MARZOCCHI forks are based on an advanced technology coming from the company’s years long experience in the professional mountain bike
industry.
For the best results, we recommend inspecting and cleaning the area below the dust seal and the stanchion tube after every use and lubricating the
parts with some silicone oil.
MARZOCCHI forks usually offer the best performances since the very first rides. Notwithstanding this, a short running-in period may be necessary
(5-10 hours) to adjust the internal couplings. This precaution will lengthen your fork’s life and guarantee its best performances.
We recommend changing the oil at least every 100 hours.
The forks with a polished finish must be treated periodically with polishing paste to keep the exterior shining like new.
Warnings: General safety rules
After disassembling the forks, always use new, original Marzocchi seals when reassembling.
To tighten two bolts or nuts that are near each other, always follow the sequence 1-2-1, and tighten to the required tightening torque.
Before reassembly, wash all new and old components and dry them with some compressed air, making sure there are neither breaks nor burrs.
Never use flammable or corrosive solvents when cleaning the forks, as these could damage the fork’s seals. If you must use a solvent, use
biodegradable detergents that are not corrosive, non-flammable, or have a high flash point.
Before reassembling, always lubricate those components that are in contact with the fork’s oil.
If you are planning not to use your forks for a long period of time, always lubricate those components that are in contact with the fork’s oil.
Always collect and keep any lubricants, solvents, or detergents, which are not completely biodegradable in the environment. These materials should
be kept in appropriate containers, and disposed of according to local laws.
Always grease the seal lips before reassembling.
All of the components of Marzocchi forks require the use of metric tools. Use only metric tools. Imperial (US) tools may have similar sizes, but can
damage the bolts, making them impossible to loosen or tighten.
When using a screwdriver to assemble or disassemble metal stop rings, O-rings, sliding bushings, or seal segments, avoid scratching or cutting the
components with the screwdriver tip.
Do not carry out any maintenance and / or adjustment operations that are not explained in this manual.
Only use original Marzocchi spare parts.
Before servicing the fork, we recommend washing the fork thoroughly.
Work in a clean, organized, and well-lit place. If possible, avoid servicing your forks outdoors.
Carefully check to see that your work area is free of dust and metal shavings from any component of the forks.
Never modify your fork in any way.
We recommend overhauling one fork leg at a time.
Warnings: Fitting the fork onto the frame
For a correct installation of the fork onto the frame, distance H corresponding to the length of the steer
tube between the steering crowns, must be less than 164 mm (or 184 mm in case of use of a high
steering crown).
Fix the stanchions to the crowns so that the bottom face of the crown is slightly above the reference notch on the stanchion.
The clamping of the stanchions to the crowns must be done only in the areas with larger diameter (darker
area in the picture).
With the fork legs at travel end, the distance between the inflated tire and the bottom of the crown must be at least 4 mm.
A different position of the crowns can result in damage to the fork and in serious personal injury.
Warnings: Installing the disk brake
Installing the brake system is a delicate and critical operation that must be carried out by an authorized Marzocchi Service Center.
Marzocchi is not responsible for the installation and accepts no liability for damage and/or accidents arising from this operation.
Improper installation of a disk brake system can overstress the caliper mountings, which may cause the caliper mountings to break, resulting in loss
of control of the bicycle, an accident, personal injury, or death. Be sure that the brake system installation is also performed in strict compliance with
the instructions provided by the brake system manufacturer.
Improper installation can result in an accident, personal injury, or death.
Use only brake systems that comply with the forks specifications.
Make sure, after installation, that the brake cable of the brake system is correctly connected
to the proper mounting (A).
The brake cable must never touch the crown and stanchions.
Warnings: Assembling the fender
The fender can be supplied with the fork or purchased separately.
Fender (1) must be assembled by placing the small support bush (2) between the screw and the fender
as shown and by tightening screws (3) with an 8mm fixed spanner to the recommended tightening torque
(6 Nm ±1).
Warnings: Assembling the wheel
For a correct operation of the fork, install the wheel as explained below:
Align the center of the wheel with each wheel axle clamp.
Insert the wheel axle (1) through the right dropout, the wheel and the left dropout.
With the 6mm Allen wrench act on cap (2) and tighten the wheel axle to the recommended tightening
torque (15 Nm ± 1).
Check for the proper fork-wheel alignment. To do this, begin by fully compressing the fork a few times.
The wheel should not make contact with, or come close to any portion of the fork.
Then lift the front of the bicycle and spin the wheel a few times to verify the correct alignment with the
disk brake. The wheel should not wobble from side to side or up and down. Check the owner’s manual of
the brake system for the proper specifications.
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With a 4mm Allen wrench, tighten screws (3) on both dropouts to the recommended tightening torque (6 Nm ±1) following the sequence 1-2-1.
For a correct installation of the handlebar mount, follow the instructions below:
Install the bottom handlebar mount (1) onto the top crown so that the fixing holes match.
With a 4mm Allen wrench, lock the handlebar mount tightening screws (2) to the recommended
tightening torque (6 Nm ±1).
Fit the handlebar right in the middle of the mount.
Lock the handlebar in position with the special U-bolts (3).
With a 4mm Allen wrench, tighten screws (4) to the recommended tightening torque (6 Nm ±1).
On request, special adapters (5) are available to install handlebars with a different diameter.
Remove bushing (4), valve (5), the conical spring (11) and the three-point ring (6) from the piston rod.
Using the special round-nose pliers, remove the internal stop ring (12).
Dismantling: Dismantling the pumping element and valve
Remove the bottom pad (1).
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Using the special round-nose pliers, remove stop ring (2).
Pull out the pumping element (3) complete with rebound spring and valve.
Remove bushing (4), conical spring (11), valve (5) and three-point ring (6) from the pumping element.
Remove the preload tube (9) (
Remove the rebound spring (7).
only for models with 170mm travel
).
If the piston segment (8) is damaged, you can prize it off with a small flat-tip screwdriver.
Dismantling: Removing the seals
Prize the dust seal (1) off its seat with a small flat-tip screwdriver.
Take great care not to damage the internal surfaces of the one-piece assembly while
removing the dust seal.
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With the same screwdriver, prize off the metal stop ring (2).
Take great care not to damage the internal surfaces of the one-piece assembly while
removing the stop ring.
Fit the bottom guide bush (3).
With the help of spacer (2), press the bottom guide bush into the arch-slider assembly.
Insert the top guide bush (1) in its seat.
To help the bushes enter their seats you can use the special introducer.
Assembling: Assembling the seals
Insert the spring cup (4) in its seat.
Smear the dust seal and the sealing ring with some grease.
Insert the sealing ring (3) in its seat with the special introducer (A).
Using a hammer, knock in introducer (A) and drive the sealing ring home into the arch-slider assembly.
Using a small flat-tip screwdriver, fit the stop ring (2) and check that it fits perfectly into its groove.
Take great care not to damage the internal surfaces of the one-piece assembly when fitting
the stop ring.
The dust seals shall be refitted when reassembling the crown-stanchion unit / arch-slider assembly.
Assembling:
During the assembly of the pumping unit, strictly obey the instructions below.
Do not, at any times, reverse the position of the pumping elements in the fork legs (if you are unsure about anything, please refer
to the relevant exploded view).
Assembling: Assembling the left pumping element and valve
Replace the segment (8) of the pumping element, if necessary.
Insert the rebound spring (7) and the preload tube (9) (
rod.
Assemble the valve unit in this order: bushing (4),valve (5), conical spring (11), three-point ring (6), and
check that the parts are oriented as shown.
only for models with 170mm travel
) in the piston
Insert the pre-assembled valve in the piston rod from the three-point ring side as shown.
Insert the valve and the pumping element (3) into the stanchion.
Take great care not to damage the segment and if necessary use a small flat-tip screwdriver to help the piston of the pumping
element into the stanchion.
Using the special round-nose pliers, mount the stop ring (2) and check it fits perfectly into its groove.
Fit the bottom pad (1) to the pumping element rod.
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Assembling: Reassembling the steering crown unit / arch-slider assembly
A special spanner shall be used to assemble the bottom nuts. Do not, at any times, use other
tools.
In a graduated recipient, prepare the quantity of oil to pour into the fork leg (see table).
Pour roughly 1/3 of the oil required into each stanchion, then pump the fork a few times to eliminate any
traces of air.
Pour the rest of oil in.
A lower or higher volume or a type of oil other than the one recommended can change the behaviour of the fork in every phase.
Lift the crown-stanchion unit on the arch-slider assembly.
Insert spring (2) and the preload tube (1) in both legs.
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Assembling: Mounting the top caps
Put the fork in the vice in vertical position, fixing it by the dropouts.
Using the 28mm fixed spanner, tighten cap (1) to the recommended tightening torque (10 Nm ± 1).
By carefully calibrating the damping system you can get the maximum performance out of the same.
This paragraph indicates the sequence of operations to perform to set up the Marzocchi forks correctly.
In order to find the best settings for you, you will need to try several times to understand where and how to make adjustments. When doing so,
please ride in an open area, free from traffic, obstacles and other hazards.
The optimal setting is influenced by the geometry of the frame of the mountain bike, the weight of the cyclist, the type of terrain the bike will be
used on and the type of obstacles you have to deal with, but also by subjective factors associated with your riding style; therefore it is impossible to
provide objective data on the desired settings.
Nevertheless by carefully following the instructions below you will soon be able to find the optimal setting for you.
The shock absorber must be calibrated simply by using one adjuster at a time, following the order explained, noting the operations and any result
step-by-step.
During setting don't force the adjusters beyond their limit of travel and don't exceed the max recommended air pressure.
To keep the pressure inside the fork’s legs, only use the special MARZOCCHI pump with pressure gauge.
The use of any other pump can compromise the inflating operation and cause malfunction or damage to the fork, resulting in an
accident, personal injury or death.
Once the correct setting has been found, we recommend noting the number of clicks or turns of the adjuster with respect to the "fully closed"
position (adjuster fully clockwise) for a faster re-setting of your fork in case of need.
Setting: SAG
SAG means the fork bottoming under the biker's weight.
How to measure the SAG:
Follow these simple steps to measure the SAG.
On the leg portion of the fork, measure the distance between the lower crown and the dust seal (see
Picture A). Note this value as “H1”.
While sitting on the bike, repeat the measurement (see picture B). Note this value as “H2".
SAG = H1 - H2
How to find the best percent SAG:
The best percent SAG is 15-20% for Cross-country and All Mountain forks and 25-30% for Freeride and
Downhill forks.
In order to calculate the best SAG for your own fork, you will need to make the following calculation:
SAG = T x S (T = total travel; S = suggested sinking percentage).