How to stiffen a Sherman Firefly?

[triumphbc]

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]

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.

[triumphbc]

I have the firm springs, 14wt oil and weigh 170lbs. It's a noodle, but I don't want to have to buy a new fork.

[dfinn]

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.

[McGRP01]

Show it a picture of Heather Mosley! :drool:

[triumphbc]

where'd you get the springs for $20?

[triumphbc]

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]

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.