2001 MZ Z1 DropOff forks.

The Northern Monkey

Just been reading the manual for the Z1 DO and I just want to check i've got my head around this.

http://www.marzocchi.com/template/detai ... etto=2426#

1) Coil Fork

2) to change the air volume you +- oil from the fork leg (max 10% of the norm - 60ml 7.5wt)

3) changing the oil level can tune it to rider weight, but can also tune the small bump feel ie more oil = harder over small bumps but plusher over anything bigger

4) it has a preload adjuster (which I assume is on the top of the fork leg - but I have no idea which side... is it both? if not, what does the other one do?!).

5) There should be a PRi internal damping adjuster, but the top of the fork looks nothing like the pictures. I have what looks like 2 preload adjusters on the fork, not 1.

Here are some pics to help figure out what fork it is lol! (check out the lovely front hub!)







Proper Italian made forks :P

supersonic

So a 2002 then lol.

Increasing the oil volume increases the progression of the fork, so ramps up more later in the travel.

IIRC the damper requires a long 6mm allen key inserted down the fork with the top cap off.

nicklouse

you have the Wedge........ arrrrgh it is a long travel XC fork only.

the two adjusters are both mechanical pre-load for the springs. and both legs require a long allen key (or supplied allen rod) inserted into the leg (top cap off) and then twisted.

The Northern Monkey

ahh so is it dual spring then?lol

and...

Marzocchi - Z1 Wedge wrote:

Freeride: This riding style is for skilled riders and involves aggressive slopes, large obstacles, and moderate jumps. Free Ride forks should be used only with disk brakes as well as frames, wheels and other components specifically designed for Free Riding. The disk brakes must be attached to the designated mounting points provided on the fork. Never make any modification to your fork to attach any equipment.

Hehe. Just had a play with the adjusters and they seem so actually do something, the fork is much stiffer now anyway

Sounds veeeery squelchy!

nicklouse

the thing about Old Marz forks they do tend to do what they should.

supersonic

They don't stiffen the fork per se, they add preload and change ride height for sag - the spring rate remains the same.

Well, people used to do DH on RS Mags lol.

The Northern Monkey

Have to admit... they do ride quite well considering they're 8 years old and never had a service!

So if there are 2 adjusters that do the same thing, what happens if you set one all the way to - and one all the way to +?!

nicklouse

you compress one spring more than the other.

The Northern Monkey

hmm.

I shall have a play tomorrow.

Bets on how long my hub will last?

*AJ*

I have a Drop off fork on my Hardrock.... though mines not the same as this, its got air valves on the top of each leg?

I have no idea what to do with them.

nicklouse

*AJ* wrote:

I have a Drop off fork on my Hardrock.... though mines not the same as this, its got air valves on the top of each leg?

I have no idea what to do with them.

well Bens is not a Drop off.

do you need help with your fork?

if so ask away.

*AJ*

nicklouse wrote:

*AJ* wrote:

I have a Drop off fork on my Hardrock.... though mines not the same as this, its got air valves on the top of each leg?

I have no idea what to do with them.

well Bens is not a Drop off.

do you need help with your fork?

if so ask away.

To be fair Nick its set ok at the min, I'd just like to know what does what, Its got 2 schrader valves at the top of each leg, underneath 2 platsic screw on caps. There looks to be no adjustment on the bottom of the legs, only these to valves on the top.

Assuming one must be for compression and one for rebound? should i just add air and take it away to see how the fork reacts?

All i know about the fork by the way is that its a Drop Off in black, has 150mm of travel, QR axle and no canti bosses. oh and an IS mount for disc.

nicklouse

they will both be for the air spring or the air preload,

sound like the newer Drop offs which were basic if...

if you can see a year in the lowers casting it will give a clue if the stickers are gone.

leejdavies

I have a set of 2001 drop off's I have not done a thing to them since I have bought them. used them for jumping, 4x & downhill when I was young and had the energy to do so. After 5 years of sitting in my parents garage I have decided to try and get back into MTB.

Any advice on what to do with them to perhaps revive them?

new springs / oil change? I have probably increased in weight since so may need to set them up to be stiffer.

OR is it a case of get some new ones? :P

nicklouse

see what sag you get now which will give an idea to the spring requirement and then either send them of for a service or download the manual as it has service info in it (yes the manuals were OK that year) and then decide what to do.

leejdavies

Nicklouse,

Just googled it and got myself the manual. Thanks muchly.

Also, as you seem to know things about this. If I increase the oil level how will that effect the motion. Or doesn't it.

Thanks.

nicklouse

it will reduce the effective travel by making the air chamber smaller causing the air "spring" to ramp up faster. (that is in extreme levels small changes help reduce bottoming out).

dont forget that you can change the travel to 130mm if you have not already done it.

leejdavies

yeah they came set at 130mm as I got them to balance out the 5" on the back.

Thanks for the tech help.

cobba

leejdavies wrote:

I have a set of 2001 drop off's I have not done a thing to them since I have bought them.
Any advice on what to do with them to perhaps revive them?

new springs / oil change? I have probably increased in weight since so may need to set them up to be stiffer.

Service Manual: http://www.wrower.pl/instrukcje/Marzocchi/2001-z1-drop-off.pdf

Anonymous

I loved old Marzocchi forks. Awesome pieces of kit. It's so sad that they've completely and utterly lost their way.

snotty badger

Just out of interest when did Marzocchi become rhubarb?

Anonymous

when they replaced the suspension oil with custard

jode

Hey all, sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I think this is the right place to post this.

I too, have a Marzocchi Z.1 Wedge (mine is an 01 model) and I bought it new on a Diamondback Reactor Dual (which I promptly sold) and I put the fork and most of the components on my Ellsworth Specialist. Anyway, since I bought it new, I have always had the user manual and the "hexagonal rod" they supply to adjust the damping. The problem is that in my last move across the country, I have somehow lost that "hexagonal rod." I really need to crank up the damping on this fork and I figure I can just weld a piece of allen wrench on the end of a piece of metal rod to get in there and do it...the only problem is, I don't know what size that "hexagonal rod" is. Does anyone have one or remember the size? If I recall correctly, it was about 3mm or so, but I'd like to know before I start cutting/welding all my allen keys.

Why couldn't Marzocchi have just specified the size of the rod in the literature? It would have saved me a lot of time, I have been searching on the internet for hours trying to find the right size... :evil:

nicklouse

just get a few or one really long extension.

sorry cant remember but this is the metal rod not the plastic one? should be as it was 3mmish.

jode

Yeah, it was metal - just a really long allen wrench

bennett_346

yeehaamcgee wrote:

I loved old Marzocchi forks. Awesome pieces of kit. It's so sad that they've completely and utterly lost their way.

Hmm, although expensive i quite like the look of the newer marz forks. Never tried them personally but they seem to get very good reviews.