Ageing of a spring - issues

[red_dog]

Over the past couple of months I noticed a slight change in my 888's (RC2X), from the time they were new.
I've taken note to the now brand new (same) pair of forks I have in comparrison to the pair I had (sold a bike, got a new set of forks for the other bike).

It seems after a couple of month of compressing, the spring becomes shorter or more compact, leaving a 'space of nothingness' in the intitial stroke of the shock.
If you ad a little weight to the front of the bike, then quickly lift, the fork seems to have a 'gap' in the dampning.
I've seen several people with the same thing on the earlier 888's as well.

Can you fix this by adding a spacer somewhere?
I understand that the pre-load of the fork should somewhat help this, but it diddnt seem to.
Or would it be an oil issue, hardly seems likely, as there were no vissible leaks, and they run cartridges dont they!?

[Dirt Devil]

I seriously doubt that the springs would shorten noticeably in a few months. I have the same fork and mine also have that small amount of negative travel. The difference might just be due to the fork breaking in properly.

[t]

I'd have to agree with dirt devil; marzocchis always take a little while to break in and should feel super plush in the first part of the travel.

[red_dog]

might just be due to the fork breaking in properly.

Can you explain that a little.....

[MUGEN]

Breaking in is bascially when the seals/bushings wear down a bit and run a tad smoother, kinda like when your brakes bed in and become stronger.

[red_dog]

Kinda missed my point,
I was assuming he meant my forks werent broken in properly...
I mean, I have had the forks for 3 months, ride it on average 8-10 hours a week, and give them a pretty hard life (i'm not too smooth a rider), I understand that intitially there is some sticktion problems, but they went and then the 'gap' appeared.

[Sov]

Click the 888 tuning link here:
http://www.go-ride.com/tips.html
my experience has been that the stock 888 springs sag out a bit after a few days of riding and the preload needs to be increased to prevent unwanted spring play. In my opinion all riders should increase the preload when installing the fork.

I have no experience with these forks, but it might be something to look into. Also, if you haven't done an oil change since new, it would probably pay to do one. There's probably a fair bit of metal grit in your oil from the bushings and cartridges breaking in.

[red_dog]

Golden response Sov!!!
I was sure it was a pre-load issue, but I like em to run pretty soft.

[floody]

Every coil marzocchi I've owned has had some free movement at the very top of the stroke, like perhaps 5mm , I think its just the way they are. My monster Ts especially were like that, it took new springs and a tankload of preload to get it out of them.

[udi]

Sov is correct.

Run maximum preload and if you are still getting what is definitely spring play, then you can make some of your own spacers out of PVC pipe of the appropriate OD for the spring/s.

I would replace one of the existing black plastic spacers with a longer custom one if you opt for that, rather than running a spacer on top of spacer arrangement.

Do make sure it's actually spring play and not something else though. you should be able to tell pretty easily if you wind off all the damping and see how the fork feels in the first half inch or so of travel.

I'm surprised if you are running full preload and the springs are still shorter though! bad marzocchi!

[Goobs]

Marzocchi recommends a service every 50 hours of riding in muddy conditions, 100 hours otherwise? Seems you would need a service at least every 3 months, depending on conditions?

However, I wouldn't think that would fix any vertical play issues? I certainly don’t have any on my 3 year old Super T's?

Why don’t you measure the springs? You should be able to fid the original uncompressed length?

Cheers