1" Steerer Issues, Marzocchi Forks

[Boulton]

I have a set of Z4 Bomber Alloys but the rebound is far too slow and unfortunately the springs cost more than new forks, as far as I can find.

I'm pretty sure the steerer tube is bolt in (there are two horizontal bolts holding it in place) but I've undone the bolts and am struggling to get the steerer out. Possibly it's just siezed, not sure. Is there a trick to it that I don't know about? (The steerer will turn independently of the forks but won't pull out).

I gathered it would be pretty safety critical so I don't want to botch it, just very new to working on bikes and having to figure things out as I go.

 

[fingers]

I have a set of Z4 Bomber Alloys but the rebound is far too slow and unfortunately the springs cost more than new forks, as far as I can find.

I'm pretty sure the steerer tube is bolt in (there are two horizontal bolts holding it in place) but I've undone the bolts and am struggling to get the steerer out. Possibly it's just siezed, not sure. Is there a trick to it that I don't know about? (The steerer will turn independently of the forks but won't pull out).

I gathered it would be pretty safety critical so I don't want to botch it, just very new to working on bikes and having to figure things out as I go.

Can you post a pic??

They are simple forks to take apart, so you might be able to save them

If its a bomber (pre - m arch) with the bolt in crown and 1" steerer, it should all be transferrable to another bomber from a similar era.

If the steerer bolts are undone, tap the top of the steerer with a hammer, it should fall out the bottom of the crown.

 

[Boulton]

I've tried posting some pics on here but sent them to the e-mail you mentioned in your pm.

After reading your message I tried tapping the steerer out from the top and it did move but was very tight so I've sprayed it with some WD and left it loosen up.

 

[fingers]

Looking at your pic its a 97 or 98 fork... IIRC these were an air fork, have you tried inflating them????

You could fit the entire crown pictured to a new bomber assuming it shares the removeable legs. Polish it up with autosol or similar...

You may be struggling to shift the steerer as the crown race is left on (headset part).
This could be rusted on...

You have removed the correct bolts tho, so soak inWD40 as mentioned, and whack it... It should come out.

 

[Anthony]

I've tried posting some pics on here but sent them to the e-mail you mentioned in your pm.
After reading your message I tried tapping the steerer out from the top and it did move but was very tight so I've sprayed it with some WD and left it loosen up.

Take the bolts completely out, then jam a screwdriver (hammer it a bit if necessary) into the gap to prise the two bits of metal apart. That will release the steerer.

Alternatively, you could just take off the legs off the new Z2 and put them on your 1" Z4 crown and steerer, no need to remove steerer from crown.

All the steerers and crowns were the same around then, so they're all interchangeable. A Z2 is a much better fork than a Z4, but you ought to be able to get something back on the Z4 - with a 1 1/8 steerer, you should get £30 for it, maybe 40 .

 

[Anthony]

I've just seen the reference to the crown race being still on. You need to remove the crown race first, or the steerer can't come off. It'll be the crown race that's keeping it on. Just whack it with a hammer via a blunt screwdriver, it'll be made of steel, so you won't damage it.

 

[fingers]

I usually clout the steerer from the top, down, and this forces the crown race up and off, and the steerer tube drops out the bottom.

A good smack is all it needs!

 

[dyna-ti]

CRC do a 1" as well as 1 1/8"
As to a shim of some sort ,best you contact them

Heres the 1" steerer link

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=1016

 

[Boulton]

Good to know it should fit on most similar aged Bombers, now to find a reasonably priced replacement!

I've had a look at the manuals on the Marzocchi website and I think the Z4s I've got are the '99 model, pretty sure they're not air forks (or at least if they are I have no idea how to pump them up).

 

[Stally]

Don't tap it, Whack it!. (sorry I just like Terrys chocolate oranges)

If your using a hammer I'd use a block of wood on the steerer, just incase you damage the steerer and it goes out of shape