888's failing at the axle clamp bolts.

Zark · Jul 27, 2004

My friend John had it happen a couple months ago, Marzocchi said it's the first they'd heard of it and gave hima hard time about warranty He works at a shop and knows how to use tools, so I found it suprising.

What did 'zocchi say about it?

sguhrofst8 · Jul 27, 2004

how loud are your 888s? mine coming through a high speed rock garden sounds like its going to fall off.
--z--

Salami · Jul 27, 2004

Dartman said:
Has anyone else experienced this problem?

Mike

Like this?

RhinofromWA · Jul 28, 2004

Zark said:
My friend John had it happen a couple months ago, Marzocchi said it's the first they'd heard of it and gave hima hard time about warranty He works at a shop and knows how to use tools, so I found it suprising.

What did 'zocchi say about it?

That's impossible. You are lying. Marz can't break! :eek:

In totally unrelated news a month ago at a DH race I saw the dropouts on a Super T (2004?) crack while mounting in on a car roof rack. :eek:

**It happens

buildyourown · Jul 28, 2004

RhinofromWA said:
That's impossible.

In totally unrelated news a month ago at a DH race I saw the dropouts on a Super T (2004?) crack while mounting in on a car roof rack.

Careful,
I know the incedent to which you are refering. I think it might have been PEBCAK.

I think the fork-up was more to blame than the fork.

Click to expand...

Jeremy R · Jul 28, 2004

Nope, mine has been perfect all season long.
I did mess up the little c-clip when I was doing an oil change, but that was all me and my monster thumbs fault. See :thumb:

To the guy above, it your fork is noisy, you probaly just need to increase your preload which is easily done.

RhinofromWA · Jul 28, 2004

buildyourown said:
Careful,
I know the incedent to which you are refering. I think it might have been PEBCAK.

I think the fork-up was more to blame than the fork.

No need to be carefull..... it broke. Straight up.

I have seen lots of twisted brake arches of the old JrT SuperT line.

Seen plenty of leaking seals....

I just think it is funny when people take it as gosspel that Zokes don't break or need maintenance.....ever. That is simply good marketing.

PS- PM me what PEBCAK means :confused:

My Boxxer never broke from my Fork-up. Though I now use tie downs because I am to laxy to remove that wheel anymore.

AZRacerX · Jul 28, 2004

Zark said:
My friend John had it happen a couple months ago, Marzocchi said it's the first they'd heard of it and gave hima hard time about warranty He works at a shop and knows how to use tools, so I found it suprising.

What did 'zocchi say about it?

Sorry, but that is a load of BS. Marzocchi HAS heard about that before because I personally know of 3 different people who have had the same problem, including myself. All were replaced under warranty with some "special instructions" on tightening those bolts.

Dogboy · Jul 28, 2004

I haven't has any problems with mine. I did talk to one guy who broke his, but he admitted that it was his fault-uneven tightening.

BlackDiamond · Jul 28, 2004

RhinofromWA said:
PS- PM me what PEBCAK means QUOTE]

PEBCAK is a computer term often used in the IT or Tech support world. It means Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair. Basically operator error.

Lennox · Jul 28, 2004

AZRacerX said:
Sorry, but that is a load of BS. Marzocchi HAS heard about that before because I personally know of 3 different people who have had the same problem, including myself. All were replaced under warranty with some "special instructions" on tightening those bolts.

What are teh "special instructions" on tightening em...???

Zark · Jul 28, 2004

AZRacerX said:
Sorry, but that is a load of BS. Marzocchi HAS heard about that before because I personally know of 3 different people who have had the same problem, including myself. All were replaced under warranty with some "special instructions" on tightening those bolts.

BS how? this is what happened to my friend and the response he got from them. Marzocchi's response could very well have been BS, but there is no reason to apologize to me for it

It sounds like the porosity leaks and the dropout cracks are pointing at some fundamental problems with the lowers. I hope they get worked out before I get one (whenever that is!

)

Acadian · Jul 28, 2004

Zark said:
It sounds like the porosity leaks and the dropout cracks are pointing at some fundamental problems with the lowers. I hope they get worked out before I get one (whenever that is! )

at least they are pretty good about taking care of the people that are experiencing these problem(s)! So that is a good sign...

AZRacerX · Jul 28, 2004

Zark said:
BS how? this is what happened to my friend and the response he got from them. Marzocchi's response could very well have been BS, but there is no reason to apologize to me for it

It sounds like the porosity leaks and the dropout cracks are pointing at some fundamental problems with the lowers. I hope they get worked out before I get one (whenever that is! )

No, I meant Marzocchi's response is BS. The apology was to the Marzocchi employees who browse and post on this board for bagging on them

The "special instructions" basically said make sure you tighten the bolts evenly or it could break, which kind of admits that they had seen that happen before. For the record, I had always tightened the bolts pretty evenly, alternating back and forth. But now that I know that area is weak I am even more cautious by alternating between bolts much more frequently (quarter turn max on each bolt). Since I've been doing this I have not had a problem. Everyone with an 888 should be aware that this area is weaker than usual and should be extra cautious. If enough people break their lowers I suspect Marzocchi would either do a recall (unlikely) or stop replacing them under warranty and accuse the owner of improper installation (more likely).

Brian Peterson · Jul 28, 2004

As far as people not liking some of the response from our tech department, situations usually start because we don't warranty parts sight unseen. So when they have a race, or need the fork for the next days ride, we usually have to hear about it. And what a-holes we are because we won't just send the part.

As for the issues with the 888 axle clamps, it usually comes down to 1 of 2 things. 1) Overtightening. It is only 5Nm on those bolts. That is why we started to give detailed instructions on how to tighten them. People would tighten one bolt all the way first, then the other. Result? A crack between the two bolts. 2) An air bubble in the casting. But if this is found to be the problem, which is a pretty easy one to spot on inspection, we will replace the lower. This is why we don't warranty parts without seeing them first. We send parts found to be defective back to Italy so they can make the needed changes.

Brian

zedro · Jul 28, 2004

AZRacerX said:
The "special instructions" basically said make sure you tighten the bolts evenly or it could break, which kind of admits that they had seen that happen before. .

no, it kinda means alot of people dont know how to tighten clamps properly.

but i guess this really is a leaned out race fork, seems to require more babying regardless. Long live my Shiver....

lovebunny · Jul 28, 2004

well marzs are usually awesome but i havent heard of any forks more problematic than the 888. i mean ive owned a z1 a jr t a monster and now have a shiver and a shiver sc and ive loved all of them. and the no maintinence thing is true hardly i jus set it and forget it. and take it in once or twice a year.

CBJ · Jul 28, 2004

Problem or no problem cool that Brian reponds on RM.

Still amazing how many problem free Shivers out there eventhough my 2001 had faulty dampers with no rebound and I had to buy new dampers. 2001 was the first year for the Shiver and it just seems like it very difficult to design and test a mtb product before release without problems the first year especially with forks. With the amount of 888 I saw in BC it can't be that bad.

KleinMp99 · Jul 29, 2004

All I have to say is that I have been tightening mine totally wrong, and nothing has cracked or went bad.....that has to say something about how sweet marzocchi forks are!!!!! :thumb:

ChrisRobin · Jul 29, 2004

BlackDiamond said:
RhinofromWA said:

PS- PM me what PEBCAK means QUOTE]

PEBCAK is a computer term often used in the IT or Tech support world. It means Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair. Basically operator error.

Click to expand...

HA! I like that.

Jimmy_Pop · Jul 29, 2004

Brian Peterson said:
As far as people not liking some of the response from our tech department, situations usually start because we don't warranty parts sight unseen. So when they have a race, or need the fork for the next days ride, we usually have to hear about it. And what a-holes we are because we won't just send the part.

As for the issues with the 888 axle clamps, it usually comes down to 1 of 2 things. 1) Overtightening. It is only 5Nm on those bolts. That is why we started to give detailed instructions on how to tighten them. People would tighten one bolt all the way first, then the other. Result? A crack between the two bolts. 2) An air bubble in the casting. But if this is found to be the problem, which is a pretty easy one to spot on inspection, we will replace the lower. This is why we don't warranty parts without seeing them first. We send parts found to be defective back to Italy so they can make the needed changes.

Brian

Brian, i dont have an 888 but plan to get one. I have a question. Is the 888 like other Marz forks where you tighten one lowers axle pinch bolts, then push up and down on the fork and then tighten the other side - thus trying to eliminate a "binding" situation? or are these failures the direct result of improper tightening or could they be the result of binding up?

joel

bigkonarider · Jul 29, 2004

It's a shame-try to save some weight..Forky breaky..
I'm a devoded Monster-T guy--- no problems here..
I'm curious about the FOX-dh40 estimating it 7 pounds weight with 40mm stantions ?
Will it hold up? ? ? ? ? ?

.

Brian Peterson · Jul 29, 2004

joel hester said:
Brian, i dont have an 888 but plan to get one. I have a question. Is the 888 like other Marz forks where you tighten one lowers axle pinch bolts, then push up and down on the fork and then tighten the other side - thus trying to eliminate a "binding" situation? or are these failures the direct result of improper tightening or could they be the result of binding up?

joel

No, that was just in the Shiver with inverted design. The legs on the 888 don't twist independently of each other.

Brian

Brian Peterson · Jul 29, 2004

Dartman said:
The first time I broke one I was using a torque wrench set to what the manual recommended. I always alternate bolts when there are two in a clamp or a star pattern when there are more like rotor bolts. I don't believe an air bubble is causing this problem. There just isn't enough material in the leg around the bolt holes. The cross section of the fractured area was suprisingly thin. The magnesium has a very large crystaline structure and fractures easily. I hope it gets redesigned in the future or this is going to continue to happen.

Mike

Mike,
It seems you have some material knowledge going there... But then you also would know that when you cast a part, an air bubble in the casting can cause problems. And yes, I have seen it. As for redesigning parts, that's why we want to see them. It's a lot more effective to send a problem back and let the engineers see it then to tell them "This guy had a problem here...." More expensive, but a lot more effective.

Brian

888's failing at the axle clamp bolts.

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