Ducati Sporting Club UK
DesmoDue - General Questions and Chat
Discussions on the race series devised and supported by the DSC.
 
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 24-Aug-2006, 21:56
Tonio600's Avatar
Tonio600 Tonio600 is offline
Registered Forum User
Ducati in my Blood
 
Posts: 4,379
Join Date: Dec 2004
Mood: What a wonderful world.
What's the cheapest way of making my standard Marzo forks harder?

It seems my forks are giving me a hard time (can't brake as hard as I would like to before the whole bike starts vibrating, even if I'm using only 1 brake disc...).

Is there a cheap way to improve them for the use I make of them (hanging around Cadwell Park at desesperatly slow speeds...)? Even better if I can do it myself, I'm always happy to learn. Thicker oil? Washers to compress the springs?
Quote+Reply
  #2  
Old 24-Aug-2006, 22:03
domski's Avatar
DSC Member domski domski is offline
DSC Club Member
WSB Hero
 
Posts: 9,994
Join Date: Jan 2005
You could add a small amount of oil to each leg (equal amounts) until you're happier.

or, add a shim/washer like you say.

I think both these ways will have different effects, although technically doing the same thing.

I think
Quote+Reply
  #3  
Old 24-Aug-2006, 22:22
Tonio600's Avatar
Tonio600 Tonio600 is offline
Registered Forum User
Ducati in my Blood
 
Posts: 4,379
Join Date: Dec 2004
Mood: What a wonderful world.
interesting answer my friend
But I could do with a bit more information (what kind of shim/washer, what oil thickness, etc)...

Otherwise I could just ride the bloody thing, but eventually I've got enough handicap with myself no to have a proper handling bike
Quote+Reply
  #4  
Old 24-Aug-2006, 22:25
Gizmo Gizmo is offline
Registered Forum User
Big Twin
 
Posts: 1,549
Join Date: Mar 2005
Mood: is it the weekend yet??
thicker oil slows the compression damping down so it takes longer to get to bottom out but it still will bottom if the bump force is big/fast enough. a combination of thicker and more volume might help but it all depends how far out the springs are or whether its actually to much rebound packing the fork down ( the fork can't recover from one bump before it hits another so eventually it runs out of travel)

Preloading a spring with more washers won't make it harder, it'll increase the ride height but thats all. a spring moves a set amount for a set load, so its rated as say 10kg/mm it'll take 10kg to move it 1 mm and no matter how much you push it it down it'll always take the same 10kg to move that 1mm until the coils on the spring bind together. if you start with a higher ride height there is less chance you'll bottom it as the fork needs to move further. try and set sag up correctly and if possible swap the spring to a one which is correct.
Quote+Reply
  #5  
Old 24-Aug-2006, 22:27
AK's Avatar
DSC Member AK AK is offline
DSC Club Member
BSB Star
 
Posts: 6,367
Join Date: Jan 2003
Mood: www.knightroadraceteam.co.uk
you can put oil in them Tonio, what are you running now?

find out, then go for a thicker oil.

If you had std oil such as 7.5, then you could put 10 weight oil in.

otherwise, just put an extra 5cc's (centiletres) per leg to start with & see how they are. If necessary add another 5cc's per leg.
Quote+Reply
  #6  
Old 24-Aug-2006, 22:29
AK's Avatar
DSC Member AK AK is offline
DSC Club Member
BSB Star
 
Posts: 6,367
Join Date: Jan 2003
Mood: www.knightroadraceteam.co.uk
Giz, Tonio cant swap the springs on his marzocs, at least i dont think he can...

waiting for correction now
Quote+Reply
  #7  
Old 24-Aug-2006, 22:30
Scooter916's Avatar
Scooter916 Scooter916 is offline
Registered Forum User
Big Twin
 
Posts: 1,291
Join Date: Feb 2005
Mood: Hmmm Conference season
As alan says tonio.
Are they the early forks or the later ones ??
Quote+Reply
  #8  
Old 24-Aug-2006, 22:30
Jools's Avatar
DSC Member Jools Jools is offline
DSC Club Member
BSB Star
 
Posts: 6,930
Join Date: Jul 2002
Mood: MT Meglomaniac
So if the bike vibrates when you brake are you sure the forks need to be stiffer? Could it be a warped disc? Or not enough rebound damping?


The Patent Jools Mood Meter -Today I am:


___________^
Quote+Reply
  #9  
Old 24-Aug-2006, 22:32
couchcommando's Avatar
couchcommando couchcommando is offline
Registered Forum User
Ducati Meccanica
 
Posts: 2,244
Join Date: Apr 2004
Mood: ooooh
I'm running 9kg linear rate springs in mine with standard weight oil and standard oil amount, the difference was amazing for the price of a pair of springs.
Quote+Reply
  #10  
Old 24-Aug-2006, 22:32
Scooter916's Avatar
Scooter916 Scooter916 is offline
Registered Forum User
Big Twin
 
Posts: 1,291
Join Date: Feb 2005
Mood: Hmmm Conference season
call solent uk ltd and ask for dan, they are now the uk importer of Marzocchi, They are still learning and it takes ages for the springs to arrive but they can supply the later fork springs.
glyn
Quote+Reply
Reply
  
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes
Postbit Selector
Switch to Vertical postbit Use Vertical Postbit

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Recent Posts - Contact Us - DSC Home - Archive - Top
Powered by vBulletin 3.5.4 - Copyright © 2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. - © Ducati Sporting Club UK - All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:53.