[pnj]

My fork is from 2002 or so.

I have this piece of document

and
http://www.marzocchi.com/spa/mtb/products/oillevel.asp?LN=UK&Sito=mtb&Y=2002

The second link there says 100cc, which is just about 7 Tablespoons. Is this correct? The first link doesn't even list the DJ II but I remember that pamphlet coming with my fork.

 

[jodysbike]

My fork is from 2002 or so.

I have this piece of document

and
http://www.marzocchi.com/spa/mtb/products/oillevel.asp?LN=UK&Sito=mtb&Y=2002

The second link there says 100cc, which is just about 7 Tablespoons. Is this correct? The first link doesn't even list the DJ II but I remember that pamphlet coming with my fork.

Just fill it full of your man juice Pat!

Your fork is a 130mm travel? If so 100 cc is right but what oil weight are you using and are you jumping or using it more for XC?

 

[pnj]

I don't know what oil weight. 10 weight I guess. I have to get to the shop and pick some up.

Riding is mostly XC type with a little (small) jumping and a few small drops (less then 7 feet and to transition, not flat).

 

[jodysbike]

I don't know what oil weight. 10 weight I guess. I have to get to the shop and pick some up.

Riding is mostly XC type with a little (small) jumping and a few small drops (less then 7 feet and to transition, not flat).

That's pretty heavy.
http://www.finishlineusa.com/products/shock-oil.htm

How much are you tipping the scale at these days Pat?

 

[pnj]

156 with my clothes on at the Y today. I was hoping that a thicker oil would slow down the fork? I'm still not used to the front end sagging on me..

 

[jodysbike]

156 with my clothes on at the Y today. I was hoping that a thicker oil would slow down the fork? I'm still not used to the front end sagging on me..

Man you porked up!

Factory oil weight for the DJ should have been like 7.5wt

Remember that oil level of 100 mm is not 100 mm of oil in a beaker pored in for Marzocchi. It's fork compressed and oil height measured from top of oil to top of stantion tube.

If you increase or decrease the oil weight it will slow the cycle of the fork(increase WT 10 or 15) or speed the cycle of the fork (decrease wt 2.5 or 5wt) it's not going to deal with initial sag or how fast the fork bottoms out.

Increasing oil volume will make the suspension more progressive making it stiffer toward the bottom of a stroke.

Decreasing oil will make it more linear with speed of compression being even throughout the stroke.

Fast paced XC ride over real rough stuff with little jumping and no to small drops= 7.5 at 100mm (Factory) The heavier springs stock in a DJ should give less initial sag than say a 44TST.

Fast paced XC ride over real rough stuff with lots of jumping and small to mid sized drops (ie under 5 ft)= 7.5 at 90 to 80 mm(Increase in oil lever/height will make the fork stiffer in the mid to bottom half of it's travel) Changing to heavier springs will reduce initial sag

Pure dirt jumping/street and drops as primary riding with forest XC on occasion. Increase to 10 wt, 90mm of oil, heavy springs and preload knobs turned down.

If you are bottoming the fork on jumps and drops Increase the oil height. I don't thing I would go to a 10wt for you body weight. I'm guessing from your old riding habits on a BMX you ride fast. Going heavy on the oil weight will slow the forks cycle and not allow it to be decompressed back out before you hit the next bump/jump. The fork on a real rough section of trail will stack up and by the time you get to the end of a root section it will feel like you don't have a suspension fok and have sore hand at the end of a ride.

I think what you need to do is put about 10 mm more oil in and turn down the spring preload knobs a bit more or get a heavier spring.

 

[pnj]

I have the heavy springs in. So lighter oil is better it sounds like.... Even with the factory oil, when I hit something like a round log, four/five hinches at speed, the fork would sometimes not compress...

 

[jodysbike]

I have the heavy springs in. So lighter oil is better it sounds like.... Even with the factory oil, when I hit something like a round log, four/five inches at speed, the fork would sometimes not compress...

How old is this fork Pat?
The original first series of DJ forks came with a ridiculous spring set up that made em almost non functioning. You may need to consider lighter duty springs for XC use.
Part of that lack of movement could be contaminated oil.
But a 7.5 wt oil or heavier for some one under 150lbs with heavy rated springs is a good part too.

Try a lighter oil and if you need it stiffer at the bottom of the stroke to keep it from bottoming more oil.

What color paint is on the end of the spring? RED? Or color of the whole spring?

 

[jodysbike]

This is an older color code table but still applies to most M forks.
red spring
rider weight 170-205lbs

white spring
rider weight 145-180lbs

yellow spring
rider weight 120-155lbs

green spring
rider weight 195-240lbs

Pro Wind
rider weight 145-180lbs

 

[pnj]

Springs are green. I put them in after I purchased the fork in 2002....

I bought some lighter oil today, I'll see how they work out.

 

[jodysbike]

Springs are green. I put them in after I purchased the fork in 2002....

I bought some lighter oil today, I'll see how they work out.

green spring
rider weight 195-240lbs

Your 156lbs. Green may be right for you to ride the SST or Green lake jumps but for an XC ride even with a lighter oil your ride may be harsh. Back your preload knobs all the way off too.