Marzocchi fork question

in message <[email hidden]>, Beenzon Toste

(') said:

I have recently fitted some marzocchi mx comp forks, and been out
twice on them on fairly mixed terrain , ranging from thick mud to deep
rutted forest
trails. I got the bike out of the shed today, and they felt noticably
soft.
How often should these need air putting into them . I guess they have
only about 60 miles on them . Is this normal ?

No. Something is wrong. In my experience air shocks lose pressure
extremely slowly - several months before you notice they need a few
pounds more.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

Anagram: I'm soon broke.

"Beenzon Toste" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have recently fitted some marzocchi mx comp forks, and been out twice on
them on fairly mixed terrain , ranging from thick mud to deep rutted

forest

Quoted message said:

trails. I got the bike out of the shed today, and they felt noticably

soft.

Quoted message said:

How often should these need air putting into them . I guess they have

only

Quoted message said:

about 60 miles on them . Is this normal ?
TIA
David

My MX air forks require air about every 8 weeks. They do get a bit soft by
them but not so much that I notice during normal riding. They are low
pressure forks so don't lose pressure as fast as I imagine the high pressure
ones might.

I fitted mine in November 2003 and I think they are excellent. I ride cross
country - but we do have a few rough descents here in Mid Wales and they
soak up the big bumps as well as they do the small ones.

John

I just checked the pressure and I had 9 p.s.i in left leg and 22.5 p.s.i.
on the right leg. I ordered a shock pump which should get to me before the
weekend. All I need to do now is find the manual and see how much they
should have in them and I am back in business. I must admit I didnt check
the pressures from new, so I havent got a benchmark as to how much they have
lost.
thanks for your help
david

"Beenzon Toste" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have recently fitted some marzocchi mx comp forks, and been out twice on
them on fairly mixed terrain , ranging from thick mud to deep rutted forest
trails. I got the bike out of the shed today, and they felt noticably
soft. How often should these need air putting into them . I guess they
have only about 60 miles on them . Is this normal ?
TIA
David

Beenzon Toste said:

I just checked the pressure and I had 9 p.s.i in left leg and 22.5 p.s.i.
on the right leg. I ordered a shock pump which should get to me before the
weekend. All I need to do now is find the manual and see how much they
should have in them and I am back in business. I must admit I didnt check
the pressures from new, so I havent got a benchmark as to how much they have
lost.

How did you measure the pressure? The volumes are very small so
connecting a pressure guage or a shock pump can drop the pressure quite
significantly. I have now calibrated my shock pump so I know exactly how
much pressure loss connecting it causes (connect, set pressure,
disconnect, reconnect, read pressure, note difference)and over a period
of a couple of years my Marzocchis have not lost any noticeable pressure.

Tony

I have got one of those digital tyre pressure gauges. They will connect with
minimal pressure loss and are supposed to be extremely accurate, but I take
your point about pressure loss when connecting/disconnecting the pump. I
think I will be adopting your methods and calibrating my pump in the same
way.

David
"Tony Raven" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Beenzon Toste said:

I just checked the pressure and I had 9 p.s.i in left leg and 22.5
p.s.i. on the right leg. I ordered a shock pump which should get to me
before the weekend. All I need to do now is find the manual and see how
much they should have in them and I am back in business. I must admit I
didnt check the pressures from new, so I havent got a benchmark as to how
much they have lost.

How did you measure the pressure? The volumes are very small so
connecting a pressure guage or a shock pump can drop the pressure quite
significantly. I have now calibrated my shock pump so I know exactly how
much pressure loss connecting it causes (connect, set pressure,
disconnect, reconnect, read pressure, note difference)and over a period of
a couple of years my Marzocchis have not lost any noticeable pressure.

Tony

in message <[email hidden]>, Beenzon Toste

(') said:

I just checked the pressure and I had 9 p.s.i in left leg and 22.5
p.s.i.
on the right leg. I ordered a shock pump which should get to me before
the weekend. All I need to do now is find the manual and see how much
they should have in them and I am back in business. I must admit I
didnt check the pressures from new, so I havent got a benchmark as to
how much they have lost.
thanks for your help

If the pressure you need in your units is less than about 100psi an
ordinary bike pump will be adequate (but a pressure gauge does help).

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; An enamorata is for life, not just for weekends.

Simon Brooke said:

If the pressure you need in your units is less than about 100psi an
ordinary bike pump will be adequate (but a pressure gauge does help).

Its not really. The volume is too small so you end up with minute
movements of the pump to get the right pressure and then its too easy to
loose it all when disconnecting the pump. A proper shock pump - I use
the Pace one - is worth it IMO

Tony