Fork sludge?

[Dog Welder]

Is used fork oil supposed to look like thick black sludge?

[stringcheese]

uhhh no

[shocktower]

is suposed to be done on a regular bases ,not yearly :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[Dog Welder]

Well its a 2001 JrT and I just had a new Arch pressed on at Marzocchi..I'm assuming that they put new oil in... this was probably 3 months ago. I wouldn't say "sludge" per say but its definitely thick and black.

[brock]

Originally posted by Nobody
Do you and your fork a favor and change out the oil. Get some Maxima or what-have-you from a motorcycle store and download the manual.

It's pretty easy to do.

Usually, I just disconnect the brake from the mounts, slip the fork out of the crowns and have at it. Trying to do it while still on the bike is a bigger pain in the tuchus than the so-called time saved is worth.

I seem to remember KonaDude posting something about avoiding fork oils with "seal conditioners" or something to that effect. I searched for the post but could not find it.

What are your thoughts on this?

[prisspringle]

brock's right some have seal swelling parts it should be labeled on the bottle, of the top of my head i can't remmember some that do , if not ask or just get mtb make oil like makt ect.

priss

[Orvan]

Originally posted by shocktower
is suposed to be done on a regular bases ,not yearly :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

not on Maitou's TPC...I can go for a whole year

Paul, the sludge, that's 'normal':D :devil:

[rfemurfx]

DW, if the oil was replaced about 3mos ago and it is now BLACK, you should remove the lowers and do a visual inspection of the inside of the fork. oils do not usualy break down that fast. unless you are doing some crazy downhillin'. and i mean crazy! it wont take any more time to remove the lowers and check the bushings with a flash light and also look at the seals. it beats wasting perfectly good oil. while you are at it put some real good shock grease in the concave part of the dust wiper and oil seal. you'll love what it does for ya!!!

[ClumpRider]

Originally posted by rfemurfx
DW, if the oil was replaced about 3mos ago and it is now BLACK, you should remove the lowers and do a visual inspection of the inside of the fork. oils do not usualy break down that fast. unless you are doing some crazy downhillin'. and i mean crazy! it wont take any more time to remove the lowers and check the bushings with a flash light and also look at the seals. it beats wasting perfectly good oil. while you are at it put some real good shock grease in the concave part of the dust wiper and oil seal. you'll love what it does for ya!!!

I put slick honey, and it's truly awesome. Plus, I do spray the stanchions with a silicon spray on a regular basis. Makes things way smooother!

DW: If you,re using disc brakes, look at the disc side (usually left :rolleyes: ) bushing, it tends to wear much faster than the right side (you'll notice heavy brake chatter while braking).
As for the oil, well I got that problem too in my Z1, that I dont use that often ( almost all the time on my BB7). On the ECC side, it stays almost perfect, while on the rebound side, it becomes real black, and much thicker. Strange if you ask me, as I only do a muddy ride once in a while, other than that it's all street or very dry condition. :confused:

[WTGPhoben]

Originally posted by ClumpRider

As for the oil, well I got that problem too in my Z1, that I dont use that often ( almost all the time on my BB7). On the ECC side, it stays almost perfect, while on the rebound side, it becomes real black, and much thicker. Strange if you ask me, as I only do a muddy ride once in a while, other than that it's all street or very dry condition. :confused:

I think that's pretty standard... I had a z2 and now an atom race, and the oil gets black real quick. I believe the silvery black stuff is actually aluminum/magnesium from part wear, and not dirt at all.

oh, and I second the silicon. Get it at any auto parts store. feels real nice

[Shibby]

any brand recommendations for the "silicon lube"?

[reflux]

even though i don't own a marzocchi and never have, several of my neighbors own them. anyway, i talked to a marzocchi guy at sea otter about the forks for a good half hour. anyway, the "rumor" that marzocchi's should bottom out a couple times a ride is false. the metal-on-metal contact in the fork is very bad for the fork. he told me that a properly setup fork should rarely bottom, if at all. maybe this is your problem?