Swapping Marzocchi springs

My girlfriend has a '05 Kona Kikapu with a Marzocchi MZ Comp. It's a bit too stiff for her with the current springs, and as a result the bike squats in the rear a feels like it has a bit too much rake..or trail or whatever the measurement is.

I have a '07 Commencal Absolut 2 with a Dirt Jumper 4, and the springs are way too soft for my big fatness.

While her MZ Comp appears to have more travel than the DJ4, it doesn't get all the travel that the stanchions would suggest. I'm not sure if that's a product of the stiffer springs or what...

Anyway, can I swap these springs? How precisely indexed are the different size springs for different travel forks?

I haven't cracked open a fork since the mid-90's.

Call them? Remove some top caps, pull, and measure?

I'd assume for any of the forks, you'll want a replacement spring with the same diameter and free length as the one you are replacing.

what Jibco said.

if they measure the same, sure swap.

if not try a lighter wt oil in her shock, will make it a bit easier/faster to compress, and a bit less oil too. I think that the oil lists two different hieghts, try the lighter person amount.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jibco

Call them? Remove some top caps, pull, and measure?

I'd assume for any of the forks, you'll want a replacement spring with the same diameter and free length as the one you are replacing.

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Your tone suggests that I am being lazy by querying the board. You are right. When I get around to it, I'll call the LBS about, but for now I just wanted to see what kind of non-binding opinions my internet friends have prior to pulling the caps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mtnlion;

if not try a lighter wt oil in her shock, will make it a bit easier/faster to compress, and a bit less oil too. I think that the oil lists two different hieghts, try the lighter person amount.

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Thanks mtnlion. I wasn't sure if the lower end OEM forks have adjustable oil height or not. Do the springs sit in an open oil bath like motorcycle forks?

yes an open bath, also the stock oil sucks, so go new, better and lighter oil and see if that helps.

good info on the zokes site, all the oil levels, weights, etc

I'd bet they are not interchangeable. Do those two rigs have the same stanction diameter?

Oil weight change is a good point.