Marzocchi 55 ATA Air Pressures

[dubl_xl]

I was wondering what air pressures are typical for the Marzocchi 55 ATA.

This fork has 2 schrader valves on the right leg of the fork. The top valve is under the ATA adjustment knob and the second valve is on the bottom of the fork. The bottom valve is for the PAR/bottom out, progression.

The manual for the fork is severely lacking any specific details for this particular model but I found a setup guide on Marzocchi's page. It only covers the 66 ATA and states that for riders over 200# (that would be me) the PAR pressure should be 175psi and the main top valve pressure at 130psi. This seems like an awful lot for the top pressure and I have been running mine at 50psi and get the proper sag.

Any 55 ATA owners please chime in. I don't need any "Marzocchi sucks, should have bought a Fox Talas" comments, I already know this and if I had it to do over I would have spent the big bucks on a Fox. Thanks

[mfoga]

I don't have one but I have the 07 manual and the ATA section has the same for Bottom out adjustment but also has 147 psi for the top chamber.

I have found that these numbers dont work on all 3 Marzocchi forks and have used whatever pressure gives you correct sag and not worry about the numbers.

[dstepper]

I like and have a couple of Zoke forks. I am sorry I can't be much help with that fork but my experience with them is that the suggested pressures from the manual are usually way to much air pressure. I would search the MTBer Turner Board for setups.

Not that this helps, on my 2006 66sl I have 35lbs in the ATA and 7lbs in the PAR. Take your pump on the trail and start playing with the air settings, it will take awhile but you will be rewarded when you get it dialed in. Most people give up on them too easy.

Dean

[Nagaredama]

You should call Marz in Valencia and talk to either Tom or Mike.

The listed pressure ranges for my 07 888 SL are so far off I wouldn't even know where to begin had I not talked to them

[scottay]

What I do...
Bike upsidedown for less oil blow-out, service the bottom to 30 psi higher than the top will be. try 140/110 and see what it does for ya!
I know 50 on top is way to low for me, and i claim to be 180 ish with gear.....


scott

[dubl_xl]

Originally Posted by Nagaredama

You should call Marz in Valencia and talk to either Tom or Mike.

The listed pressure ranges for my 07 888 SL are so far off I wouldn't even know where to begin had I not talked to them

That is what I keep hearing. They must be using very "ballpark" numbers on their charts.

[scottay]

BTW.....i've been there on three different mondays and Mike was non-stop on the phones. Mondays are a bad day to call!


scott

[dubl_xl]

Originally Posted by scottay

What I do...
Bike upsidedown for less oil blow-out, service the bottom to 30 psi higher than the top will be. try 140/110 and see what it does for ya!
I know 50 on top is way to low for me, and i claim to be 180 ish with gear.....


scott

Good advice Scottay, My buddy has the 66ATA and that is what the people at Marzocchi told him, keeping a 30psi differential between the top and bottom with the bottom pressure always being higher.
Thanks

[Nagaredama]

Originally Posted by dubl_xl

That is what I keep hearing. They must be using very "ballpark" numbers on their charts.

The pressures listed for my weight are like 195PAR/150 air spring. I put 150 bottom and 120 on the top and couldn't even push the fork down.

Right now I'm running 80/50 and still can't get full travel. So the pressure aren't even close!

I'm still not getting full travel and might just remove the PAR all together.

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by Nagaredama

I'm still not getting full travel and might just remove the PAR all together.

Yep many run no pressure in the PAR to get full travel. I run my Zoke with very little air pressure to get excellent small bump and that plush Zoke feel. So I run small amount of PAR to keep from blowing thru all the travel.

[Nagaredama]

Originally Posted by dstepper

Yep many run no pressure in the PAR to get full travel. I run my Zoke with very little air pressure to get excellent small bump and that plush Zoke feel. So I run small amount of PAR to keep from blowing thru all the travel.

Which fork do you have?

[dstepper]

Originally Posted by Nagaredama

Which fork do you have?

2006 Z1 Light ETA
2006 66SL, this is the fork I was talking about above.

On a 2008 Turner RFX.

[live_in_hilo@yahoo.com]

very simple solution here. trial and error. blam!

[dubl_xl]

I think I was just afraid of doing damage to the fork by improperly airing it. I followed Scott's advice and am running 100psi main air and 130psi PAR. Just hitting my kids jump in front of the house feels pretty good for the progressive bottom out resistance, maybe a little stiff for the small chatter bumps though. I can mess with the main air and my TST micro for that. I just don't want to be bottoming out on the Flow drop up at Mammoth like I was last year. Thanks for all the input.

Later, Rich

P.S. Mammoth first weekend in August...Blues and Brews festival

[Nagaredama]

Originally Posted by dstepper

2006 Z1 Light ETA
2006 66SL, this is the fork I was talking about above.

On a 2008 Turner RFX.

Does that no PAR pressure apply to the 2007 forks too? The air systems are slightly different I assume since 07s have the ATA and in 06 the pressure differential was used to change the travel.

I'm going to Mammoth this weekend. If the fork doesn't feel as good as I'd like I'll take the PAR system out and use the left leg as an air spring and add oil to the right leg for bottom out.

[dstepper]

Not sure about the 2007 forks. Try it without air in the PAR. The first month I have my Zoke forks I carry a pump with me on the trail. I have to write down what I changed on the fork because I tried so many different combos I kept loosing track what I changed.

Dean

Originally Posted by Nagaredama

Does that no PAR pressure apply to the 2007 forks too? The air systems are slightly different I assume since 07s have the ATA and in 06 the pressure differential was used to change the travel.

I'm going to Mammoth this weekend. If the fork doesn't feel as good as I'd like I'll take the PAR system out and use the left leg as an air spring and add oil to the right leg for bottom out.