Rebuilding Marzocchi Strada Shocks

  • Thread starter Thread starter Grant
  • Start date Start date
Hi Grant,
I'm rebuilding my Marzoochi shocks aswell (same as your pic's) and I wanted to ask about the translucent plastic seal, approx 20mm diameter.
It covers an O-ring that sits in a small seal carrier which screws onto the bottom of the piston rod.

The worn plastic seal that I removed is split - the new seal is not and I cannot get it to slide over the small seal carrier.

Any tips?

Andy
 
You need to cut it, usually i do a cut at about 45 degrees

strangely i took this picture for a customer in south Africa today asking the same question.
The rubber o ring behind the nylon ring acts as a sort of spring to keep the piston seal (nylon ring) expanded in the shock cylinder


 
Nice to know your opinion.
Others may vary.
When they have freshly chromed damper rods, new seals and 10wt oil they do a very good job.
Having Stradas on the bike has never held me back from going forward.
 
Even back in the day they weren't much kop, there was better stuff available, i had s&w shocks on my jota which were Superior in every way. Yes, it is just my opinion, but one i think you'll find a lot of people agree with :-*

  FFF
 
Had S&W air shocks on my Jota. Crap.
Yes there are technically more sophisticated shocks available but I find Stradas are more than capable.
 
Not sure if you're having a bad day but the tone of your replies suggest that because my opinion is different to yours i am incorrect and i don't know what I'm talking about, Now on a lot of subjects this would be completely true, but I'm a capable enough rider to distinguish a decent shock from a poor one. Of course there are more sophisticated shocks now, its almost forty years since the strada's came out. What i implied is that there were better shocks available at the time and that even when new the stradas were not great. Looked good though which is the main reason people bought them.
  Or maybe i'm completly incorrect in my asumption and i'm going down with a touch of Paddyitis.

  FFF
 
What??????
I clearly said there were more sophisticated shocks available but that the choice of shock never held ME back.
Your experience is also valid, so don't get your knickers in a twist.
 
I've had Stradas on my Jota 120 from Day 1. The original silver pair were damaged in the big roundabout prang in 1984, so I bought the red pair (which are still on the bike) from Malcolm Cox for 100 quid a year later during the rebuild.

I've had the bike out on several track days and it has even been round the TT circuit several times during the Manx GP in 2013 without making me feel the need to replace them. They look the part on the bike too so I very much doubt I will change.

I have to admit I haven't ridden a bike around a track with anything else on (erm....forgotten what shocks are on the Corsa but I'm sure they are black Stradas) for comparison, but if it works for me, why fuck with it at great expense?

Cheers

DoC!



 
DoC! said:
I've had Stradas on my Jota 120 from Day 1. The original silver pair were damaged in the big roundabout prang in 1984, so I bought the red pair (which are still on the bike) from Malcolm Cox for 100 quid a year later during the rebuild.

I've had the bike out on several track days and it has even been round the TT circuit several times during the Manx GP in 2013 without making me feel the need to replace them. They look the part on the bike too so I very much doubt I will change.

I have to admit I haven't ridden a bike around a track with anything else on (erm....forgotten what shocks are on the Corsa but I'm sure they are black Stradas) for comparison, but if it works for me, why fuck with it at great expense?

Cheers

DoC!
Click to expand...

A pair of 1984 stradas still doing the job, that's the most ridiculous thing you've said for a long time, even your fellow strada compatriots will tell you your mad

getting the knee down were we?  :P :P :P

 
Wouldn't matter to much on your typical billiard smooth race track,and then you said TT Course,thats well different.
Anyway I don't expect you were pushing the 132mph record.I have a pair of rebuilt Maz Symbols on the Pantah and once you get the sag right,mine needs heavier springs and they up the oil weight a bit in the rebuild there surprisingly reasonably comfy.
 
I rebuild them for resale sometimes but i always use 15wt oil, if you are the right weight, the shocks are serviced and all things are working for you Strada's can be good, they are not usually the limiting factor , put it that way unless you have already done your forks and fitted Radials and swing arm bushes  and so on..Personally i would be happy to use them but would prefer dial-a- rides if i wanted the period look. I wonder how many nasty rear end weaves and wobbles are actually set off by the front end  ;)
 
I've got no issues with my old Stradas. Maybe it's because I have nothing to compare them with. Although I don't push it these days, I still enjoy riding my bikes on the twisties up on the North of England's brilliant roads. Considering how old both me and the bike are, dropping us both at speed could only lead to serious expense!
I'm a long arse, being 6'2" (1.88m) and over 90kgs so maybe my extra weight keeps the Stradas working. The seals haven't leaked at all yet. As far as the bike weaving goes, I have found that putting on modern days tyres and fitting an original fork brace has helped tremendously.

Cheers

DoC!
 
I new it, a little guy, I'm 6ft 4" and 120kg, maybe i should take the shocks off and hard tail it  :D
 
As a side note does any body know where I can get rebuild kits for Ohlins shocks???
 
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