43 MM Marzocchi oil air gap

[Colorobo]

Is the air gap measurement the same at 100 mm or add the oil specified and make them equal? Thanks Rob

[coreytrevor]

The level is what counts. The air volume in the fork acts as part of the spring as the fork compresses, more when the fork is deeper into the travel. Raising the oil level can help with bottoming and brake dive without making the fork feel harsher.

[GuzziMoto]

Whatever the oil level / air gap is, it should be the same in both fork legs. Otherwise one is going to behave differently than the other at near bottom.

[coreytrevor]

Pay attention to that but don't worry about a millimeter or 3 of difference.

[gstallons]

Don't forget the fact , one fork leg controls compression and one controls rebound .

[coreytrevor]

Don't forget the fact , one fork leg controls compression and one controls rebound .

 

This can be really helpful if your forks are harsh because of excessive high speed compression damping, like a lot of bikes. Running lighter fork oil in the compression side will reduce both the high and low speed damping. Then you can dial in more low speed damping with the adjuster to bring that back to where you want it.

 

This gives you a small amount of adjustability you don't have with most forks. If compression and rebound damping are in both sides, changing oil viscosity changes both compression and rebound damping.

 

I haven't ridden the Marzocchi forks, this may not be any help if they got the damping right. I only know how the bike rides with Ohlins.

[docc]

Lighter oil in the 'Zokes really does help the damping.  Remember to use centiStokes and not SAE "weight" to judge actual viscosity.

 

Peter Verdone has charted quite a few popular fork oils:

 

http://www.peterverdone.com/archive/lowspeed.htm