temperatures. Replacing the seals might help if they're already old and worn, as new ones will have
    less work to do to close the gaps.

    Kinky Cowboy

    *Your milage may vary Batteries not included May contain traces of nuts.

    Report
  4. Alvin Liau
    Archived post
    #4

    "Alvin Liau" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Hi! I have a 2001 Manitou Mars that's acting up. It performs fine when


    the

    Quoted message said:

    weather's warmer. However, when it gets below freezing, the air seems to


    be

    Quoted message said:

    leaking fast. For example, I'd pump it up to about 150psi, and about 5 minutes down the trail,
    most of the air will be out. When I screw the


    pump

    Quoted message said:

    back on, the gauge will show about 40psi.

    I'm going to dig into it this week, but before I do that, any clues on


    what

    Quoted message said:

    I should keep my eyes peeled for?

    Thanks. alvin

    Just to close the loop in case anyone does a search in the future, we took a quick look at the fork,
    and couldn't find anything wrong. Replaced the screw-cap-assembly (where you pump the air in) with
    one from another fork, and still leaking.

    Since it was 11F that night and the garage wasn't much warmer, we punted and took it to the LBS. The
    mechanic took the fork apart, cleaned it, put it back together, and voila, no more leak. Good deal!

    Cheers, Alvin Liau

    Report
  5. Tj Poseno
    Archived post
    #5

    "Alvin Liau" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:

    Hi! I have a 2001 Manitou Mars that's acting up. It performs fine when the weather's warmer.
    However, when it gets below freezing, the air seems to be leaking fast. For example, I'd pump it
    up to about 150psi, and about 5 minutes down the trail, most of the air will be out. When I screw
    the pump back on, the gauge will show about 40psi.

    I'm going to dig into it this week, but before I do that, any clues on what I should keep my eyes
    peeled for?

    Thanks. alvin

    My guess is that the metal is expanding in the cold and the gaskets arent sealing right when it gets
    that cold and the air is leaking.

    Report
  6. Spot T. Rex
    Archived post
    #6

    Metal Contracts in the cold and expands with heat.

    "Alvin Liau" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    "Alvin Liau" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Hi! I have a 2001 Manitou Mars that's acting up. It performs fine when


    the

    Quoted message said:

    weather's warmer. However, when it gets below freezing, the air seems


    to

    Quoted message said:

    be

    Quoted message said:

    leaking fast. For example, I'd pump it up to about 150psi, and about 5 minutes down the trail,
    most of the air will be out. When I screw the


    pump

    Quoted message said:

    back on, the gauge will show about 40psi.

    I'm going to dig into it this week, but before I do that, any clues on


    what

    Quoted message said:

    I should keep my eyes peeled for?

    Thanks. alvin

    Just to close the loop in case anyone does a search in the future, we took


    a

    Quoted message said:

    quick look at the fork, and couldn't find anything wrong. Replaced the screw-cap-assembly (where
    you pump the air in) with one from another


    fork,

    Quoted message said:

    and still leaking.

    Since it was 11F that night and the garage wasn't much warmer, we punted


    and

    Quoted message said:

    took it to the LBS. The mechanic took the fork apart, cleaned it, put it back together, and voila,
    no more leak. Good deal!

    Cheers, Alvin Liau

    Report
  7. Matt O'Toole
    Archived post
    #7

    "TJ Poseno" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    "Alvin Liau" <[email hidden]> wrote in message


    news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Hi! I have a 2001 Manitou Mars that's acting up. It


    performs fine when the

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    weather's warmer. However, when it gets below freezing,


    the air seems to be

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    leaking fast. For example, I'd pump it up to about


    150psi, and about 5

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    minutes down the trail, most of the air will be out.


    When I screw the pump

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    back on, the gauge will show about 40psi.

    I'm going to dig into it this week, but before I do


    that, any clues on what

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I should keep my eyes peeled for?

    Quoted message said:

    My guess is that the metal is expanding in the cold and


    the gaskets

    Quoted message said:

    arent sealing right when it gets that cold and the air is


    leaking.

    All the materials contract in the cold, including the gaskets. The gaskets also harden, which may
    affect their sealing too.

    Matt O.

    Report
  8. Spider
    Archived post
    #8

    "Matt O'Toole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:

    "TJ Poseno" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    "Alvin Liau" <[email hidden]> wrote in message


    news:<[email hidden]>...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    Hi! I have a 2001 Manitou Mars that's acting up. It


    performs fine when the

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    weather's warmer. However, when it gets below freezing,


    the air seems to be

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    leaking fast. For example, I'd pump it up to about


    150psi, and about 5

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    minutes down the trail, most of the air will be out.


    When I screw the pump

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    back on, the gauge will show about 40psi.

    I'm going to dig into it this week, but before I do


    that, any clues on what

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    I should keep my eyes peeled for?

    Quoted message said:

    My guess is that the metal is expanding in the cold and


    the gaskets

    Quoted message said:

    arent sealing right when it gets that cold and the air is


    leaking.

    All the materials contract in the cold, including the gaskets. The gaskets also harden, which may
    affect their sealing too.

    Matt O.

    Not so for natural rubber. It's an odd material. 🙂

    Spider

    Report

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