888VF setup and adjustment advice please!

bannedbiker
bannedbiker Posts: 382
edited November 2010 in MTB workshop & tech
Mornin all!

I've got a pair of Marzocchi 888 VF's and have a couple questions about setting them up.
1st off I need a tool to adjust the internal rebound, I know it's only a very long 3mm hex key, where could I get one OR if most people make their own how have you gone about it?

Secondly, my forks are a bit too firm for me. I'm 80kg (with armour + lid etc) and have the standard grey spring in.
The preload shim that's in there at the moment is 54mm long. I'm gonna make a series of slightly shorter shims, but I dont know what sort of increments to go down in and what the shortest I could safley go is.
Also, I dont know what weight or volume of oil is in them at the moment (I bought them 2nd hand), but what weight and volume of oil would you recommend.
I'm riding general DH trails, no huge hucks or jumps to flat landings.
Cheers in advance
Giant Reign - now sold :-(
Rockhopper Pro - XC and commuting
DH8 - New toy :-)

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    first what year.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • bannedbiker
    bannedbiker Posts: 382
    Sorry, knew I'd forget to mention something!

    Well, I think they're 2006.
    From searching the Marz website they look exactly the same as the pic for the '06 ones, but the tech spec lists the '06 ones as having external rebound and compression adjust.
    The discription for the '05 ones match, but from the photo the '05 ones have raiser crowns (mine have flat crowns) and the stickers dont match (mine seem to be old and worn enough to be original!)
    Giant Reign - now sold :-(
    Rockhopper Pro - XC and commuting
    DH8 - New toy :-)
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    edited November 2010
    pics then

    as the 05 is not adjustable in any way.
    the 06VF (not shown on Marzs pages) is rebound adjustable on the right leg internal).
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • bannedbiker
    bannedbiker Posts: 382
    bannedbiker-albums-a-few-riding-photos-picture238-my-new-dh-bike.jpg

    That's the only photo I've got at the mo, if you cant tell from there I'll take some specific ones this evening.

    I've had the fork open and can see the adjuster at the lower of the right leg, so I reckon it cant be an '05 fork then? '06?
    Giant Reign - now sold :-(
    Rockhopper Pro - XC and commuting
    DH8 - New toy :-)
  • bannedbiker
    bannedbiker Posts: 382
    PS: Yes I know the seatpost is touching the shock and the chain too long, I hadn't finished building it but wanted a photo to show my mates!
    Giant Reign - now sold :-(
    Rockhopper Pro - XC and commuting
    DH8 - New toy :-)
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    see edit above.

    deff 2006. dont have the full tech docs to hand will look later at home.

    re the rod either LBS or a mate with a welder and some rod and a cut allen key.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • bannedbiker
    bannedbiker Posts: 382
    Okally dokally.
    I've just found a nice bit of bar at work so reckon an allen key's going in the end this weekend!
    Yeah, If you've got the full tech docs to find out about the shims that would be much appreciated
    Cheers for the help
    Giant Reign - now sold :-(
    Rockhopper Pro - XC and commuting
    DH8 - New toy :-)
  • bannedbiker
    bannedbiker Posts: 382
    Dont suppose you managed to find that full tech document Nick?
    Chatting to a guy in my LBS who also has a pair of '06 888VFs he said that the shim to set the preload in his forks is aluminium, the shim in mine is a plastic tube, I thought it seemed a bit dodgy.
    The questions I could still do with answering are:
    What volume of oil should be in each leg?
    What wieght oil wold you recomend?
    How long the preload setting shim should be/ what incriments would be suitable if I make a load myself to test.

    Cheers
    Giant Reign - now sold :-(
    Rockhopper Pro - XC and commuting
    DH8 - New toy :-)
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    give me a mo.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    oil levels

    http://www.windwave.co.uk/documents/tec ... charts.pdf

    the other info is for the VF2 (200mm)so may not be exactly the same.

    the preload sleeve is 44mm long (no material mentioned but plasic is not un normal)

    check you mail addy for more info.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • bannedbiker
    bannedbiker Posts: 382
    Nice one, cheers nick, you're a legend!
    Reckon I'll make 2 pairs of spacers, 49 and 44mm, and just check the oil level.
    Cheers again.
    Giant Reign - now sold :-(
    Rockhopper Pro - XC and commuting
    DH8 - New toy :-)

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