the bike is a 2012 with the marzocchi's .I recently had the forks revalved. last ride I hit a log and heard a weird noise in the forks like a clunking, I didn't pay it to much mind. Today while prepping the bike for sundays ride I noticed the front end had play when on a stand, what I mean by that is if you wiggled the bars left to right, you could feel something was loose. I have inspected the steering head, that's tight. next wheel bearings tight. I narrowed it down to the forks. I took the wheel off the bike, while the bike is on a stand I grab the bottom of the fork and I have maybe 1mm in all directions on both forks. With that much play I feel it in the bars when I wiggle right to left on a stand, I don't know what to do. Is this normal?? For comparison I took the wheel off my ktm and checked the play, it has very little play in those forks. I am new to gasgas so that's all I have to compare it to. Please I hope someone can help me out, I don't want to ride it and cause more damage if there is something wrong.
fork issues?? please help.
- Thread starter kpuc11
- Start date
Jakobi
Super Moderator
I'd say hes replaced them with something other than OEM (which are pricey).
Its not uncommon for forks to have a fair amount of play at full extension. I'm pretty sure KYB SSS even have a spec of allowable play, but you most definitely shouldn't be hearing them while riding or feeling it just turning the bars.
When the forks were put back on the bike post service, how tight was the bottom clamp done up? all 3 bolts, or have you dropped the middle one? If it was over torqued they can bind a bit during flex and wear the bushings (and possibly surfaces) prematurely.
I'd be discussing with the tuner.
Also seems that these Marzocchi CC's require pretty frequent maintenance. Around 20hrs I tend to notice a change in performance.
Its not uncommon for forks to have a fair amount of play at full extension. I'm pretty sure KYB SSS even have a spec of allowable play, but you most definitely shouldn't be hearing them while riding or feeling it just turning the bars.
When the forks were put back on the bike post service, how tight was the bottom clamp done up? all 3 bolts, or have you dropped the middle one? If it was over torqued they can bind a bit during flex and wear the bushings (and possibly surfaces) prematurely.
I'd be discussing with the tuner.
Also seems that these Marzocchi CC's require pretty frequent maintenance. Around 20hrs I tend to notice a change in performance.
hamilton
Gold Level Site Supporter
My 200 has had 1-2mm play since new. Doubt you can feel it while riding. Raced mine all year. What it did have was a clunk at full extension until it was revalved.
Every bike I have owned has torque specs for everything. All triple clamps should be torqued to spec. After owning my 2013 since May, I'm surprised they arent more popular. I'm easily 100% faster on this bike.
All bikes have issues. I had three KX's that had the oil screen filled with strings of silicone from the factory. One of them lost a motor to it. I had an RMZ450 with a manual cam chain tensioner. I bent valves. Had a Husky TC450, weak factory valves broke and destroyed the top end. All were inherent issues for that model. Even auto manufacturers. Ever owned a diesel truck?
I'm sure we could all fill the forum with stories about failures from every brand. That's the great thing about the forum communities. And this forum in particular. It's a great place to over come these problems.
Simmo737
Gold Level Site Supporter
That sounds like the pfp clunk, if your tuner is not familiar with zoke 48s and bleeds them like kyb or Showa he most likely will not have bleed them properly. I have kyb bushings in mine, they were an exact fit in tubular size and less than a mm in length. Essentially an exact fit.
thanks for everyones quick response. the tuner I used in a gasgas dealer so I know he is familiar with the zokes. 20hrs service???? that's crazy. that means twice a month, that will not work for me. please tell me that this is not normal. If I just needed bushings, could I cause more damage by continuing to ride the bike. I want to get this bike right. I take it the 14's have the same issues. Is this a marzocchi issue?
Marzocchi had the same issue on some MTB forks - this is not a Gas Gas specific issue. By this i am not saying the product is no good but the odd one seems to get past QC.
desertgasser300
Banned
Welcome to offroad bike ownership. So then Betas and any other brand that has used the zooks would suck just as bad if you're judging the entire bike by its forks. If thats the case every bike manufacturer sucks! Better sell the Gasser and go get a KTM so it can over heat on you and then you can complain about how bad they suck as well.
Jakobi
Super Moderator
Come on, keep it above the belt.
Just because someone is a dealer doesn't neccessarily make them a great mechanic/suspension tuner.
12Nm is more than enough on the lower triples. I run 2 bolts only.
The PFP cartridge has a procedure to get a good bleed. Its essentially what is in the Marzocchi manual + a few tips and tricks. This is Marzocchi related, and nothing to do with Gas Gas. You'll find most suspension manufacturers recommend around 20hr service intervals - its just that no one ever bothers with them. You can do more, but I personally notice a decline in performance as the hours rack up.
You are however having a bad run out of yours.
twowheels
New member
Stock valving on the Zoke 48s had them topping pretty severely, to the point it was easy to think you had lose steering head bearings. If your guy added stiffer springs for your weight the problem just got worse.
To Jake's point, just because a dealer sells a bike doesn't mean he is intimately acquainted with all of it's internal bits. On the other hand, we started out as a suspension shop before picking up GasGas and then Beta, but still work on forks and shocks on a very regular basis ... there's a WP shock from a 1984 Can-Am on the bench and two sets of KYB SSS forks on the go as well.
To Jake's point, just because a dealer sells a bike doesn't mean he is intimately acquainted with all of it's internal bits. On the other hand, we started out as a suspension shop before picking up GasGas and then Beta, but still work on forks and shocks on a very regular basis ... there's a WP shock from a 1984 Can-Am on the bench and two sets of KYB SSS forks on the go as well.
desertgasser300
Banned
Yeah that last bit about riding a KTM was pretty harsh!
