Seeking Z150 help!!

[MMcG]

I recently purchased a used Z150 from a seller on ridemonkey.com

The fork arrived and I noticed a little bit of oil leaking from up top on the non-eta side of the fork. But it was sitting upside down in my office for an entire day before I opened the box. Someone put it in my office and set it upside down - they aren't bike people so they wouldn't have known - and maybe it shouldn't even matter.

Well move on to last night when I installed the fork on my bike. the gold top cap on the non-eta side seemed really loose so I though I'd investigate a bit. so I unscrewed that little top cap bolt and reomoved the cap. Again, I found a bit of oil in sitting in there when I removed the cap. I also was unable to get the cap and bolt re-secured. I think a small portion of the bolt broke off, not inside or anything, but it may be too short now to properly secure the cap.

So I've got several questions for you guys.

1. Can anyone speculate about the reason for the oil to be leaking out like that?

2. Is it easy to get one of those little bolts for the top cap? Can I get one at a hardware store or is it something I'll have to order through my LBS? Maybe someone has an extra laying around they can send me?

3. Is this Z150 also an air assist fork? It looked to have a spot for some air to be pumped in on the non-eta side of the fork. I'll have to download the manual from the Zoke site today and have a closer look.

4. Anyone have some good set up tips for this fork? I weigh about 175 to 180 with gear on. and this fork is paired up to a Craftworks FRM 125 set in 6" mode.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. And if anyone local to the Hartford area can help - that would be even better. I can compensate with beer if need be!

Thanks!

[Tim]

I recently purchased a used Z150 from a seller on ridemonkey.com

The fork arrived and I noticed a little bit of oil leaking from up top on the non-eta side of the fork. But it was sitting upside down in my office for an entire day before I opened the box. Someone put it in my office and set it upside down - they aren't bike people so they wouldn't have known - and maybe it shouldn't even matter.

Well move on to last night when I installed the fork on my bike. the gold top cap on the non-eta side seemed really loose so I though I'd investigate a bit. so I unscrewed that little top cap bolt and reomoved the cap. Again, I found a bit of oil in sitting in there when I removed the cap. I also was unable to get the cap and bolt re-secured. I think a small portion of the bolt broke off, not inside or anything, but it may be too short now to properly secure the cap.

So I've got several questions for you guys.

1. Can anyone speculate about the reason for the oil to be leaking out like that?

2. Is it easy to get one of those little bolts for the top cap? Can I get one at a hardware store or is it something I'll have to order through my LBS? Maybe someone has an extra laying around they can send me?

3. Is this Z150 also an air assist fork? It looked to have a spot for some air to be pumped in on the non-eta side of the fork. I'll have to download the manual from the Zoke site today and have a closer look.

4. Anyone have some good set up tips for this fork? I weigh about 175 to 180 with gear on. and this fork is paired up to a Craftworks FRM 125 set in 6" mode.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. And if anyone local to the Hartford area can help - that would be even better. I can compensate with beer if need be!

Thanks!

MM, I'm not completely familiar with the Z150, but as I recall they were not too different from older Marzocchis, which I do know. I would not sweat the oil too much, but you probably want to check the oil height anyway, and possibly change the oil before you use the fork. There are a couple of o-rings in there, one on the damper shaft and one on the top cap itself, that might be missplaced or damaged, causing the oil leak when upside down.

On the subject of the broken screw, assuming it is the setscrew in the preload adjuster, I think you will need to get it from the LBS or Marzocchi - I doubt your hardware store would have something that small.

Marzocchi used to have a table for initial setups for various forks on their website - don't know if it is still there, but if you poke around you may find it.

Tim

[MMcG]

Thanks for the post Tim!

[bikerdom]

If you can get to an authorized Marzocchi dealer the screw(small bolt) is part number 520363.The cartridge cap unit it screws into is called a Plugunit part number 701253/C. The ETA/ECC 04-Gold Aluminum Knob is part number 549077RX. You should be able to order the small stuff with these parts numbers as they came from a Marzocchi parts breakdown CDROM program straight from Marzocchi. They're a bit pricey when it comes to parts. It's very popular for that fork to weap a little oil while stored/shipped upside down for extended amounts of time. When checking the oil level do a visual inspection of the seals. Look for damage(knicks or tears) or metal burrs that get between the seal during factory assembling. I've had those little flakes/burrs from factory manufacturing sloppiness cause leaks. Also important to use fresh oil during oil change to clean all those nastys out. It's a great fork for All Mountain/light freeride. Oil levels at Marzocchi site http://www.marzocchi.com/spa/mtb/products/oillevel.asp?LN=UK&Sito=usa-mtb&Y=2004
I believe the air side is a preload only, 25psi max. Online try Bikeman.com(a local in Maine) or Airbomb.com(Northshore west coast).
http://www.bikemannetwork.com/biking/c/COMPFKMZPRTSMP
If you need O-Rings the part number is 528188.