[MMcG]

I recently purchased a used Z150 from Transitionmjr here on Ridemonkey.

The fork arrived and I noticed a little bit of oil leaking from up top on the non-eta side of the fork. But it was sitting upside down in my office for an entire day before I opened the box. Someone put it in my office and set it upside down - they aren't bike people so they wouldn't have known - and maybe it shouldn't even matter.

Well move on to last night when I installed the fork on my bike. the gold top cap on the non-eta side seemed really loose so I though I'd investigate a bit. So I unscrewed that little top cap bolt and reomoved the gold cap. Again, I found a bit of oil in sitting in there when I removed the cap. I also was unable to get the cap and bolt re-secured. I think a small portion of the bolt broke off, not inside or anything, but it may be too short now to properly secure the cap.

So I've got several questions for you guys.

1. Can anyone speculate about the reason for the oil to be leaking out like that? Might it have been filled with too much oil?

2. Is it easy to get one of those little bolts for the top cap? Can I get one at a hardware store or is it something I'll have to order through my LBS? Maybe someone has an extra laying around they can send me?

3. Is this Z150 also an air assist fork? It looked to have a spot for some air to be pumped in on the non-eta side of the fork. I'll have to download the manual from the Zoke site today and have a closer look. I guess I should have done more research eh?

4. Anyone have some good set up tips for this fork? I weigh about 175 to 180 with gear on. and this fork is paired up to a Craftworks FRM 125 set in 6" mode.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. And if anyone local to the Hartford area can help - that would be even better. I can compensate with beer if need be!

Thanks!

 

[Wumpus]

1) Since it is ETA, it is a coil fork. Check the valve core and make sure it is tight.

2) ???

3) No. It is a preload. 0-15psi. I've been running around 7.5 psi(215#). You could probably get away with 0.

4) Besides the air preload, the only way to change things would be to get different springs and maybe mess around with the oil level.

 

[MMcG]

Wumpus - the bolt I'm referring to is for the non ETA gold dial - that's where I found the oil and that's where I think I need a longer bolt or something to secure the cap in place.

what do I need to do to check the valve core? Any tips?

 

[Wumpus]

Wumpus - the bolt I'm referring to is for the non ETA gold dial - that's where I found the oil and that's where I think I need a longer bolt or something to secure the cap in place.

Try the bolt from the ETA side. They should be the same.

what do I need to do to check the valve core? Any tips?

Put some air in and see if it leaks.

or

You can remove the core and and make sure everything is clean and put it back in. Bleed off any air before you remove it. Just don't compress the fork with the valve out.


Note -- the non-eta side is your rebound adjustment.

 

[MMcG]

yep thanks for the tips. I did the old press down test on the fork and rebound seemed slow and that gold knob was just spinning freely and not doing anything prior to removal.

 

[Wumpus]

My bolt has 8mm of threads.


I'm not very good with the setup stuff so I just found a nice rock garden and pounded through. Adjusted my rebound until it felt good. Ended up being about 2-3(ccw) complete turns from full down.

 

[MMcG]

Thanks again. I think I need to ride it a bit and make adjustments accordingly.

the previous owner weighed about the same as me, so the oil level and whatnot should be okay.

Is your Z150 on your Banshee? Pics?

 

[Wumpus]

Thanks again. I think I need to ride it a bit and make adjustments accordingly.

the previous owner weighed about the same as me, so the oil level and whatnot should be okay.

You can also change oil weight. I think they come stock with 7.5.

 

[MMcG]

Wumpus - how much does that Chappy weigh?

 

[Wumpus]

It was 38lbs when I built it. The only thing I've changed are the profiles for XTs.





The frame weighs 9.5# without the shock.

 

[MMcG]

not bad. what wheelset do you have on it? Maybe mine won't be quite as heavy as I had thought then.

 

[Quo Fan]

Bring it tomorrow night and I can have a look at it for you.

 

[Wumpus]

not bad. what wheelset do you have on it? Maybe mine won't be quite as heavy as I had thought then.

They are a magura labeled set -- DTswiss 440's laced to mavic XM321 rims.


Specs:

Full XT Drivetrain
Magura Louise Discs -- 7" rotors
Syncros Bar(28")
Titec stem(Thomson in pic)
Praxys post( ??? - very weird seatpost size 30.4)
Flite Saddle
King Headset

 

[Dirtbike]

2. Is it easy to get one of those little bolts for the top cap? Can I get one at a hardware store or is it something I'll have to order through my LBS? Maybe someone has an extra laying around they can send me?

If your fork still has the cable guide on the left leg, that screw works, I've done it.

 

[MMcG]

thanks - it does have the cable guide. I'll give that screw a shot for the short term.