Marzocchi compression fork not compressing

[JayDee24ca]

I am just past midway in changing the oil in the 45mm Marzocchis on my Quota 1100. The rebound/recoil side went fine, and is reinstalled on the bike, but I am having trouble with the compression side.
I got the old oil dumped from the fork leg, and the spring and preload spacers replaced, and I refilled the tube with 635ml of 7.5 wt. That's where things went sideways. I can pump that tube till I am blue in the face, but get very little if any compression. The small diameter inner rod, (this is the inner rod that the adjustment screw on the top of the fork leg acts upon to set rate, and whose depth within the outer tube on the recoil side determines the rate of oil passage, thus recoil), on the compression side will not fully insert into the outer rod, sticking about 3/8 on an inch proud of it, and does not provide any adjustment of compression. On the recoil leg, the inner rod, when sitting flush at the top of the outer tube, is at maximum recoil setting. If I pull the inner rod out just a hair, is causes the rate of recoil to change. On the compression side it makes no difference and cannot be made to sit flush with the top of the outer tube. 
Can anyone tell  me in what way this rod on the compression side is different than the recoil side? Am I correct in thinking something in the bottom of the fork leg is stopping the rod from fully inserting and thus functioning correctly?
Sorry if this seems garbled, I am not great at explaining things. I am at a loss here, so any advice is fully appreciated!
JD

[SED]

There may be no compression damping.  (This is general info - I know nothing of 1100 Guzzis) Rebound damping gives most of the ride feel.  Compression damping, if any, is usually at near full compression to limit bottoming out and, in the old days, was controlled by the amount of oil in the fork (more oil, smaller air space, greater pressure build up at full compression - essentially a rising rate air spring).  I wouldn't worry if you can't detect any compression damping unless you are harshly bottoming the suspension. 

If the problem is that the center rod is sticking up too far perhaps running a stiff coat hanger down it and wiggling it around will allow it to seat.

Let us know what you find out.

[Rox]

I had the same issue with my V11 Lemans. I found out my springs were shot. Went to Racetech and had new springs and gold valves installed. Night and day.

[JayDee24ca]

There may be no compression damping.  (This is general info - I know nothing of 1100 Guzzis) Rebound damping gives most of the ride feel. 

Not sure if that is the case here or not. I think you may be correct with conventional fork, but why would the manufacturer place an adjustment mechanism on the fork, similar to the other side (which works), if it had no effect? I;ll get out to the shop again today and see if I can figure out what is stopping the adjustment from having any effect. I will alo try to measure up the spring to see if it is within spec.
JD