When Do I Clean the Marathon Cartridge?
•If little or no water flows when pumping. Clean if it takes more
than 2
˚
-
3 minutes or 125
-
150 strokes to filter a liter of water.
•If the Relief Valve "blows" when pumping, which reverses the
dirty water back through the Inlet Hose.
Cleaning the Filter Elements
Marathon Cartridge
To clean the Marathon Cartridge, unscrew the
Pump Head. Push the Marathon up through
the Housing. Brush the Marathon Cartridge
with the Scrubbing Pad while rinsing it with
clean water. Reassemble. Make sure that the
Upper and Lower End Cap O-Rings are
installed on the Marathon Cartridge.
Replacing the Marathon Cartridge
Pull the Gauge out from the Clean Side Cover. If the
Gauge slides easily over the Marathon Cartridge,
then it's time to replace it. You should get about
15 - 22 cleanings from the Marathon. If you get
less than that, don't scrub the surface
as hard. Another option is to use a
less abrasive material, such as a
soft cloth, every other cleaning.
Using a less abrasive material
will give less recovery than the
Scrubbing Pad. If you do not get
better flow after using an
alternative material, you must
use the Scrubbing Pad to abrade
the Marathon's surface.
Inlet Foam
If the Handle is hard to pull or debris
enters the Relief Valve or Umbrella
Valve, clean the Inlet Foam. Slide the
Cage up the Hose. Remove the Foam
and rinse it like a sponge, then reinstall
it through the Funnel.
Pump Head Maintenance
Umbrella Valve
If the Handle feels limp on the pull stroke
or air enters the Pump Head, clean under
the Umbrella Valve. Unscrew the Pump
Head and rinse thoroughly under the
Valve. Replace it if torn or damaged.
Warnings
The MiniWorks does not make salt water drinkable, does not remove all
viruses (viruses not attached to .3 micron or larger particles), some
chemicals and radioactive materials, or particles smaller than .3 microns.
Keep the Inlet Hose and other dirty water parts away from filtered
water containers to prevent contaminating filtered water.
Do not expose any part of the MiniWorks to chemicals other than as
directed by MSR in these instructions. Do not use this product in any
way other than expressed in the instructions or specifically authorized
in writing by MSR. Use only parts supplied by MSR.
Using the MiniWorks
1) Unscrew the Clean Side Cover from
the bottom of the filter.
2) Screw an MSR Dromedary
TM
Bag or
wide mouth Nalgene® bottle onto
the bottom of the filter for easy two-
handed operation. Otherwise, place
a clean container under the filter.
3) Put the Inlet Cage under water.
Adjust the Float to keep the Cage
above bottom sediments and below
surface debris.
4) Pump the Handle no faster than 1 stroke
per second. Although pumping faster does
not alter effectiveness, it causes water to
reverse through the Hose increasing the
pump strokes without increasing water
flow. Pump at 1 stroke per second.
5) Air trapped in the Pump Head will slow water flow. To
remove the air, turn the filter upside down while keeping the Hose
under water. Pump the Handle 3 - 5 strokes until the air is purged,
then return the filter upright for regular pumping.
6) After filtering, remove the Inlet Hose from water and pump the
Handle to purge any remaining water. Screw the Clean Side Cover
onto the bottom of the filter.
Storing the MiniWorks
Air dry the Marathon Cartridge to keep it in good operating condition
for your next use and to prevent organisms from growing:
• Unscrew the Pump Head. Push the Marathon Cartridge up
through the Housing. Air-dry the Marathon Cartridge at room
temperature (3 - 5 days). Wash and rinse other filter parts in
clean water and dry thoroughly before long-term storage.
• Another option is to sterilize the Marathon Cartridge. Remove the
End Cap O-Rings. Place the Marathon Cartridge in a pot of boiling
water for 5 minutes. Remove when the water is cool. Do not handle
the Cartridge when it's hot or the critical Lower End Cap seal may
be lost. Do not boil any other filter parts. Air dry Cartridge 3 - 5
days before storing.
Tips & Suggestions
• Always filter the clearest water available. Avoid filtering
cloudy or muddy water (visibility less than 1 foot), which can
reduce the life of the Marathon Cartridge. Very silty, cloudy
water will clog the filter much faster than clear water. The
fact that your filter clogs means it's effectively removing
particles from the water - the purpose of carrying a water
filter. Remember that clogging depends on water quality, not
how long you have used the filter.
•Let particles settle before filtering, especially when filtering
poor quality water. Fill a container with water and let it
stand 1 - 2 minutes or as long as possible. Filter mid-
container then discard bottom sediments.
•Keep the Inlet Foam above bottom sediments by adjusting
the Float at the end of the Hose.
•On longer trips, filter well or spring water when possible and
bring along extra Marathons and a Maintenance Kit.
•Air dry the Marathon Cartridge before storing to keep it in
good operating condition for your next use.
•After screwing the Pump Head onto the Housing, back it off
slightly (about 1/8 of a turn) to make it easier to remove later.
•Lubricate the Piston O-Ring and Housing O-Ring regularly
with a very light film of food-grade lubricant (MSR Silicone
Lubricant, lip balm or petroleum jelly). Do not lubricate the
Valves or plastic threads, since lubricant attracts dirt.
Upper End
Cap O-Ring
Piston Bushing
Pump Head Bushing
Inlet Valve Ball
Relief Valve Poppet
Inlet Barb O-Ring
Inlet Hose Barb
Relief Valve Spring
Inlet Hose
Inlet Float
Inlet Cage
Inlet Funnel
Inlet Foam
Clean Side Cover
Marathon Gauge
Marathon Cartridge
Lower End Cap O-Ring
Housing
Upper Housing O-Ring
Handle
Umbrella Valve
Piston O-Ring
Pump Head Pin
Piston Pin
Pump Head
