What spring comes stock in the 08 66 RC3? My wife is 130-140 and I need to change the spring. What is the lightest spring available and will it be light enough? Ive heard you can take out the spring completely and run air in the preload side. Any info?
08 66 RC3 spring help
- Thread starter Kntr
- Start date
I responded on another thread somewhere, but I don't remember where so I can't advise you to go there. 
I'll say it here too!
I'm a buck 70 with gear. (thats 170lbs). The stock spring (yellow) yielded me about 4% sag. No compression, and as low oil levels as I could without having a dead spot. No air in the chamber (actually I'd compress it a bit and push the valve down and let some air out - which I strongly suggest doing for a lighter weight rider). I switched to the red spring. It was perfect for me. For her (at 130?) I'd recommend an ATA cart (with the newest edition of ata which doesn't wind down - been on my roommates bike for a couple months with no wind down issues), or the red spring.
Hope that helps
I'll say it here too!
I'm a buck 70 with gear. (thats 170lbs). The stock spring (yellow) yielded me about 4% sag. No compression, and as low oil levels as I could without having a dead spot. No air in the chamber (actually I'd compress it a bit and push the valve down and let some air out - which I strongly suggest doing for a lighter weight rider). I switched to the red spring. It was perfect for me. For her (at 130?) I'd recommend an ATA cart (with the newest edition of ata which doesn't wind down - been on my roommates bike for a couple months with no wind down issues), or the red spring.
Hope that helps
No, adding air pretty much just effects the damping, it wont function as a spring. You can compress the fork all the way without the spring no problem, it'll rebound about 1/2 inch because of the air pressure. Removing the spring wont work. Get the lighter spring (red) or get an ATA assembly.
I called Marzocchi and they told me to remove the spring and add 30-35 psi of air in the other leg and it will work. He said he has helped a lot of people do this and its working great.
Thanks though.
Wow I wish I had done that! I wanted to try it, but I was told it wouldn't work. Interesting.
I took the yellow spring out today and added 35 psi to the other leg. My wife rode the bike around the house and it almost seemed too soft. The fork did perform pretty good. I dont know if I trust just air, though.
Has anyone run the red spring? Will it be soft enough for a 130-140 lb girl rider?
Has anyone run the red spring? Will it be soft enough for a 130-140 lb girl rider?
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After riding saturday and sunday this weekend, I think I definitely need a softer spring for my '08 66 RC3. I weigh about 165-170 lbs with gear. I don't have any air pressure in it, but it's just not plush enough on smaller bumps/braking bumps and almost never uses the last 1-1.5" of travel. Where can I get a softer spring?
You might need to add a bit of oil after adding the soft spring. If it bottoms don't assume it's too soft. If your sag is normal and it bottoms, add some oil. Just saying this because it's more likely when you switch to the softer spring.
Maz seals are pretty damn good, why not try some more air and see how it goes. I would trust running just air if it was me, no different than Fox do with their float range. Many people add springs to worn out air forks so why not the other way around considering the 66's have air capability?
The only downside IMO is that they may lose some of that buttery coil feel.
Just checked in the Maz manual - you can run up to 65psi max
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I switched the spring and it feels way better. The small bump sensitivity it better than just air. Since it was for my wife I wanted it plush.
I finally got the softer spring two weeks ago since they were apparently on back order for a while. I have rode it twice so far and it is much better. Now I can add a few clicks of mechanical preload to get the sag right. I still have no air pressure in the chamber, adding any seems to make it too stiff. And I can make use of the compression damping without making it feel harsh.
I think I may need to do this, as occasionally it will bottom hard if I land front heavy. Do I need to add oil to both legs, or just the damper side or just the spring side?