Pace fork experts please! Anodised, or not?

[TreaderSteve]

Hello all, I know little about the types and differences between earlier Pace forks, but I feel like I should pop a set on my 'brit-build' Merlin. They would actually be my first suspension forks!

I've seen these. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226620950812

They're 1" steerer - good - (not long enough though sadly...). To my eyes the brake mounts seem a lonnnng way down. Are they for regular cantis?! Approx what year are they? I've not found many photos with that particular CNCd brace - are they RC35 XCS? Anything 'dodgy' about them/ are they a mish-mash of parts or anything untoward? I'd have to learn how to rebuild, but as a starting point should I buy/ steer clear for any reason?
Cheers

 

[longun]

Nope they're bang on. Steerer can easily be swapped for a longer one. As long as the elastomers aren't mushy they're good to go. Spares are easily available. Reasonable price aswell.

 

[brocklanders023]

As Longun says, they look spot on to me even down to the brake rocker and plastic bungs that are often missing. Think they're RC35 AB's rather than XCS but happy to be put right? Easy to work on too, not much to go wrong.

 

[Mace4130]

1994 RC35 by the looks of it.
They would be perfect.

 

[TreaderSteve]

Thanks all, I won't be squeamish going for them. Rock-solid knowledge from you lovely people. They'd look the schizzle and it means I won't have to chop-down the steerer on some P2s I have in the shed which I'm reluctant to do.
Cheers

 

[joglo]

there is a good webpage where early pace forks are nicely documented by year and models
https://www.goatsurfer.com/pace_forks.html

 

[Corduroyboy]

Is this a '91 or '92 Merlin? If so, I'd be tempted to go for the earlier RC35 with the tubular chromed steel brace. The earliest single-stepped versions will be hard to find but the ones with double-tapered legs (with less of a pronounced 'step') should be plentiful. Functionally almost exactly the same as the '94 RC35 but better suited to an early build pre '93 IMO.

 

[TreaderSteve]

Yes, 91 or 92 - black decals. I don't think I'm too stressed about the year of parts - let's say the Mag 20s that came on it got a fractured crown and the OG owner went out and bought some Pace a year or three later. That's not too far of a stretch. The 1" P2 are stamped '90 - so actually too early, although parts from a year earlier would of course be used during the year later.

I could rebuild the Mag 20s that came on it but from what I've seen they're quite complex and could well be more expensive in the end to rebuild? Is the Mag 20 worthwhile sorting? More worth sorting versus the Pace?

I don't know if they are working/ what would be needed to get them up to spec. They seem to want to stay 'down' - they are fully in the down position, but when extended by hand, they want to suck themselves back into the down position - as if there's a good seal, but negative pressure inside the gubbins. Is all that's needed is a football type needle valve - to see if they take and keep pressure? There's probably a manual on RB if I look.

Indeed there is https://www.retrobike.co.uk/archive...ice-tuning-and-parts-information.457/download

 

[brocklanders023]

Depends which forks you prefer the look of IMO. You'll likely be able to sort the RS for the price of a decent Pace and when working the RS are decent (for the time!).

 

[TreaderSteve]

Depends which forks you prefer the look of IMO. You'll likely be able to sort the RS for the price of a decent Pace and when working the RS are decent (for the time!).

I think it's gotta be black and silver of the Pace. I feel more comfortable working on them and gawd knows availability/ price of any Rock Shox specialist valves etc. I've seen the exploded view - there's a lot going on inside! I might get me a football pump though and give them a go to see what they do.