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STM Suspension

STM Suspension

New member
So it's begun, measuring everything, that is.

I've got a pair of 48 Marzocchis (2 pair, actually) in the shop for work, so I decided to take everything apart and determine o ring sizes and bushing dimensions. Sure makes servicing a fork take a lot longer!

Some photos... More on the site http://www.stmsuspension.com/photos/ (Seems I'm having some problems with the website transfer- it's super slow and missing some content. Please bear with me. Thanks)

m48comp.jpg
 
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I got about half through the orings and then kid breaks his ankle which distracted me with ER, X-rays, etc.

Dave, to me the tough nuts are the cartridge and PFP seals. I did not remove the seal head from the cartridge, or the PFP, so not sure what they are or sizes. I was thinking perhaps parts could be machined to use KYB or Showa stuff.


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Yeah, I pulled them both and measured. I'd like to find a source for ones that fit correctly- I've got one of my suppliers working on it.

Might be able to get the seal head bushing out, but I doubt the floating/dividing piston bushing will ever come out.

Beyond that, if the end of the world comes, those parts don't look to be terrible to make.

I think I found a source for the bushing on the floating piston as well.

Too bad about your kids ankle. Hopefully he'll live. :) I did mine jumping out of airplanes. Middle of the night, electrical storm, no light anywhere, bunch of extra gear with me. :)
 
STM Suspension said:
Yeah, I pulled them both and measured. I'd like to find a source for ones that fit correctly- I've got one of my suppliers working on it.

Might be able to get the seal head bushing out, but I doubt the floating/dividing piston bushing will ever come out.

Beyond that, if the end of the world comes, those parts don't look to be terrible to make.

I think I found a source for the bushing on the floating piston as well.

Too bad about your kids ankle. Hopefully he'll live. :) I did mine jumping out of airplanes. Middle of the night, electrical storm, no light anywhere, bunch of extra gear with me. :)
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There hasn't been an official announcement yet, but a well known race shop in California has taken over the support of Marzocchi forks for the North American market. The joke I heard yesterday was that now instead of Marzocchi USA not being able to get parts from Italy, the new importer won't be able to get parts from Italy. Being a "glass half full, until I drink it and need a refill" kind of guy, I'm more optimistic than that. We'll have to wait and see ... but hopefully not much longer.
 
Like I said I'm in the "Hope for the best, plan for the worst" camp. Don't like being dependent on anyone if I can help it. Common denominator is still Marzocchi Italy. How tough would it be to make a new PFP and seal head that uses common parts?
 
So.... I just sent my check in on a '13, are you guys still saying these are still better than the Zokes in the '11s?
 
Well, those pictures I took were from an '11 48 CC fork...

Which is most likely almost identical inside to the new '13 48 CC fork... So once you start tuning it's all the same.

Is it better than the 45mm open chamber fork? Yeah, it is. We can get the 45 to work really nice, but the 48 is better to start.
 
GMP said:
Like I said I'm in the "Hope for the best, plan for the worst" camp. Don't like being dependent on anyone if I can help it. Common denominator is still Marzocchi Italy. How tough would it be to make a new PFP and seal head that uses common parts?
Click to expand...

And to this, it's not that hard- I've got the proper software and ability. I'm going to see what my supplier has to say about the seals. If I can get 100 of them, I will, along with all of the orings and make kits- then we don't have to worry about making parts.

Besides, I've got pistons to design for the 45 still. :)
 
GMP said:
Like I said I'm in the "Hope for the best, plan for the worst" camp. Don't like being dependent on anyone if I can help it. Common denominator is still Marzocchi Italy. How tough would it be to make a new PFP and seal head that uses common parts?
Click to expand...

How hard would it be to make a figgin' manual? No excuse for that.:(
 
STM Suspension said:
Besides, I've got pistons to design for the 45 still. :)
Click to expand...

I fitted some of these from Norm Cobb. They are big port base valves that address the midstroke harshness on fast hits. They work really well - it seems the stock piston compression ports are just too small to allow sufficient flow. I have noticed the front sits higher with the new pistons, I guess the mid valve/check plate now has more oil available to it which allows it to do its job better.
Plush but not "vague" , and still being rideable at speed across open ground, has been a somewhat illusive goal in the past - I have found these valves are a big step in the right direction.

http://www.suspensiontech.com/ProductFolder/StealthValves/StealthValveFrameset.html
 
bchatt, are you talking about the 45's?

ps: your link points to stickers...not sure they are going to help the stroke much but the look good :)
Rob
 
Yeah, sorry, the 45's. (It was more a passing remark to STMs comment about designing some pistons for the 45s). The various size options are available on the left hand side of the page that link takes you to.
 
Manual is secondary to a reliable parts source. I think we have figured out the fork as far as routine service procedures go.
 
I heard Ty Davis of ZipTyracing was taking over all Marzocchi off road forks. Talked to them recently and he said not finalized yet.
 
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