[RhinofromWA]

A coworker bought a 888R for his 04 Spec BigHit (It had a JrT) and has only a few rides....he went up to whislter recently and said it wasn't working very well. He has quite a few rides so I don't think it is just a break in issue.

This is all I received via Email for info:

Who is the best people to take my 888r to for tuning and stuff. It just SUCKS A*SS on high speed bumps...It seems to skid across bumps at high speed, rather than soak anything up...I mean, its so bad, I didnt want to ride it. My hands are killing me....Should I take it to *local DH oreinted Bike shop*?

I have never dealt with the 888 but my first thought was lessen the High Speed compression to allow it to follow the ripples and not kill his hands.

Any other 888 owners run into similiar problems? How did you fix it?

any help would be appreciated.

 

[kidwoo]

There is no high speed compression adjustment. The compression knob is supposed to increase damping towards the end of the compression stroke. It doesn't do much anyway. Sounds like his fork may be clogged up with the original dirty oil. Mine felt pretty bad after 2 days and like a dream following the initial oil change. This is the same guy on mtbr right?

 

[RhinofromWA]

There is no high speed compression adjustment. The compression knob is supposed to increase damping towards the end of the compression stroke. It doesn't do much anyway. Sounds like his fork may be clogged up with the original dirty oil. Mine felt pretty bad after 2 days and like a dream following the initial oil change. This is the same guy on mtbr right?

I don't know.....

I haven't gone to MTBR, is it in the DH forum?

 

[Brian HCM#1]

Check the C-clips for the preload, one may not be seated correct. Use Golden Spectro oil, way smoother than the factory stuff.

 

[Jeremy R]

Check the C-clips for the preload, one may not be seated correct. Use Golden Spectro oil, way smoother than the factory stuff.

Good advice.
Mine has never felt bad. However, it did feel way better after the oil change.
Pretty much if you got the oil height right and the preload right, it should feel like butter. Mine feels perfect and its ramping up nicely with the right height oil in.
I messed around with mine and screwed up the c-clips, then tried to ride it anyway, and one of them unseated off a drop. That was a long walk.
But for some reason, my fork felt a ton better after the preload was adjusted.
This guy could be having his fork "drop" from having it in the highest preload setting.

 

[kidwoo]

I don't know.....

I haven't gone to MTBR, is it in the DH forum?

Yup. Sounds like he figured it out. You/he forgot to mention that he weighed 210 and was using the stock springs. He was riding a 3-4 inch travel fork with his sag.

 

[RhinofromWA]

This is the same guy on mtbr right?

Haha yep...to funny!

 

[RhinofromWA]

Yup. Sounds like he figured it out. You/he forgot to mention that he weighed 210 and was using the stock springs. He was riding a 3-4 inch travel fork with his sag.

Yeah he is such a light weight. Are springs on that fork that soft!?! How much stiffer are the stiff springs? DO they have a few diff stages of springs that are stiffer?

If they are to soft for you (160ish right?) than that is a majorly soft sprung fork....stock. 160 is like the bottom of the barrel for DHrs I would think. 180+ seems more prevelant. I always know I will need stiff springs, but a 210 rider? wow.

 

[Discostu]

I've got a 888r coming in tomorrow for my big hit expert. I weigh 175, should the stock oil, springs and oil height be right for me? How long before I should do the initial oil change?

 

[kidwoo]

Zokes are usually softer than other fork manufacturer's springs. Some people (me) like it this way. The only problem is that although they feel more relatively more plush, you blow through the travel quicker. This is why everyone always makes a big deal about proper oil height with marzocchis. I haven't ridden a bike with both stiff springs but the one I bounced around on with 1 stiff/1 stock felt like it would be really good for someone my size really hauling arse.

888s seem to be a little worse with hitting the bottom. This is probably why they offer the sleeve that covers up the holes in the compression damper. Acadian didn't like the fork for this reason and he's even lighter than me. I think the sleeve should fix the overly linear feel of them though. I only know one person whose using it now but hopefully I'll get to try mine out soon.

 

[kidwoo]

I've got a 888r coming in tomorrow for my big hit expert. I weigh 175, should the stock oil, springs and oil height be right for me? How long before I should do the initial oil change?

I don't think the stock oil height on any marzocchi has ever been right for anyone. Get a ride in on the thing when you get it to give the internals a "wash" with the stock oil. This will get all the manufacturing/assembly residue out of the fork and into the oil.....then change the oil. You should be able to decide if you like the springs as well. You probably want to pop it open and put the preload clips on the lowest groove in the rod as well.

 

[Brian HCM#1]

At least move the preload to the middle position before even riding it, or the springs will knock around.

 

[Acadian]

Tell him to sell his 888 and get a Boxxer - his hands will feel much better!

 

[kidwoo]

Tell him to sell his 888 and get a Boxxer - his hands will feel much better!

Only if he buys YOUR boxxer. neaky:

Every bit of suspension needs tweeking for it to work properly for any given rider/style. You took the time to switch around some things on your boxxer and now it works like a good fork should. You can do the same with an 888 if you're not happy with it out of the box. That's what I hope to do because I have some of the same complaints that you did.

 

[Acadian]

That's what I hope to do because I have some of the same complaints that you did.

at least you took the time to listen to me, unlike others that scrutinized me from the get go!!

I agree that most forks need some sort of tuning to work right - some more than others!

I was being sarcastic about selling the 888 since that is what everyone suggests in "Boxxer" related threads!

 

[Brian HCM#1]

My fork feels much better with the oil change and adjusting the compression braking adjuster.

 

[Acadian]

adjusting the compression braking adjuster.

compression braking adjuster? is that a new part? neaky:

 

[Dartman]

Check the C-clips for the preload, one may not be seated correct. Use Golden Spectro oil, way smoother than the factory stuff.

They have a new C-clip out that is a bit longer. Call your dealer to get them. The original ones would pop off and wreck the insides of your fork. If it wasn't bad enough that the lowers are breaking all the time.

Mike

 

[kidwoo]

They have a new C-clip out that is a bit longer. Call your dealer to get them. The original ones would pop off and wreck the insides of your fork. If it wasn't bad enough that the lowers are breaking all the time.

Mike

How does the c-clip get past the silver "shelf" with the o-ring that rests against the clip?

 

[Jeremy R]

How does the c-clip get past the silver "shelf" with the o-ring that rests against the clip?

Yeah, no doubt.
A tiny David Copperfield must rest inside the fork leg, and magically move the C-Clip into the lowers.
There is not anything getting under that cap.
As far as you guys talking about the fork diving or blowing through its travel, are all these people on the 200mm version?
My 170 ramps up really quick and does not dive at all. It seems to match the feel of the DHR in the back.

 

[kidwoo]

As far as you guys talking about the fork diving or blowing through its travel, are all these people on the 200mm version?
My 170 ramps up really quick and does not dive at all. It seems to match the feel of the DHR in the back.

Actually you are the only person I know of who has the 170mm version so yeah, I guess we're talking the 200mm forks. I think it's relative really. Marzocchis in general feel softer sprung than most forks. I've owned four of them now and I can say that of mine and the others I've ridden, it's a consistent trait. What this gives you is a very responsive, plush suspension but you will blow through it a little easier. I'm riding a 2002 super t on my freeride bike and it too would bottom pretty easily before I upped the oil. I like how soft it is for that bike because I don't ride it quite as hard or fast as my dh bike.

I don't know for sure but I'd be willing to bet the stock springs for the 170 fork that you have are a little stiffer than the 200mm ones just because they have less travel to go through for the same type of terrain. I've had two WB forks, a mantiou carbon (for about a week), that super t and now the 888 on my dh bikes. Of all of those, the zokes went though their travel easier than the others. I can say for a fact that I'm using more of my travel with the zokes than with other forks though. To me this is a good thing.

Coming from another fork I could see where you would get the sensation of it diving more. For me the 888 is what I'm going to work with because of how stiff it is steering and smacking things head on. I've never ridden a fork other than a monter t that comes close to making sure that your wheel is where your handlebar is as well as being close to the same position fore and aft as when the bike is stationary. The wheel deflection of my WB forks and of the boxxers I've ridden gets on my nerves at northstar. It's even worse with my super t there.

A lighter rider like luc may not feel this quite as much and so doesn't see the advantage of trying to work with an 888 to make it better. Obviously there have been more than a few people complaining about either the fork riding too low or feeling too soft because they offer this sleeve thing now to compensate for what I think they were trying to do with this end stroke compression knob that does so little. But hey if you don't feel it, that's great. I'm jealous. I'm trying to get my fork to feel like yours then.

 

[Brian HCM#1]

compression braking adjuster? is that a new part? neaky:

Yeah, I have a new one sitting in front of me............bastard. Didn't even want to give it a chance.

 

[Acadian]

Yeah, I have a new one sitting in front of me............bastard. Didn't even want to give it a chance.

isn't it called Low Speed Compression adjuster? and not braking adjuster

 

[Brian HCM#1]

isn't it called Low Speed Compression adjuster? and not braking adjuster

As on the package: Compression braking adjustment bushing kit.

 

[OGRipper]

Instead of buying that low-speed compression sleeve, any reason you can't just duct tape over a hole or two? I guess the tape would flex a little bit but other than that?

I'm only half joking...and bored out of my skull today...

 

[kidwoo]

Instead of buying that low-speed compression sleeve, any reason you can't just duct tape over a hole or two? I guess the tape would flex a little bit but other than that?

I'm only half joking...and bored out of my skull today...

You have any Idea how much pressure a hard hit puts on the oil wanting to get out of that hole? I don't think duct tape would hold it in. Might slow it down a little though.

Plus there's all sorts of crap that could come off of duct tape that I wouldn't want floating around in my fork oil.

 

[Acadian]

Instead of buying that low-speed compression sleeve, any reason you can't just duct tape over a hole or two? I guess the tape would flex a little bit but other than that?

I'm only half joking...and bored out of my skull today...

don't joke with Brian - you risk of upsetting him. :devil:

 

[Acadian]

You have any Idea how much pressure a hard hit puts on the oil wanting to get out of that hole? I don't think duct tape would hold it in. Might slow it down a little though.

Plus there's all sorts of crap that could come off of duct tape that I wouldn't want floating around in my fork oil.

as cleaver as hack sawing a reservoir off a Fox RC!

 

[kidwoo]

as cleaver as hack sawing a reservoir off a Fox RC!

Bandsaw with an aluminum specific blade boy!!!

It would work too if there was enough material there to hold the hose threads. Ask your buddy darren. I'm not the only one who considered it.

 

[go-ride.com]

Check go to this link Go-ride.com Articles then click on the Marzocchi 888 article.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this article yet.

 

[OGRipper]

Nice, first I have to drill out a boxxer compression rod because the hole was too small, now I need to buy an aftermarket part because 'Zoke put too many holes in there. Jeez, can't these people get together on this stuff...ok, time for me to stop now...thanks for listening...holy slow monday will it ever end?

 

[Brian HCM#1]

don't joke with Brian - you risk of upsetting him. :devil:

The duct tape doesn't bother me as much as someone ordering a part to help change the performance and the day it comes in wusses out and goes back to his old fork without giving it a chance. With all the issues Boxxers have had since the begining I'm supprised you suck with them so long.

 

[OGRipper]

Whoa, did I miss something? Acadian, did you put your boxxer back on? Why?

 

[Brian HCM#1]

Whoa, did I miss something? Acadian, did you put your boxxer back on? Why?

No he didn't, I like razzing him.

 

[OGRipper]

Just wondering 'cuz I just made the same switch from boxxer to 888 and although I'm still getting it dialed I can't think of any reason to go back.

 

[Brian HCM#1]

Just wondering 'cuz I just made the same switch from boxxer to 888 and although I'm still getting it dialed I can't think of any reason to go back.

He just needs to mess around with the 888 adjustments.

 

[Acadian]

I can't think of any reason to go back.

I did..

 

[OGRipper]

Why? Are they payin' you or something?

 

[kidwoo]

I did..

Of course. Look at your thread count. You're obviously a newbie and have much to learn.

Dam luc, isn't that the second time now? amazing

 

[OGRipper]

Yeah I am a relative nooob with much to learn...but I am a seeker of knowledge with a big appetite...