Does anyone have advice for restoring old forks like these? Its a manitou spyder r that was taken off a specialised rockhopper comp A1, which im planning on restoring too but I thought I would get the annoying part out the way.

As seen in the pictures, the forks, while dirty look to be in ok condition including the seals (mabye?), however before I purchased this bike it was left to the elements with water practicaly in every corner of the bike luckily it was a aluminium frame. Anyway  the fork barely moves under compression mabye a couple cm with lots of resistance but it does push back granted not smoothly.

 I successfully took of the right cap to find the top foam dampener in good condition although couldn't reach the second, furthermore the oil inside looked milky so it definatly has water in it. Since I dont know what im doing i screwed it back in, low a behold when i try to open it back its exstremly difficult almost stuck 🤦‍♂️ and the left cap is just completly stuck, although this is with my grip strength nothing else. 

So this begs the question, can I restore these? Is it worth restoring or instead spending a arm and a leg to get another pair of forks. And If I can fix them up what tools, kit and potential replacement innards would I need. 

Many thanks for reading this far, if anymore information is needed just ask 😀 



Restoring old forks!