[Rik]

I had a random idea spring in to my head the other day... I own a fairly beaten up SuperT, of the 2002 vintage. It's on its way out, getting knocked around and in need of a replacement. It'd mainly the chassis that's worrying me, the flex and stanchion damage isn't pleasant. I'm looking to buy a complete bike in the near future, and getting a decent fork on it would be great, but it somewhat limits my choice of what bike to get if a big part of the criteria is the fork. So, after having played around with a fair few pre-2000 SC Marzocchi's with a bit of success, I was wondering how compatible all the parts are from 2002 onwards.
What I want to know is, would I be able to slot the 2002 SuperT damping rods straight in to a 2003 onwards fork, such as JuniorT/SuperT or even (shudder) a DropOff triple? I could imagine their might be a bit of fiddling with springs to get the right height to suit, that doesn't worry me, as long as the top caps and foot bolts will accept the damper, and there aren't any major issues to consider, would it be a viable idea?
If so, that allows me to pick any 20mm Marzocchi fork on a new bike, instead of trying to get something with HSCV, because there's no way I'd ride SSV.
Any help is appreciated, I'm hoping the newer gear is as much like lego as the old stuff when it comes to compatibility.

Oh, and another random idea, might as well ask, would putting the 2002 lowers on a 1998 fork work? yet again, spring spacing can be taken in to consideration. If so, then I have another evil plan brewing in the back of my mind...

 

[lovebunny]

man your just gonna be sir frankenfork

 

[TWISTED]

2002 and older have 30mm stantions, which means you would have to buy new caps to fit the newer 32mm stantions.
Another thing to consider is that some models of Bomber lowers locate the bottom attachment bolt at different areas. Some lowers are flat on the bottom with the bolt sticking out, others are hollow at the bottom with the bolt concealed up inside. This would show the need for different length of cartridges to provide the correct travel and ride height.

Nice thinking though. I do a lot of switching stuff around too. I took an '04 Drop Off Triple and switched out the flexy qr lowers for the qr20 lowers off one of my '04 Z1s. I then messed around with the cheap internals and have it working really good. It bombs through the rock gardens as well as anything I've ridden.

I just picked up an '03 exr comp and might try to put 2002 marathon internals in it to lighten it up and use the better damping.

 

[Rik]

I'd be wanting to keep the same topcaps on each fork, just hoping the diameter of the hole in the top is the same, so all I change is the damper rod, and maybe the springs. And you're right about the depth the stanchions can travel in to the legs, but that's what I mean by changing springs to get the right ride height... I'm not too fussed if I lose half an inch of travel or whatnot, and could tune spring rate and oil height to control the bottomout if need be.
Basically all I want is the 32mm chassis with 20mm lowers and HSCV internals, and if I can acheive that by taking a JuniorT and swapping a few parts, then it'd be fantastic.

What I hope to do in this exercise is end up with the following:
20mm lowers from 98 MrT with 98 Z2 uppers and internals, giving a light, stiff, short travel (63mm) fork for the street bike.
20mm lowers from 02 SuperT with 00 Z1CR uppers and internals, for a decent 5" fork for the trail bike.
Whatever fork that comes on the bike I buy (probably an 03-05 Junior T) with SuperT internals, mmm HSCV.
And, I'll try and scrap together a beater fork out of the spare parts, whatever lowers I can get (probably the Z1cr), SuperT uppers, and probably a SSV damper (out of either the new fork, or try and source one), and sell it for cheap to make back some money.
Mmm, I love Marzocchi stuff, it's like playing with lego :love:

 

[zedro]

I'd be wanting to keep the same topcaps on each fork, just hoping the diameter of the hole in the top is the same, so all I change is the damper rod, and maybe the springs.

where theres a will, theres a mod. You can remove the preload caps and i believe the basic naked topcap is the same (at least on earlier zokes). Even if it off, i'm sure you could mod it (ie. drilling or using a sleave). Did surgery on my topcaps to convert them to air caps.

 

[TWISTED]

I'd be wanting to keep the same topcaps on each fork, just hoping the diameter of the hole in the top is the same, so all I change is the damper rod, and maybe the springs. And you're right about the depth the stanchions can travel in to the legs, but that's what I mean by changing springs to get the right ride height... I'm not too fussed if I lose half an inch of travel or whatnot, and could tune spring rate and oil height to control the bottomout if need be.
Basically all I want is the 32mm chassis with 20mm lowers and HSCV internals, and if I can acheive that by taking a JuniorT and swapping a few parts, then it'd be fantastic.

What I hope to do in this exercise is end up with the following:
20mm lowers from 98 MrT with 98 Z2 uppers and internals, giving a light, stiff, short travel (63mm) fork for the street bike.
20mm lowers from 02 SuperT with 00 Z1CR uppers and internals, for a decent 5" fork for the trail bike.
Whatever fork that comes on the bike I buy (probably an 03-05 Junior T) with SuperT internals, mmm HSCV.
And, I'll try and scrap together a beater fork out of the spare parts, whatever lowers I can get (probably the Z1cr), SuperT uppers, and probably a SSV damper (out of either the new fork, or try and source one), and sell it for cheap to make back some money.
Mmm, I love Marzocchi stuff, it's like playing with lego :love:

I don't see the old 30mm caps fitting on the new 32mm stantions.
I've got four Bombers right now, an original old Z1, '04 Z1, '03 EXR comp, and '04 Drop Off Triple. I can check stuff out if you need.

I think you missed what I meant about the lower bolt mount. I don't remember how the 2002's were set up, but if they have the recessed bolt then that should mean an overall shorter length of cartridge than what is used on an '03 and up. The fork would bottom the crown out on the lowers before getting full travel. Possibly the legs could be slid down in the legs and it would be fine (my brain hasn't figured it all out yet, and I'm not that bright to begin with).
Good Luck

 

[Rik]

I think you missed what I meant

Nah... I think we're using different descriptions to explain the same thing
What I meant was keep the 32mm top cap on the 32mm fork, and just plug the damper rods straight in it. So (hopefully) the only hardware being changed to fit the 02 SuperT rod in the new fork being the rod itself, and springs to suit. And I do understand what you mean about the depth of the stanchion penetration (or, the height of the damper base mounting in relation to the dropout), we're both using different descriptions to explain the same thing. The 02 forks have the damper sit fairly low in the fork (about an inch higher than the dropout), whereas the earlier (pre 2000) are about 1/3 the way up the fork. That's where I have to take in to account ride heights, spring heights, and bottoming out, I run the risk of the cartridge bottoming out on itself, the stanchions bottoming in the legs or the seals bottoming on the crown, so I have to play around a bit to tune heights of the fork, springs and oil... and this is my only real concern I think, as everything else seems somewhat straightforward (I hope). If I can take care of what bottoms on what, and adjust things to suit, I'm on a winner.
Good idea Zedro about sourcing the blank topcaps... I wonder if air assist caps is an option too.